The House is back, and with it comes the relentless churn of the impeachment news cycle. Republicans are digging in their heels, launching an impeachment inquiry against President Biden, predicated on a trifecta of accusations: abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption.
The inquiry will be led by Chairman James Comer at the Committee on Oversight, in coordination with Chairman Jim Jordan of the Judiciary Committee and Chairman Jason Smith on Ways and Means.
The Republicans currently hold sway in the House, hinting at the potential for history to repeat itself, mirroring the outcomes of the previous Trump impeachment. The ultimate outcome, if the impeachment proceeds to its conclusion, probably lies with the Democratic-controlled Senate, poised to slam the brakes on this endeavor.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy stated, “I did not make this decision lightly,” and affirmed, “We will go wherever the evidence takes us.”
McCarthy leveled the accusation that President Biden has fostered a “culture of corruption.”
Concerning the allegations against Biden, McCarthy laid out the case:
- “Through our investigations, we have found that President Biden lied to the American people about knowledge of his family’s foreign business dealings.”
- “Eyewitnesses have testified that the President joined multiple phone calls and had multiple interactions, dinners, resulting in cars and millions of dollars to his son and his son’s business partners.”
- “Bank records show that nearly $20 million in payments were directed to Biden family members and associates through various shell companies.”
- “The Treasury Department, alone, has more than 150 transactions involving the Biden family and other business associates that were flagged as “suspicious activity” by U.S. banks.
- “Even a trusted FBI informant has alleged a bribe to the Biden family.
- “Biden used his official office to coordinate with Hunter Biden’s business partners about Hunter’s role in Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company.”
- “Despite these serious allegations, it appears that the President’s family has been offered special treatment by Biden’s own administration; treatment he would not otherwise have received if he were not related to the President.”
In response to McCarthy’s announcement today, Ian Sams, the White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations, accused the Speaker of political extremism.
“House Republicans have been investigating the President for 9 months, and they’ve turned up no evidence of wrongdoing. His own Republican members have said so. He vowed to hold a vote to open impeachment, now he flip flopped because he doesn’t have support. This is extreme politics at its worst.”
Sams noted that just days ago, McCarthy had pledged that any impeachment inquiry would commence with a full vote of the House.
“He flip flopped on that today by unilaterally decreeing an inquiry – perhaps because he doesn’t have the votes from even within his own caucus,” Sams stated.
Leader Jeffries convened a press conference in which he asserted,”Extreme MAGA Republicans have launched an illegitimate impeachment inquiry that is a kangaroo court, fishing expedition and conspiracy theater rolled into one.”
He further stated, “There is not a shred of evidence that President Joe Biden has engaged in wrongdoing.”