Republican House Speaker Calls for Impeachment Inquiry into President Biden
Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has called for an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden amid mounting pressure. McCarthy directed the House Committee to initiate a formal investigation to impeach Biden, citing the President’s alleged lies to the American people regarding his son’s foreign business transactions.
Republicans Angered by Previous Impeachments
Many members of McCarthy’s party are angry over the previous impeachments of Republican President Donald Trump in 2019 and 2021. Despite being acquitted both times in the Senate, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives pursued impeachment, which led to frustration among Republicans.
Accusations Against Biden and His Son
Biden, who defeated Trump in the 2020 elections, is seeking re-election next year. Republicans, who now have a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, have accused Biden of benefiting from his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business projects during his time as vice president from 2009 to 2017. However, no concrete evidence has been provided to support these allegations.
Testimony Highlights Alleged Influence Peddling
During a House hearing, a former business partner of Hunter Biden testified that Hunter Biden sold the illusion of access to power while his father was vice president. This testimony raised concerns about potential influence peddling.
White House Denies Basis for Investigation
The White House has dismissed the calls for investigation, stating that there is no basis for such action. Biden mocked Republicans over the possibility of facing isolation due to their attempts to impeach him.
Democrats Accuse Republicans of Distraction Tactics
Democrats argue that Republicans’ talk of impeaching Biden is an attempt to divert attention from the legal problems faced by Trump, who is facing multiple criminal indictments in his bid for the party’s nomination in the 2024 US elections.
Pressure on Republicans to Impeach Biden
Trump has pressured Republicans to initiate impeachment proceedings against Biden. Some hard-right Republicans have even threatened not to vote in favor of spending bills unless McCarthy approves an impeachment inquiry.
The Impeachment Process and Unlikelihood of Success
The US Constitution grants Congress the power to remove federal officials, including the president, for treason, bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors. However, any efforts to impeach Biden are unlikely to succeed. Even if the Republican-controlled House votes to impeach Biden, it would almost certainly fail in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
Trump’s Impeachment History
Trump is the only US president to be impeached twice. In the first impeachment, he was charged with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The second impeachment was for incitement of rebellion following the attack on the US Capitol building by his supporters. While Trump was acquitted both times, the second trial aimed to prevent him from assuming the presidency again.
Biden’s Response to Impeachment Threats
Biden has mocked Republican lawmakers who have threatened to impeach him, suggesting that they may need to find something else to criticize him for, such as inflation. He expressed amusement at the idea of being fired due to decreasing inflation rates.
