Republicans are preparing to conduct a critical closed-door interview with James Biden as part of the impeachment probe.

House Republicans are gearing up for key interviews with President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, and his brother, James, in the next couple of weeks. These interviews could decide the future of the investigation. Recent testimonies from people close to the Biden family suggested that Joe Biden wasn’t involved in their foreign business dealings, making the investigation harder for the Republicans. With doubts growing within the GOP about their ability to impeach Biden, especially in an election year, the final decision might come after these interviews. House Speaker Mike Johnson may have to make some tough calls.

There have been reports about loan repayment checks attributed to James Biden. These checks have raised questions and garnered attention.

Republicans thought they hit the jackpot with two checks from James Biden to Joe Biden. But it turns out, these checks were for loan repayments, not some big scandal. One check, for $200,000, even had “loan repayment” written on it. It seems like James Biden got money from a struggling health company and used it to repay the loan to his brother.

Republicans presented another check from James Biden to Joe Biden, this one for $40,000 and labeled as a “loan repayment.” House Oversight Chairman James Comer doubts that Joe Biden actually lent money to his brother, alleging that the $40,000 is “laundered China money.”

Democratic committee members and James Biden’s lawyer have pushed back against Chairman Comer’s claims. They assert that the committee possesses documents indicating a $200,000 loan from Joe Biden to James Biden. CNN has reviewed banking records that support the Democrats’ claims.

Although this evidence reviewed by CNN may only be a fraction of what the committee has, it doesn’t conclusively prove the existence of the loan. Nonetheless, it suggests that Democrats have some documents supporting their assertions about the check. Additionally, it implies that Comer has not disclosed all relevant documents, potentially undermining his efforts to cast doubt on the Bidens.

People who used to work with James Biden say he often talked about his close ties to his brother, Joe Biden, to help with business deals worldwide. However, this clashes with claims made by Republicans, like Comer, who paint Joe Biden in a negative light. Republicans spoke with Carol Fox, who oversaw the bankruptcy of a healthcare company James Biden was involved with, to learn more.

In a lawsuit from 2022, it’s alleged that James Biden used his last name to imply he could attract investments from the Middle East because of his political connections. However, there’s no evidence of Joe Biden’s involvement in his brother’s business dealings. Republicans also spoke with Joseph Langston, a longtime friend of the Bidens. Langston hasn’t talked to Joe Biden in over 15 years and denies that Joe Biden received any money from their business ventures. He also stated that James Biden never sought his brother’s help in their business matters.

Other Biden family business associates have also shared their perspectives.

Republicans have been interviewing people associated with the Bidens. Rob Walker, who worked on business deals with them, said Joe Biden wasn’t involved. Eric Schwerin, who handled Joe Biden’s paperwork, also confirmed he wasn’t involved in family business matters. Mervyn Yan, who worked with Hunter and James Biden on a project, said he never spoke to Joe Biden. Hunter Biden’s lawyer stated that Joe Biden had no role in giving Hunter loans. Allegations against Joe Biden by Tony Bobulinski remain unproven, and others have contradicted them. Hunter Biden’s art dealer clarified that he never discussed pricing with the president. He did mention receiving a call from the president to congratulate his daughter.