House Oversight Committee chairman James Comer is at it again with cherry-picking and straight-up lying about closed door testimony in his so-called impeachment investigation of President Biden. This time, less than two hours after a closed-door deposition ended, Comer issued a press release completely cherry-picking and misrepresenting the testimony of Hunter Biden’s close friend, Kevin Morris. Comer has repeatedly cherry-picked and misrepresented testimony, including with his so-called bombshell witness Devon Archer. In both depositions, what Comer shared couldn’t be further from the truth. Neither witness could link President Biden to any wrongdoing whatsoever, let alone a high crime or misdemeanor worthy of impeachment. This is just the latest faceplant in Comer’s failing investigation, but don’t take our word for it:
Articles
The Messenger: GOP ‘Cherry Picked’ Hunter Biden Friend’s Testimony, Lawyer Says. “A lawyer for Hunter Biden’s close friend, Kevin Morris, who testified in the GOP’s impeachment probe on Thursday, is accusing Republicans of “totally misleading” the public about what he said behind closed doors… ‘You issued a press statement with cherry‐picked, out-of-context and totally misleading descriptions of what Mr. Morris said,’ Bryan Sullivan, the lawyer, wrote in the letter. ‘So much for the promise of your staff that Mr. Morris would be treated fairly.’… But Morris’ lawyer said in the letter to Comer that his statements were ‘cherry-picked’ and demanded that the Republican chairman release the full transcript of the interview. Sullivan said Morris testified that he never thought of Joe Biden’s campaign when loaning money to Hunter Biden and was ‘only focused on helping his client.’ Sullivan also called boloney on Comer’s statement that Morris said his loans to Hunter Biden did not have to be repaid until after the next election and may ultimately be forgiven.” [The Messenger, 1/19/24]
Fox News: Hunter Biden’s ‘Sugar Brother’ Goes Scorched Earth On Comer, Says He’s ‘confident’ Hunter Will Repay Loans. “Hunter Biden’s lawyer is hitting back at House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., accusing the top Republican of misleading about his closed-door deposition Thursday… In addition, Morris denied ever believing the president or his administration would give him anything in return for the loans, saying his ‘only goal’ was to help a friend and that there is no prohibition against that. And in a separate letter to Comer, Morris’ lawyer Bryan Sullivan called for the committee to release the full transcript of his client’s deposition.” [Fox News, 1/29/24]
The Washington Post: Comer’s Habit Of Cherry-Picking Depositions Comes Back To Haunt Him. “One of the arguments offered by attorneys for President Biden’s son Hunter when responding to a subpoena from the House Oversight Committee for a closed-door deposition was that the committee had shown a pattern of cherry-picking what would be presented to the public. This is unquestionably true. Over and over and over and over and over, committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has made debunked and unsubstantiated public statements that cast the president and/or his son as dishonest or has rushed to release unsubstantiated claims or information that similarly collapse under scrutiny. The first year of his investigation into the Bidens made extremely little progress as a result — except where it matters, in the right-wing media universe. Clearly, though, this has not gone unnoticed by those enmeshed in Comer’s sprawling investigation. There was that letter from Hunter Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell in November. And then, this week, a letter from an attorney for Kevin Morris, a wealthy friend of Hunter Biden who helped pay off the president’s son’s tax liability.” [The Washington Post, 1/19/24]
The New Republic: Key Hunter Biden Witness Blasts James Comer for Cherry-Picking His Testimony. “House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer “cherry-picked” the testimony of Kevin Morris, a friend of Hunter Biden who sat for a deposition as part of the Republican impeachment inquiry into the president, Morris’s lawyer said… ‘Not two hours after we left Mr. Morris’ transcribed interview, you issued a press statement with cherry‐picked, out of context and totally misleading descriptions of what Mr. Morris said,’ Morris’s lawyer Bryan Sullivan said in a letter to Comer, which was obtained by The New Republic. ‘I demand you now release the entire transcript of Mr. Morris’ interview.’… Oversight Committee Democrats have previously accused Comer of misrepresenting witness testimony in his quest to prove the Biden family is guilty of criminal wrongdoing… But it’s clear why Comer is hesitant to release full transcripts. In August, he released the transcript of testimony from Devon Archer, Hunter’s former business partner. Archer undercut every claim Comer has made about the Bidens. Comer has since refused to allow Archer’s testimony to be introduced as evidence.” [The New Republic, 1/19/24]
Politico: Lawyer For Hunter Biden Confidant Accuses GOP Of Misrepresenting Testimony. “A lawyer for Kevin Morris is accusing House Republicans of misrepresenting the Hunter Biden confidant’s closed-door testimony this week. Morris’s lawyer, in a letter to Oversight Chair James Comer, accused the Kentucky Republican of including “cherry‐picked, out of context and totally misleading descriptions” in his public readout of the private deposition. ‘You did not treat Mr. Morris fairly and engaged in your standard practice of partially and inaccurately leaking a witness’s statements. … I demand you now release the entire transcript of Mr. Morris’ interview,’ Bryan Sullivan, Morris’s attorney, wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by POLITICO.” [Politico, 1/19/24]
The Independent: Attorney For Hunter Biden Associate Says GOP Staffers Lied During Deposition. “In a letter to Mr Comer which was obtained by The Independent, Mr Morris’ lawyer, Bryan Sullivan, slammed the Kentucky Republican for reneging on assurances given after Mr Sullivan asked that the GOP-led panel release the entirety of Mr Morris’ testimony and accused him of leaking “cherry‐picked, out of context and totally misleading descriptions” of what his client actually said behind closed doors… Mr Sullivan also noted that he was writing to correct the record in response to Mr Comer’s statement, citing nine separate examples of the Oversight panel chair deliberately misstating what had transpired during the closed-door deposition.” [The Independent, 1/19/24]
Rolling Stone: Hunter Biden Associate Says GOP Misrepresented His Closed-Door Testimony. “For weeks now, Hunter Biden has been sparring with House Oversight Committee Republicans over their demands that he give closed-door testimony in response to a congressional subpoena. Biden has insisted on answering questions in a public setting, instead, which would prevent the GOP from cherry-picking and warping his testimony in their favor. Committee Chairman James Comer threatened to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress, and on Thursday the president’s son finally agreed to sit for a closed-door deposition, with a public hearing to come at a later date. He still has reason to be worried about Comer misrepresenting what he tells the committee in private, however, as one of Hunter Biden’s associates is now accusing the committee of releasing “cherry‐picked, out of context, and totally misleading descriptions” of his own testimony. Attorneys for Kevin Morris, an American businessman and close confidant of Hunter Biden, sent Comer a letter accusing him of misrepresenting Morris’ testimony.” [Rolling Stone, 1/19/24]
HuffPost: Lawyer For Hunter Biden Benefactor Says Rep. James Comer Misrepresented His Testimony. “House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) misrepresented testimony by Kevin Morris, a friend of Hunter Biden’s who sat for a deposition on Thursday, according to Morris’s attorney… Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, told HuffPost earlier on Thursday, during a conversation outside the deposition room, that Morris said the loans were loans, not gifts. ‘These are loans that he fully expects to be repaid,’ Raskin said. ‘And it is completely standard terms that were drawn up by his lawyers in consultation with Hunter Biden’s lawyers.’” [HuffPost, 1/19/24]
Punchbowl News: Kevin Morris Says He Didn’t Expect Anything From Joe Biden. “Kevin Morris, the Hunter Biden associate who testified on Capitol Hill Thursday, told investigators he never expected anything in return from President Joe Biden after he loaned his son large sums of money. ‘My only goal was and is to help my friend and client. In this country there is no prohibition against helping a friend in need with no ulterior motive,’ Morris said in his opening statement, according to a copy we obtained… Oversight Democrats, led by ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), have decried the GOP focus on Morris as particularly off base. ‘It is hard to articulate how far removed this interview is from an impeachment inquiry for presidential high crimes and misdemeanors,’ Raskin said in a statement.” [Punchbowl News, 1/19/24]
PoliticsUSA (Opinion): Another Biden Impeachment Witness Causes A James Comer Crash And Burn. “The latest witness in the House Republican Biden impeachment investigation was Hollywood lawyer Kevin Morris who the president’s son described as like a brother to him and a person who helped him get his dignity back. […] Oversight Committee Chair Comer (R-KY) and House Republicans have been investigating President Biden for more than a year and they have come up with no evidence that Biden has done anything wrong. What House Republicans are doing with their Biden impeachment investigation is an abuse of power, the likes of which has never been seen in modern congressional history. The Bill Clinton impeachment may have been flimsy, but former President Clinton did lie about his conduct. That lie at the time was not a clear cut impeachable offense, but at least Clinton did something. There is no evidence that Joe Biden did anything. Republicans are trying to blame a father for the issues that his son has had. The investigation is off putting and distasteful. If Republicans continue to push their empty Biden impeachment, it will likely backfire on them. Republicans never learn as each day of this investigation brings them nothing, but more failure.” [PoliticsUSA (Opinion), 1/19/24]
MeidasTouch: Hunter Biden Witnesses’ Lawyer Says Comer Lied About Client’s Testimony. “The attorney for Kevin Morris, a witness in the Hunter Biden investigation, sent a scathing letter to House Oversight Chair James Comer demanding that he release a full transcript of his client’s deposition immediately after he alleged that Comer mischaracterized the testimony to the public. Again. […] This pattern of conduct has been well documented by Rep. Jamie Raskin, who has noted in the past that transcripts for only 2 of the 14 depositions taken during the investigation were released to the public. Hunter Biden’s lawyer Abbe Lowell cited Comer and Jordan’s lies about Hunter’s business partner Devon Archer’s closed-door testimony as a reason why he only wanted to testify in public.” [MeidasTouch, 1/19/24]
Raw Story: James Comer Slammed For ‘Cherry-Picked’ Release Of Hunter Biden Pal’s Testimony. “Rep. James Comer (R-KY) has been hit by a complaint that he’s been doing some serious cherry-picking. The accusation stems from the deposition of Hunter Biden’s friend Kevin Morris, who Thursday told House investigators behind the Republicans’ impeachment probe that he’d lent his newly sober friend $5 million. Comer was quick to issue a press release suggesting the testimony raised ‘ethical and campaign finance concerns for President Joe Biden,’ along with a few other select facts. But Morris’ attorney Bryan Sullivan was equally quick to accuse Comer of misrepresenting his client for political gain in a letter posted to X and reported by Rolling Stone Friday. ‘Not two hours after we left Mr. Morris’ transcribed interview, you issued a press statement with cherry‐picked, out of context and totally misleading descriptions of what Mr. Morris said,’ Sullivan wrote in his letter to Comer. ‘We do not need to have this dueling rendition of what Mr. Morris actually said. Just release the full transcript.’ […] This practice, as described by Sullivan, is the key reason Hunter Biden repeatedly requested his deposition to the House Oversight committee not take place behind close doors, as Comer and Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) have demanded. Hunter Biden twice appeared at the Capitol to showcase his readiness to testify, but Republicans condemned his actions as political theater and, rather than interview him publicly, threatened to hold him in contempt of Congress. Hunter Biden has since agreed to testify first behind closed doors then publicly, but Sullivan said Friday there is reason to be concerned.” [Raw Story, 1/19/24]
Commentary
Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-14): “Why are these geniuses hiding the transcribed interview? Because. it. shows. nothing! Stay tuned for a new episode of the Comer Pyle show!” [X, @RepSwalwell, 1/19/24]
Jake Tapper (CNN): “We’re waiting for those transcripts, Chairman Comer. Release ’em.” [CNN, 1/19/24, VIDEO]
Sarah Reese Jones (PoliticsUSA): “Biden impeachment investigation witness Kevin Morris testified that President Biden had no involvement in is son’s business, which is another failure for James Comer.” [X, @PoliticusSarah, 1/19/24]
Stephen Neukam (The Messenger): “NEW: A lawyer for Kevin Morris, a Hunter Biden ally who testified yesterday, blasted James Comer, per letter I obtained. Comer issued ‘cherry‐picked, out-of-context and totally misleading descriptions’ of Morris testimony, the lawyer said.” [X, @stephen_neukam, 1/19/24]
Annie Grayer (CNN): “James Comer made a lot of claims after Kevin Morris interview Morris then accused Comer of misleading & cherry-picking his testimony in letter I obtained: ‘Just release the full transcript. Why would you be reluctant or afraid to do that, other than it will disprove your spin?’” [X, @anniegrayercnn, 1/19/24]
Catherine Herridge (CBS): “@RepRaskin statement Kevin Morris deposition ‘None of this is illegal or unethical—far from it—nor does it have anything to do with President Biden or presidential high crimes and misdemeanors.’” [X, @CBS_Herridge, 1/19/24]
Chad Pergram (Fox News): “A) Letter from Kevin Morris atty Bryan Sullivan to Comer: When we started today’s interview of my client Mr. Kevin Morris, I specifically pointed out the practice of Republicans in making partial leaks of witness’ statements rather than releasing the actual transcript” [X, @ChadPergram, 1/19/24]
Arthur Delaney (HuffPost): “New: Kevin Morris’s lawyer accuses James Comer of misrepresenting his testimony, saying ‘you issued a press statement with cherry‐picked, out of context and totally misleading descriptions of what Mr. Morris said.’” [X, @ArthurDelaneyHP, 1/19/24]
Jordain Carney (Politico): “New: Kevin Morris’ attorney sent a letter to Oversight Chair James Comer saying he’s misrepresenting Morris’ testimony from a closed-door deposition yesterday, per a copy of the letter obtained by POLITICO. Also asking Comer to release the transcript” [X, @jordainc, 1/19/24]
Ron Filipkowski (MeidasTouch): “The attorney for a witness in the Hunter Biden investigation sent a scathing letter to James Comer alleging that he lied yesterday about his client’s closed-door testimony and demands that he release the transcript.” [X, @RonFilipkowski, 1/19/24]
Philip Bump (The Washington Post): “James Comer’s reputation, at long last, precedes him.” [X, @pbump, 1/19/24]