This move may win over his ultraconservative critics.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced that he will endorse an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden on Tuesday, Sept. 12. This comes after a Republican probe into the business dealings of the president’s son, Hunter Biden. An impeachment inquiry would allow House Republicans access to bank records and other documents belonging to the president and his son.
McCarthy’s decision to announce this inquiry seems to be an attempt to extinguish doubt in his leadership ability by his ultraconservative critics. These critics have proved to be a challenge for McCarthy ever since his struggle to be voted House Speaker in January. Currently, ultraconservatives are accusing McCarthy of not standing his ground on spending, leading to him tasking three committees — Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means — with the inquiry.
Months of investigation from the Republican party have resulted in zero proof of financial wrongdoing or corruption on the part of the president or his family. This would indicate why McCarthy unilaterally decided to proceed with this investigation despite no formal House vote. It appears he lacks the votes needed from a skeptical GOP due to the lack of evidence implicating the president in Hunter Biden’s alleged misdoings. However, McCarthy believes the president has been lying about his knowledge of his son’s business dealings.
“House Republicans have uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden’s conduct,” McCarthy said. “Taken together, these allegations paint a picture of a culture of corruption.”
The White House quickly responded to McCarthy’s action by calling it “extreme politics at its worst.”
This inquiry is a contradiction of McCarthy’s past pushback against Democrats for initiating an impeachment inquiry into former President Trump without a formal House vote. McCarthy questioned the legitimacy of the investigation since the House had not authorized it. However, Democrats did eventually hold a formal House vote, authorizing the inquiry.
McCarthy is presently tasked with a mountain of responsibilities this fall. He is attempting to pass legislation to avoid a government shutdown, support the war in Ukraine and is now trying to acquire a Biden impeachment inquiry. If he fails to appease the conservatives that pushed him into the Speaker role, they can call a quick vote to “vacate the chair” and remove him from office. The formal impeachment inquiry into Biden may help him build allies amongst the Trump-supporting right-flank who wish to see Trump back in office in 2024.
White House spokesman Ian Sams said in regard to McCarthy’s agenda: “Speaker McCarthy shouldn’t cave to the extreme, far-right members who are threatening to shut down the government unless they get a baseless, evidence-free impeachment of President Biden. The consequences for the American people are too serious.”
Following the impeachment inquiry, if Republicans decide there is enough evidence of wrongdoing, the Judiciary Committee will write articles of impeachment against Biden. A majority vote in the committee will send the articles to the House floor where a majority vote will be needed to impeach Biden. If a majority vote is reached, the charges will be sent to the Senate and a formal trial will take place against Biden.
