Key Republican on impeachment inquiry says Hunter Biden indictment a 'very small start'

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said Thursday indicting Hunter Biden on federal gun charges is a "very small start," while calling on Special Counsel David Weiss to "investigate everyone involved" in the Biden family's alleged "fraud schemes and influence peddling." 

Comer's comments come shortly after Hunter Biden was indicted on federal gun charges out of Weiss' investigation. 

Biden was charged with making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm; making a false statement related to information required to be kept by a federal firearms licensed dealer; and one count of possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. 

DELAWARE, UNITED STATES - JULY 26: United States President Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden, exits in J. Caleb Boggs Federal Building in Delaware, United States on July 26, 2023. (Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

HUNTER BIDEN INDICTED ON FEDERAL GUN CHARGES

These are the first charges Weiss has brought against the first son since being granted special counsel status last month. 

"The Justice Department’s sweetheart plea deal fell apart after a federal judge refused to rubberstamp it," Comer told Fox News Digital. "Mountains of evidence reveals that Hunter Biden likely committed several felonies and Americans expect the Justice Department to apply the law equally." 

"Today’s charges are a very small start, but unless U.S. Attorney Weiss investigates everyone involved in the fraud schemes and influence peddling, it will be clear President Biden’s DOJ is protecting Hunter Biden and the big guy," Comer said. 

Comer, along with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith are running the House of Representatives' formal impeachment inquiry against President Biden. 

House Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden's business dealings and President Biden's alleged involvement in those business dealings. 

Other House Republicans reacted to the charges Thursday afternoon. 

Rep. Darrell Issa posted on X: "Biden's DOJ thinks you're stupid."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green questioned where additional charges against Hunter Biden could be posting on X: "Where are the indictments for tax fraud, FARA abuse, money laundering, and sex trafficking??? 

Rep. Eric Burlison posted: "Hunter being indicted is a sacrificial lamb Joe and the Deep State are hoping will be enough to distract the American people from all their crimes. Don’t fall for it. We want the ‘Big Guy.'" 

"What are the odds that Hunter Biden is indicted on felony gun charges 6 DAYS before AG Garland testifies before Congress? I’m sure it’s just a coincidence," Rep. Troy Nehls posted on X. 

Attorney General Garland is set to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Sept. 20 at 10:00 a.m. 

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 13: Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., arrives for the House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing titled "Unsuitable Litigation: Oversight of Third-Party Litigation Funding" in Rayburn Building on Wednesday, September 13, 2023. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

As a next step in the impeachment inquiry, a source familiar told Fox News Digital that Comer will now pursue bank records from the personal and business accounts belonging to the president’s son Hunter and his brother, James. 

COMER TO PURSUE HUNTER, JAMES BIDEN PERSONAL BANK RECORDS AS NEXT STEP IN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

The source said Comer will also seek additional transcribed interviews with Hunter Biden business associates, including Eric Schwerin and Rob Walker. 

The source also told Fox News Digital that the House Oversight Committee could hold a public hearing related to the investigation in the coming weeks, but a witness for that expected hearing has not yet been decided. 

Joe and Hunter Biden (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Meanwhile, the charges against Hunter Biden come after an original plea agreement collapsed in July. Hunter Biden was expected to plead guilty in July to two misdemeanor tax counts of willful failure to pay federal income tax as part of a plea deal to avoid jail time on a felony gun charge.

Hunter Biden was forced to plead not guilty to two misdemeanor tax charges and one felony gun charge.

Attorney General Merrick Garland tapped Weiss to serve as special counsel with jurisdiction over the Hunter Biden investigation and any other issues that have come up, or may come up, related to that probe.

The White House declined to comment. 
 

Brooke Singman is a Fox News Digital politics reporter. You can reach her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or @BrookeSingman on Twitter.