House Republicans launch impeachment inquiry into President Biden
Images: Chip Somodevilla/Getty | Andrew Harnik/AP
Yesterday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden over allegations of corruption, representing an escalation of ongoing House investigations into the business dealings of Biden's son Hunter.
đ¤ What are the allegations?... Republicans have been looking into whether Joe Biden played a role in, or benefited from, Hunter Bidenâs overseas business affairs.
In testimony before the House in July, an IRS whistleblower alleged the ongoing DOJ investigation into Hunter found members of the Biden family (not including Joe Biden) received a combined ~$17 million from foreign business dealings in Ukraine, Romania, and China from 2014 to 2019.
- House Republicans claim these payments were part of an illegal influence-peddling scheme involving then-VP Joe Biden (but havenât yet produced conclusive evidence showing he was involved).
- GOP leaders also say an impeachment inquiry will allow them to fully investigate any potential wrongdoing by President Biden due to added subpoena powers.
đ On the flip side: The White House maintains that President Biden wasnât involved in his sonâs business affairs and hasn't done anything wrong, saying House Republicans have failed to turn up any evidence connecting Biden to foreign payments despite nine months of investigations.
- Congressional Democrats have also painted the GOP-led probe as unfounded and a clear sign of political payback for former President Trumpâs multiple impeachments.
đ Looking ahead⌠McCarthyâs announcement is the first move in a political process that could eventually see articles of impeachment filed against President Biden and taken to the House for a full vote â though impeachment inquiries can also end without bringing any formal charges.
It's unclear whether Republicans would have the 218 House votes needed to impeach Biden. But if they do, the process would then head to the evenly-divided Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required to convict Biden and remove him from office.
đ Flash poll: Do you agree with House Speaker McCarthyâs decision to launch an impeachment inquiry into President Biden?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying â
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that, despite their best efforts, congressional Republicansâ investigations have failed to develop credible evidence that Biden as vice president ever profited from Hunterâs business dealings.
- Others contend that impeachment inquiries have historically been launched after the discovery of blatantly incriminating evidence â which seems to be clearly lacking in House Republicansâ case against President Biden.
- âKevin McCarthy is pushing a Biden impeachment inquiry so thin you can see right through itâ âLA Times Editorial Board
- âWhere Is the Evidence, Speaker McCarthy?â âDavid French, NY Times
- âThe GOP's Ill-Fated Biden Impeachment Inquiry Will Cost Republicans the Houseâ âYasmin Radjy, Newsweek
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that Democrats started the regrettable trend of impeachments being used for political purposes, and that the bar for actually removing Biden from office due to impeachment should be high.
- Others contend that opening an impeachment inquiry into President Biden is a no-brainer, given that GOP House investigations have proven that Joe was in close contact with Hunterâs enterprises.
- âImpeachment Is the New Censureâ âWSJ Editorial Board
- âWhy opening a Biden impeachment inquiry is a no-brainerâ âNY Post Editorial Board
- âHouse GOP would dig own grave by rushing to impeach Bidenâ âQuin Hillyer, National Review
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