Transcript
Ben Ferguson (0:01)
Welcome. It is Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you, center. We have got a lot to talk about. Two major stories. The House formalizing the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden. And for everyone listening, we are going to go deep into the legal aspect of this and what is the cause for this instead of the weaponization of impeachment, which is what the Democrats did to Donald J. Trump. But before we get to that, Senator, I also want to talk about Hunter Biden and Hunter Biden's refusal to show for this deposition. He had this press conference on Capitol Hill, but said, I'm only willing to go public. I'm not willing to go behind closed doors. That is dictating to Congress. What you will and won't do usually doesn't end well unless you know the deck is stacked on your half, on your side. With a DOJ that refuses to prosecute. Is that part of how this is going to play out for him?
Senator Ted Cruz (0:54)
Well, let me say, first of all, we now know the answer to what we talked about in the last podcast, which is whether or not Hunter Biden was going to defy the congressional subpoena. And the answer is yes. And I'm going to give credit where credit's due. I thought the odds were about 50. 50. I could see him going either way. And you were 100% on the other side. And so, Benjamin, you were right. I was at best, 50%. Right. But I'm going to frame.
Ben Ferguson (1:18)
I'm going to frame this transcript and put it in my office now. This is the first time in history of verdict I've gotten these accolades. Diaz, put it off right now.
Senator Ted Cruz (1:26)
I'm telling you, I'm manning up. I'm admitting it. Uh, you didn't even have to rub my nose in it. I. I came forth right on the front end. Um, look, he. He refused to comply with a subpoena. Uh, there are a number of things that will flow from that. One of the things that will flow from that is, is the House, I believe, will hold Hunter Biden in contempt. Um, that's significant. Being held in contempt of Congress, that you. You can be jailed for being in contempt of Congress. And, and. But for that to happen, the Department of Justice has to prosecute you. And I gotta say, one of the reasons why I think Hunter Biden is perfectly content to defy a congressional subpoena is he does not believe daddy's Department of Justice will prosecute him. And so I think he and his lawyers feel like they can just ignore the subpoena. But when the contempt vote happens, and I think the votes will be there to hold him in contempt, that will be the next stage in the escalation. Now, we talked about previously on Verdict. Why often when you have someone come in for testimony, you proceeded with a closed door deposition where you get into more detail, you go back and forth, you, you, you prepare for the open hearing. And, and that's what the House Republicans did. Now, I will say at Hunter Biden's press conference, he said, quote, republicans do not want an open process where Americans can see their tactics, expose their baseless inquiry, or hear what I have to say. What are they afraid of? I'm here, I'm ready. So I gotta tell you, Ben, I would give advice to Jim Jordan and James Comer. Take him up on his offer, hold him in contempt. Fine. But also bring him to an open hearing. He has said he would testify at an open hearing. Yes, there are strategic advantages to doing a closed door deposition first, but get him under oath and in front of the American people, uh, if the outcome of this is he defies the subpoena, he's held in contempt and nothing, nothing, nothing happens. That is a bad outcome. That is not an outcome that furthers justice. That is not an outcome that furthers holding Joe Biden accountable for his misconduct. And so I think the best, yes, they're irritated that he's defying their request. And I think they ought to hold him in contempt. But they also ought to schedule that open hearing for the first week the House is back in January, and put him under oath, on record, on national TV and walk him through the evidence.
