ICYMI: House Oversight Committee James Comer held an embarrassing flop of a press conference yesterday. To recap: Comer presented no evidence that foreign money flowed to President Biden and no evidence that Biden family business pursuits influenced policy decisions. What a ridiculous waste of taxpayer dollars.
Don’t Just Take It From Us, Look At What Others Are Saying About James Comer’s Disastrous Press Conference
The Independent: “Republicans offer no evidence of crimes at press conference on alleged ‘Biden family corruption’”
TIME Magazine: “Comer Investigation of Biden Relatives Swings and Misses on Allegations of Influence Peddling”
New Republic: “Republicans Finally Admit They Have No Incriminating Evidence on Joe Biden”
- New Republic: House GOP “Were Unable To Provide Any Actual Evidence Linking The President To Any Wrongdoing.” “Republicans’ big investigation into the Biden family has revealed … not a lot. The House GOP accused Joe Biden and his family on Wednesday of engaging in business with foreign entities—but were unable to provide any actual evidence linking the president to any wrongdoing.” [New Republic, 5/10/23]
Politico: “Comer releases Biden family probe update without showing link to president”
- Politico: “[Republican Report] Did Not Show Any Way In Which Biden’s Decisions Were Influenced By Those Agreements Or That He Had Direct Knowledge Of Them.” “But the highly anticipated press conference also raised fresh questions about their ability to ultimately capture their white whale: the president himself. And Comer’s already faced plenty of doubt, including from some within his own party, that he can back up his promises to show Biden’s connection to family business dealings. No link has publicly emerged, and that didn’t change at Wednesday’s press conference. […] It also did not show any way in which Biden’s decisions were influenced by those agreements or that he had direct knowledge of them.” [Politico, 5/10/23]
The Hill: “House GOP digs in on Biden family dealings without directly connecting president”
- The Hill: “But The 36-Page Report Released By The Panel’s Republicans On Wednesday That Was Based On Bank Records Did Not Show Any Foreign Money Flowing Directly To Joe Biden.” “House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and the panel’s Republicans on Wednesday dug in on their attacks on President Biden, unveiling new details alleging that more than $10 million flowed from foreign entities to companies associated with the Biden family and family members themselves. But the 36-page report released by the panel’s Republicans on Wednesday that was based on bank records did not show any foreign money flowing directly to Joe Biden.” [The Hill, 5/10/23]
- The Hill: “The Report Did Not Provide Hard Evidence That His Family’s Finances Influenced Any Policy Decisions.” “But the 36-page report released by the panel’s Republicans on Wednesday that was based on bank records did not show any foreign money flowing directly to Joe Biden. Biden has previously denied knowledge of his family’s business dealings as they were happening, and the report did not provide hard evidence that his family’s finances influenced any policy decisions.” [The Hill, 5/10/23]
New York Times: “House Republican Report Finds No Evidence of Wrongdoing by President Biden”
- New York Times: “On Wednesday, The Republicans Conceded That They Had Yet To Find Evidence Of A Specific Corrupt Action Mr. Biden Took In Office In Connection With Any Of The Business Deals His Son Entered Into.” “But on Wednesday, the Republicans conceded that they had yet to find evidence of a specific corrupt action Mr. Biden took in office in connection with any of the business deals his son entered into. Instead, their presentation underscored how little headway top G.O.P. lawmakers have made in finding clear evidence of questionable transactions they can tie to Mr. Biden, their chief political rival.” [New York Times, 5/10/23]
CNN: “But The Latest Report [GOP] Does Not Show Any Payments Made Directly To Joe Biden, Either As Vice President Or After Leaving Office.” “The memo marks Comer’s most direct attempt to substantiate his allegations that Biden family members have enriched themselves off the family name. Comer has suggested that Biden may have been improperly influenced by the financial dealings, particularly by his family’s foreign business partners. But the latest report does not show any payments made directly to Joe Biden, either as vice president or after leaving office.” [CNN, 5/10/23]
NBC News: “Comer Did Not Provide Examples Of Any Specific Policy Decisions That Were Influenced.” “Asked whether the committee will be able to prove that Biden was directly involved in his son’s business dealings and that policy changes were influenced by it, Comer did not provide examples of any specific policy decisions that were influenced.” [NBC News, 5/10/23]
Axios: “The Memo Presented Wednesday By House Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) Included No Evidence That President Biden Acted Improperly Or Took Any Official Action Because Of His Family’s Business Affairs.” “Yes, but: The memo presented Wednesday by House Oversight chair James Comer (R-Ky.) included no evidence that President Biden acted improperly or took any official action because of his family’s business affairs.” [Axios, 5/10/23]
NewsNation: “However, The Committee Has Not Uncovered Any Evidence That Directly Linked The President To Any Foreign Business Dealings.” “The committee accused President Joe Biden of lacking transparency regarding his family’s business dealings, claiming that bank records revealed the Biden family received millions of dollars from foreign sources. However, the committee has not uncovered any evidence that directly linked the president to any foreign business dealings.” [NewsNation, 5/10/23]
Politics USA: “Comer Has No Actual Evidence That President Biden Did Anything Wrong. There Is No Evidence That Biden Solicited Funds From Foreign Countries In Exchange For Policy Influence. House Republicans Are Making It Up As They Go Along.” “Even Republicans have complained that Jim Jordan and James Comer’s investigations have been embarrassing due to the lack of evidence. Rep. Comer took some bank records, connected them with conspiracy theories, and then attached them to President Biden. Comer has no actual evidence that President Biden did anything wrong. There is no evidence that Biden solicited funds from foreign countries in exchange for policy influence. House Republicans are making it up as they go along.” [Politics USA, 5/10/23]
- Politics USA: “James Comer Is Abusing His Power As The Chair Of The House Oversight Committee, And He Is Wasting Taxpayer Money On These Investigations.” “James Comer is abusing his power as the chair of the House Oversight Committee, and he is wasting taxpayer money on these investigations. It is embarrassing for the country that House Republicans are trying to pass off conservative media conspiracy theories and legitimate congressional investigations.” [Politics USA, 5/10/23]
NPR: “A 2019 New York Times Report Into Popoviciu Documented Payments To Hunter Biden In His Role Then As An Attorney And Found No Evidence Of Improper Actions By Then-Vice President Biden. This Is In Addition To An NBC Report That Year That Probed Hunter Biden’s Overseas Dealings.” [NPR, 5/10/23]
Kurt Bardella: “If This Is ‘Judgement Day,’ Then The Only Guilty Party Here Is James Comer For Wasting Everyone’s Time And Taxpayer Dollars With This Bull-Shit … Sincerely Your Resident Former @Gopoversight Spokesperson And Senior Advisor.” [Twitter, Kurt Bardella, 5/10/23]
Geraldo Rivera: House Oversight Republicans “Struggling To Find Direct Evidence Of Criminal Conduct Or Corruption. The Committee’s Angry Allegations Are Vague And General And Do Not Point To Specific Crimes. It Still Comes Down To Put Up (That Evidence) Or Shut Up.” “Republicans on the Oversight Committee investigating alleged corruption by then Vice President Joe Biden and 9 members of his family struggling to find direct evidence of criminal conduct or corruption. The Committee’s angry allegations are vague and general and do not point to specific crimes. It still comes down to put up (that evidence) or shut up.” [Twitter, Geraldo Rivera, 5/10/23]
RealClearPolitics: “‘FOX & Friends’ Grills Rep. James Comer On Biden Investigation: ‘Did They Break Any Laws?’”
Mediaite: “Steve Doocy Confronts Rep. James Comer Over Biden Investigation: ‘Did They Break Any Laws?’”
Mediaite: “Reporter Questions Comer at Biden Family Presser: Will You Also Investigate Trump?”