This is outrageous.
The White House is cautioning House Republicans about the potential consequences of pursuing an impeachment inquiry against President Biden, suggesting that it could further divide an already fractured party.
According to The Hill, the likelihood of an impeachment inquiry seems to be on the rise, with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) recently hinting at the possibility of launching one as early as September.
Republicans have been vocal in their criticism of the White House, alleging corruption related to the Biden family’s business and lobbying activities, claiming that they leveraged political connections to gain business opportunities in Ukraine.
Conservative media has also joined the chorus of voices highlighting Biden’s alleged corruption, particularly in light of the Biden Justice Department’s federal indictments against former President Trump. Many Republicans and GOP voters are eager to challenge Biden over what they perceive as politically motivated investigations into his predecessor.
Despite these developments, the White House remains confident that if the GOP proceeds with an impeachment inquiry centered on the Biden family’s finances, it would ultimately harm Republicans more than it would hurt Biden.
White House spokesperson Ian Sams remarked, “This baseless impeachment exercise would be a disaster for congressional Republicans, and don’t take our word for it: just listen to the chorus of their fellow Republicans who admit there is no evidence for their false allegations and that pursuing such a partisan stunt will ‘backfire.'”
While McCarthy has entertained the idea of initiating an impeachment inquiry when Congress reconvenes in the fall, the White House has actively discouraged this notion through memos and statements.
White House aides have cited lawmakers such as Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), who emphasized the need for more substantial evidence to move forward, and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who expressed concerns about emulating the British Parliament’s path.
They have also highlighted Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.), representing a district won by Biden, as someone who has stated that the GOP is not yet ready for impeachment, while Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) dubbed the idea “impeachment theater.”
According to a source familiar with their thinking, “The White House sees highlighting the divisions within the Republican caucus as a way to further show that these half-baked efforts are little more than a political stunt and driven by their extreme right-wing flank.”
Given the narrow majority of House Republicans, McCarthy has little room for error when launching an inquiry. He also risks endangering his party’s majority if moderate Republicans from Biden-won districts are compelled to vote on such a contentious issue during a crucial election year in which they aim to expand their majority.
Former Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) remarked, “Some people say he’s threading a needle, I think he’s threading a quantum atom. A needle is easy. This is a whole new level. When you’ve got a four-vote majority right now, it’s a whole new level of maneuvering.”
Israel suggested that despite the challenging math, the White House shouldn’t dismiss the threat entirely, as McCarthy faces pressure from the House’s conservative wing.
“The White House has an obligation to take these threats seriously because you just never know how far MAGA Republicans will go and whether Kevin McCarthy will succumb to their pressure. But, you can contrast it to your own policy achievements, and that’s exactly what they’re doing,” he said.
As the potential for an impeachment inquiry looms, the White House has put a team in place in anticipation of possible moves by Republicans. White House spokesperson Ian Sams has been actively discussing impeachment matters for months, and recently, President Biden appointed Ed Siskel as White House counsel to lead the legal team in managing responses to oversight and investigations. Siskel has prior experience overseeing the White House’s legal responses to congressional oversight investigations during the Obama administration.
In terms of public opinion, the White House appears to have the upper hand, at least for now. A new poll from Public Policy Polling, a left-leaning group, reveals that 56 percent of Americans view an impeachment inquiry into Biden as more of a partisan political maneuver. Additionally, 51 percent of those polled believe that such an inquiry is primarily aimed at damaging Biden politically, while only 45 percent think it is about uncovering the truth.
While grappling with the potential impeachment inquiry, Biden and his White House will also face uncomfortable questions regarding his son, who is under investigation by the Justice Department. Republicans are even considering an investigation into the appointment of a special counsel in that case following the collapse of a plea deal between Hunter and federal prosecutors during a court hearing in July.