On Tuesday, the Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, made an announcement that the Republicans would initiate an impeachment investigation into Joe Biden. This investigation centers around unverified allegations of corruption within Biden’s family’s business dealings.
“McCarthy’s announcement signifies the start of what people anticipate will be a series of Republican-led hearings.” These hearings aim to persuade the American public that President Biden benefited from the business activities of his son, Hunter Biden, and other family members. However, it remains uncertain whether the GOP possesses the necessary evidence to substantiate these long-standing claims, or whether they can garner the required votes for impeachment.
This campaign unfolds against the backdrop of McCarthy’s efforts to maintain his leadership in the lower chamber of Congress. He faces the challenge of holding onto his position with only a slim four-seat Republican majority, and there’s growing discontent among the party’s most conservative lawmakers. “Conservatives are upset about a deal McCarthy made with President Biden to raise the debt ceiling while cutting some government spending.” As a form of recompense, they have demanded an impeachment inquiry.
Kevin McCarthy stated, “House Republicans have uncovered serious and credible allegations into the conduct of Joe Biden. Taken together, these allegations paint a picture of a culture of corruption.” He went on to announce the initiation of a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden by House committees. “Many view this move as the logical next step to collect all the necessary facts and offer answers to the American public.” McCarthy also expressed the belief that the President should want to address these questions and allegations.
The Initial Step towards Removing a President from Office
It’s important to note that while impeachment can be the initial step toward removing a president from office, it appears highly unlikely in this case. “If the House impeaches President Biden, the matter would then go to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority would need to convict him.” Achieving such a majority is a challenging hurdle, especially in a Senate currently controlled by Democrats. White House spokesman Ian Sams criticized McCarthy’s announcement as “extreme politics at its worst.”
Sams took to Twitter, stating, “House Republicans have been investigating the President for 9 months, and they’ve turned up no evidence of wrongdoing. His own GOP members have said so. “He promised to hold a vote to initiate impeachment, but now he’s changed his position because he lacks support.”
The oversight, judiciary, and ways and means committees, all aligned with McCarthy, will handle the impeachment inquiry. Since the start of the year, these committees have primarily focused on attempting to substantiate corruption allegations against the President.
Votes
The limited results of their efforts are evident as reports suggest that McCarthy currently lacks the necessary votes to support the impeachment of Biden. Earlier this month, McCarthy told Breitbart News, “If we move forward with an impeachment inquiry, it would occur through a vote on the floor of the People’s House and not through a declaration by one person.” However, he backtracked on Tuesday, omitting any mention of holding a vote to initiate the investigation.
The allegations of corruption against the President have primarily centered on his son, Hunter Biden, who has been under federal investigation since 2018. In July, a plea agreement Hunter reached with prosecutors to resolve charges related to tax evasion and false statements in acquiring a firearm fell apart. Prosecutors recently indicated that Hunter Biden could face indictment on the firearm-related charge by the end of this month.