Who is James Biden? Republicans gear up for closed-door interview with Joe Biden's brother

James Biden, President Joe Biden's brother, is expected to sit for a private interview on Wednesday as House Republicans continue their monthslong impeachment inquiry into the president.

Republicans allege Biden financially benefited from his family’s foreign business dealings, but they have yet to produce evidence directly implicating the president. Hunter Biden, the president's son, has long been at the center of GOP allegations, but lawmakers have also zeroed in on James Biden's previous actions and associates.

The interview with Joe Biden's brother, set for 10 a.m. in Washington, comes after GOP lawmakers leading the impeachment inquiry were dealt a major blow last week. A former FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, was indicted by Justice Department Special Counsel David Weiss for lying about Joe Biden and Hunter Biden’s involvement with a Ukrainian energy company.

Smirnov had been touted by Republicans for months as a credible source that shows the president and his son were directly involved in corruption schemes.

But as GOP lawmakers gear up to question the president's brother, here's what you need to know.

What will Republicans ask James Biden?

The congressional committees investigating the president have focused on James Biden’s business dealings and are interested in the extent to which, if any, the president was involved in them.

Lawmakers are likely to ask James Biden about a pair of checks he made to the president in 2017 in 2018 labeled on the memo line as a “loan repayment.”

The checks have become a major point for Republicans raising allegations against the president over his family's business practices. However, bank records previously reviewed by USA TODAY suggest the checks were indeed repayments for loans the president previously made to his brother.

Will Republicans interview Hunter Biden?

Hunter Biden, who is central to House Republicans’ accusations against the president, is scheduled to testify behind closed doors on Feb. 28 – after much back and forth between him and investigators.

The president's son last year delivered an emotional speech on Capitol Hill as he defied Republicans’ subpoena for a private deposition. He agreed to testify before lawmakers months ago – but said he would only speak in a public forum.

Hunter Biden in January agreed to the private deposition, but he will also be able to address lawmakers in the open next week. Following his closed-door interview, Hunter Biden will speak in a hearing before the House's Oversight Committee.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who is James Biden? Republicans will question the president's brother