House Committees’ Perspective on Impeachment Inquiry
The chairmen of the Republican-led House Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means Committees have shared their viewpoint regarding the grounds for initiating an impeachment investigation against President Biden through a 30-page document. CBS News acquired this document, which was then distributed to all committee members this past Wednesday. The House Oversight panel’s inaugural hearing on this matter is slated for the upcoming Thursday.
Main Focus of the Inquiry
The document highlights the primary objective of the inquiry: determining if Mr. Biden potentially misused his federal role for the financial gain of his family or to shield any alleged misdeeds of his or his family members.
Hunter Biden’s Business Dealings
Central to the suspected misconduct is the foreign business activities of the president’s son, Hunter Biden.
Objective and Scope of the Inquiry
The leading Republicans stated, “The current aim is solely investigatory—to assess if there’s adequate basis for the Committees to propose impeachment articles against President Biden for the broader House’s review.” The memo further outlines that the investigation will cover the tenure from Joe Biden’s Vice Presidency up to the current day, encompassing his time outside of public service.
Ongoing Investigations and Findings
For some time now, the Republican-dominated committees in the House have delved into the dealings of both the president and his son. As of now, no concrete evidence has emerged to indicate any violation of the law by the president, any financial gains related to these supposed infractions, or any misuse of his position to favor his son.
Constitutional Grounds for Impeachment
According to the U.S. Constitution, grounds for impeaching a president include treason, bribery, or other significant criminal acts. The document reiterates, “The commencement of this inquiry doesn’t signify a resolution by the Committees.”
Democratic Response to the Inquiry
Representative Jamie Raskin, a prominent Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, expressed, “It’s bewildering to witness the extremeness of the current situation. Mere days ahead of a potential U.S. government shutdown, the Republicans set in motion an unfounded impeachment initiative against President Biden.”
House’s Traditional Impeachment Protocol
Historically, the full House casts a vote to instigate an impeachment probe. This protocol hasn’t been followed in the present case. Notably, in 2019, the House did vote to begin the inquiry during President Trump’s first impeachment, but abstained in 2021 during his second impeachment following the January 6th Capitol incident.
White House’s Stance on the Hearing
The White House has dismissed the upcoming Thursday’s hearing as a groundless political maneuver.
Chairman Jim Comer’s Allegations
Jim Comer, the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, alleges that based on communication logs, financial data, and interviews, Mr. Biden allowed his family to market him as ‘the brand’ globally, benefiting the Biden family financially.
White House’s Counter Memo
In response, the White House recently released a 15-page document on Tuesday, aiming to refute the Republicans’ specific allegations.
Minority’s Expert Witness
The minority has summoned Michael J. Gerhardt, a law professor from the University of North Carolina, to testify.
GOP’s Internal Disagreement on Funding
Amidst the backdrop of this hearing, House Republicans display signs of disagreement concerning the funding of the government.
McCarthy’s Decision on Impeachment Inquiry
Following escalating pressure from the most right-leaning members of his caucus, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy instructed House committees to initiate an impeachment investigation into the president earlier this month.
