'Don’t fall for it': Arizona GOP Congress members skeptical of Hunter Biden indictment

The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Hunter Biden, the president's son, on Thursday on three federal gun charges. Republican members of Arizona’s congressional delegation expressed concern about the news, while Democrats remained quiet.

The indictment comes after a previous plea deal, which would have allowed him to avoid jail time, fell through. So far in the investigations surrounding Hunter Biden, Arizona’s Republican lawmakers in Congress have been critical of the case, his foreign business dealings and his relationship with his politically powerful family.

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., who has been a vocal critic of Hunter Biden and the DOJ’s case against him, said on X, formally known as Twitter, that the move was to make the public “think that the DOJ is fair.”

Biggs, who joined other Republicans in the opinion that the department is giving preferential treatment to Hunter Biden because he is President Joe Biden's son, said on X, “Don’t fall for it. They’re trying to protect him from way more serious charges coming his way!"

In July 2023, Biggs questioned Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden's, during a meeting of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. During that meeting, Archer alleged that then-Vice President Joe Biden spoke on speakerphone with his son’s foreign business associates.

In reaction to testimony that Joe Biden brought "the most value to the brand," Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., said on X on Thursday: “You can’t make this stuff up!”

Others in Arizona’s congressional delegation, including all of the Democrats, so far have remained quiet about the development.

Indicted: Hunter Biden faces federal gun charges and is accused of lying about drug addiction

Previous to the indictment, other U.S. House Republicans from Arizona, especially Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., and Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., have been outspoken in their criticism about Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings in relation to his father.

After concerns were raised by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., that IRS whistleblowers alleged the DOJ blocked special counsel David Weiss’ attempts to indict Hunter Biden in California and Washington, D.C., Schweikert discussed the case on Fox Business.

"When you have the IRS coming to you saying, 'The Justice Department isn’t letting the IRS criminal investigators do their job' that should set off alarm bells,” Schweikert told Fox Business on June 27.

Hunter Biden’s indictment comes after McCarthy opened an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden on Tuesday after pressure from Congress’ far-right lawmakers. While the announcement came with no formal House vote, McCarthy said he would task three committees to look for evidence of financial wrongdoing or corruption by the president.

U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., celebrated the announcement of the inquiry, saying he “wholeheartedly support(ed) Speaker McCarthy’s decision,” in a statement. However others, such as U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., told NPR that impeachment talks are “a distraction and a waste of time."

Reach the reporter Morgan Fischer at morgan.fischer@gannett.com or on X, formally known as Twitter, @morgfisch.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's lawmakers have mixed reactions to Hunter Biden indictment