Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has said she would file an ethics complaint against Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell for allegedly aiding Hunter Biden in defying a House subpoena. She made the statement on the “John Solomon Reports” podcast, describing charges against Swalwell as justified. However, Greene conceded that she doubted the Department of Justice (DOJ) would act since she accused it of being “politicized” and “weaponized,” and called smacking Swalwell with a censure another option.
The subpoena relates to an ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings. Reports suggest that Swalwell helped Biden stage a press conference last week and possibly reserved a space for it. This support prompted Republican representative Darrel Issa to accuse Swalwell of “aiding and abetting contempt.” He also noted that Hunter Biden would not have been able to organize the gathering on his own.
Greene argued that defying the subpoena was violating federal law and that Swalwell should be held accountable. She claimed that if the DOJ was unbiased, it would act against the California Democrat as a sitting member of Congress. Greene’s sharp comments reveal an increasingly tense atmosphere between Republicans and Democrats in Congress on the issue of investigating Hunter Biden.
The ethics complaint that Greene threatened to file against Swalwell would have referred to the House of Representatives’ Code of Official Conduct. The code lays out the rules and limits that lawmakers must abide by and outlines how ethics complaints are processed. Among other things, it stipulates that lawmakers must conduct themselves with integrity and honesty and serve the public interest impartially. If the complaint were to proceed, a panel of the House Ethics Committee would have investigated it.
Greene has been outspoken in the past, having already been stripped of her committee positions for previously spreading hateful and bigoted views. She is unusual in her outspokenness regarding potential ethical breaches by her colleagues. However, what is more worrying is that some observers are concerned that if the DOJ does not act convincingly in a politically impartial manner, such cases will become more regular among Congress members.
The tussle between members of Congress over ethical issues has drawn more attention to the ongoing investigation into Hunter Biden. It remains to be seen how the DOJ will act regarding the Republican calls for action against Swalwell.
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