House Republicans are moving forward with a resolution to formalize the impeachment inquiry on President Joe Biden, focusing on alleged corruption. The resolution, unveiled this week, is driven by three key committees: Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means.
The 14-page document instructs these committees to continue investigating whether there are sufficient grounds for impeachment. The resolution encompasses various aspects, including the release of deposition transcripts, hearings, and committee reports. It also allows the top Democrat in each committee to request subpoenas, witnesses, or information deemed essential for the inquiry.
Alongside this resolution, Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) introduced a separate resolution to authorize the enforcement of subpoenas issued by the chairmen of the three leading committees: James Comer (R-KY) of Oversight, Jim Jordan (R-OH) of Judiciary, and Jason Smith (R-MO) of Ways and Means.
A House Rules Committee session is scheduled for the coming Tuesday, paving the way for a potential vote on the impeachment resolution later in the week. If it passes, this process would resemble the initial impeachment inquiry against former President Donald Trump, where a vote to authorize wasn’t immediate.
Speaker Mike Johnson (GOP-LA) emphasized that this step is necessary to address the White House’s alleged “stonewalling,” which, according to him, has hindered investigators’ access to witnesses and documents. The White House has countered these claims of obstruction as baseless, providing a list of shared documents and personnel made available to Congress.
The inquiry primarily focuses on whether the Biden family’s business dealings have led to government corruption. This investigation has been largely motivated by financial transactions tracing back to foreign countries. Additionally, the handling of the criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, the president’s son, by the Department of Justice is under scrutiny.
The GOP, with its slim House majority, faces challenges in passing the resolution, especially after the recent expulsion of Rep. George Santos (R-NY). With Democrats expected to oppose and some Republicans, like Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), expressing hesitancy, the resolution’s success is not assured.
Even if the House formalizes the inquiry, any impeachment articles would require a substantial majority in the Democrat-led Senate for conviction. President Biden has dismissed the allegations as baseless, accusing Republicans of spreading lies.
However, many House Republicans view the formalization of the inquiry as a crucial step in uncovering the truth and strengthening their legal standing in potential court battles. As Rep. Armstrong stated, this vote is seen as essential to the pursuit of uncovering the full scope of the allegations.
