Democrats demand probe into Comer after special counsel charges GOP witness with lying to FBI
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer's (R-Kentucky) investigation of President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden suffered a major blow when, on Thursday, February 15, Alexander Smirnov — who Comer had been touting as a key witness — was charged with lying to the FBI.
In response, some Democrats in Congress are demanding answers and calling for Comer's probe to end immediately.
The indictment of Smirnov was announced by special counsel David Weiss, who U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland hired to lead the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation of Hunter Biden's business activities in Ukraine. President Biden appointed Garland to his position, and Garland lived up to his reputation for being an unwavering institutionalist when he made it clear that even the president's son isn't immune to his scrutiny.
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But the FBI, according to Newsweek's Darragh Roche, alleges that Smirnov manufactured false evidence against Hunter Biden.
The indictment alleges that Smirnov's claims were "a fabrication, an amalgam of otherwise unremarkable business meetings and contacts."
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Florida) was highly critical of Comer during a February 15 appearance on CNN, saying, "When did James Comer know this was false and how long did he conceal that from the American people? Are you telling me he just found out through the indictment or has he known all along or at least for a period of time that this 1023 form was made up? Those are real questions we need to get to the bottom (of)."
Rep. Robert Garcia (D-California) is also calling Comer out.
READ MORE: Comer claims he doesn’t care if Biden isn’t impeached — despite months-long impeachment efforts
On X, formerly Twitter, Garcia posted, "James Comer's lead informant in his sham impeachment against POTUS, was just indicted for lying and making up his claims. We demand Comer apologize to the President and end this political stunt immediately. What a joke."
In an official statement, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) said, "Special Counsel Weiss's investigation is just the most recent to debunk the Ukraine-Burisma conspiracy theory at the heart of this fraudulent impeachment inquiry."
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