Comer got phone updates on Archer’s testimony, GOP aide claims.

A Republican Aide Clarifies Chairman Comer’s Statement on Hunter Biden’s Business Associate ‌Testimony

A Republican aide for the House Oversight and Accountability Committee ‌has provided clarification regarding Chairman James Comer’s (R-KY) recent‍ statement. The chairman had mentioned that he was⁢ “on the phone” during the transcribed interview of Hunter Biden’s business associate. The aide ​clarified that Comer was actually “in constant communication by phone” with staff ⁣throughout ⁢the testimony.

On the day of Devon Archer’s transcribed interview, it was widely known that Comer would not be physically present as he was back⁤ home in Kentucky.⁣ Transcribed interviews are typically handled by staff,⁣ although members of Congress have the option to attend ​and participate in questioning the witness. On this particular occasion, only Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Dan⁤ Goldman (D-NY) were in attendance.

Up for Debate: Trump,‍ DeSantis, and 2024 GOP Hopefuls’ Stances on Abortion

However, after the Daily Beast reported that Comer was‍ not present, he appeared on Fox News to clarify his absence. He stated that he was “on the phone” during the⁢ testimony.

“I had the staff lead the deposition,” Comer explained ‌to the‌ hosts of Fox and Friends. “I⁣ didn’t want a lot of members in the‍ room because ⁤that makes the witness uneasy… I was on the phone.”

These claims were ‍met with pushback from Goldman,⁢ who was present during the testimony. In a social ⁢media post, Goldman ‌stated that Comer “was neither present⁣ nor on the phone for the Devon Archer interview.” Additionally, the transcript⁢ of⁢ Archer’s interview does not list Comer as a participant or attendee.

The GOP aide with knowledge of the testimony clarified that Comer was indeed on the phone with Oversight staff, receiving updates throughout the transcribed interview, but not for the entirety of Archer’s testimony.

On Thursday, the Congressional Integrity Project, a Democratic group responsible for‌ countering House Republicans’⁤ investigations into the ‌Biden family, filed ⁢a⁤ complaint with the Office of Congressional Ethics. They requested an investigation⁢ into Comer’s claim of being “on the phone,” alleging that it was a violation of House rules.

“Representative Comer has violated the public trust and distorted the truth in violation of the House Rules ⁢and U.S. House Committee on Ethics guidance,” stated Kyle Herrig, the ⁤executive director of the group in a letter. “Accordingly, ⁣I ​urge the OCE to immediately commence an ⁣investigation into Representative Comer’s actions.”

Click ⁣here to read more from The Washington Examiner.

In response​ to the ethics complaint, a spokesperson for the Oversight Committee issued a⁣ statement, dismissing the concerns raised by the ‍Congressional Integrity Project. The spokesperson accused the group of being solely focused on politics and‌ attempting‌ to protect a corrupt president.

“Democrat dark ⁣money groups are attempting to distract from​ the fact⁤ that then-Vice ⁢President Joe Biden allowed his ‍family to sell him as ‘the brand’ to corrupt foreign oligarchs around the world so ‘people would be ‌intimidated to mess with them,'” the statement read. “Those are facts from Devon Archer’s transcribed interview. If this Democrat dark money group truly‍ cared about ethics, it would file complaints against President Biden for betraying the public’s trust for⁢ his family’s financial gain.”

*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases