WASHINGTON George Bergs thought Hunter Biden s art would sell.

Biden had struggled with addiction, caused scandal and suffered public humiliation, yet hed sobered up in 2019 and was trying to turn his life around as a painter. And it helped that he had a famous last name.

But Bergs, who owns an art gallery in New York and held exclusive rights to sell Bidens art and hosted several shows for him, did not renew his contract last year.

I never expected the whole security issue or the death threats and people assuming political affiliation, which was completely wrong, Bergs told lawmakers this month during a four-hour deposition on Capitol Hill, according to a transcript .

Bergs, whos donated to both Democratic and Republican campaigns (including Donald Trumps 2020 reelection campaign), seemed to dislike that people made assumptions about his politics based on his affiliation with Hunter Biden. And he didnt like the death threats, which he said were ongoing.

It was a little bit more than I could chew, he said. I kind of wanted my life back. So I havent agreed to renew that contract now.

The revelation that Bergs did not renew his contract with the presidents son runs counter to the story Republicans have told about Hunter Biden. Theyve accused him of cashing in on his family name, taking millions from foreign nationals and fancy art buyers, despite being totally unqualified, because he was actually just selling access to his father. Bergs decision shows there were clear limits to the market for Hunter Bidens work, rather than an unlimited desire to bribe the Biden family.

Bergs said, essentially, that the Biden brand became a problem he has previously said hackers have targeted his gallery and it contributed to the decision to drop Hunter Bidens contract. A spokesperson for Bidens attorney did not respond to a query about whether he had found a new gallerist.

Bergs is one of several Hunter Biden associates Republicans are hauling in for interviews as they scrounge for a high crime or misdemeanor in their impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden. So far, theyve poured over Hunter Bidens bank records, scoured thousands of transactions and failed to substantiate any of the bribery allegations they trumpeted last year.