House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., faced criticism from Democrats after it was revealed that he had loaned his brother $200,000. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Fla., a member of the Oversight committee, took a jab at Comer by mocking his video where he signed off on subpoenas to President Joe Biden’s brother James and son Hunter.
Moskowitz sarcastically commented on Twitter, “It has been reported that Comer also loaned his brother $200k. We fully expect James to comply, just like the Trumps.”
Comer had subpoenaed James Biden as part of his congressional investigation into alleged shady business practices by the Biden family. He focused on two personal loan repayments from James Biden to his brother, which occurred in 2017 and 2018 when Joe Biden was neither in office nor a candidate.
However, The Daily Beast revealed that Comer himself had engaged in similar transactions with his own brother. Kentucky property records showed that Comer and his brother had swapped land related to their family farming business. In one transaction, Comer funneled extra money to his brother, and other land swaps were followed by new applications for special tax breaks.
Comer and his GOP allies have tried to use the Biden transactions as evidence of possible impeachable offenses. However, multiple news organizations, including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, and FactCheck.org, have debunked these claims.
The Daily Beast also reported that Comer’s investigation into alleged government resource “weaponization” mirrored his own involvement in investigation-meddling scandals. Furthermore, Comer’s oversight hearing on the abuse of the COVID loan program also invoked his own actions and those of his brother.
Comer’s investigation has failed to produce any evidence connecting Joe Biden’s loans to family business activities. On the other hand, concerns have been raised about Comer’s potential conflicts of interest between his official role and his private family business.
Delaney Marsco, senior counsel for ethics at Campaign Legal Center, expressed concerns over whether Comer may be trying to gain a personal business advantage through his public and private roles.
Comer, who has held important governmental positions in agriculture oversight since 2003, has been involved in a family farming business. However, the business, named “Comer Land & Cattle,” does not appear to exist on paper.
Comer’s focus on Biden’s loans while having his own questionable transactions has led to Democratic criticism. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., commented, “Can’t make this up,” while Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., shared Moskowitz’s video and questioned whether Comer would comply with the request for documents on his transaction with his brother.
