Karine Jean-Pierre emphasizes Hunter Biden's status as a 'private citizen'

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to comment when asked by DailyMail.com on Thursday why she was unable to disclose information regarding the involvement of President Joe Biden in the legal defense of his son Hunter.

Officials have consistently contended that Hunter Biden is a private citizen. However, when queried about her inability to divulge information pertaining to the president, a public figure, Jean-Pierre shifted the conversation to Hunter, restating her prior assertions that Hunter is not employed at the White House, as the Daily Mail reported.

"Emily, I really don't have anything else to add. He's a private citizen. He's not a member of the White House," Jean-Pierre said when queried by a reporter. "He doesn't work here. I just don't have anything else to share.

"I would have to — I would have to refer you to Hunter's representative. I don't have anything else to add from — to that," she said.

The implication is that the White House has no responsibility to speak to what the first son does or does not do.

More Talk of Hunter …

The subject of Hunter Biden has generated considerable controversy within the White House, as aides and observers exercise caution when discussing the first son.

An instance of this was on Wednesday, when the White House declined to comment on whether or not President Joe Biden was aware that Hunter would disrupt the Republicans' contempt hearing on Capitol Hill. This unexpected action caused pandemonium in the Capitol.

Jean-Pierre stated that she would not divulge the president's confidential conversations and argued that Hunter is a private citizen who acts independently.

"Hunter, as you all know, is a private citizen. He's not a member of this White House, but he makes his own decisions," she said during her daily press briefing.

Hunter's Chaos at the Capitol ...

Wednesday morning, Hunter Biden unexpectedly appeared at a hearing of the House Oversight Committee as members prepared to vote to find him in contempt of Congress for refusing to sit for a private deposition. This incident wreaked havoc on Capitol Hill. Hunter had wished to provide testimony in public; however, that request was denied by the Republicans who insisted that he answer questions in a private, transcribed interview.

All inquiries about the appearance were directed to Hunter Biden's own representatives by Jean-Pierre.

Jean-Pierre was similarly cagey regarding Hunter's Dec. 13 appearance on Capitol Hill. In response to a subpoena from House Republicans, the first son went to the Capitol to offer to testify in public, but GOP legislators insisted on a closed-door deposition, prompting him to deliver a speech outside the Senate side of the complex.

When Jean-Pierre was asked about Hunter Biden's actions on that day she said: "The president was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say."