Is it time to say bye bye Biden?
According to a report from Politico on Friday, the House Republican majority is gearing up to vote, possibly as early as next week, to formalize the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The move aims to make the investigation into the Biden family’s overseas business dealings official, providing Republicans with a stronger position in potential legal disputes over subpoenas issued during the probe.
Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., confirmed the strategy after a closed-door meeting on Friday morning, where Republicans were briefed on the investigation’s status. Members present reported no opposition to proceeding with a vote at the earliest opportunity.
This marks a notable shift from the earlier stages of the inquiry when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., informally initiated the process months ago, facing concerns from some moderate Republican members at that time.
Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a moderate member, explained the pressure faced by Republicans, stating, “They said we’ll only give you documents if you have a vote on an inquiry, so I feel like we have to vote yes, and it’s different than an impeachment itself.”
However, not all Republicans are on board with the formal impeachment. Representatives Ken Buck of Colorado and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania expressed hesitancy. Buck mentioned that he hadn’t seen any compelling evidence to support the inquiry, while Fitzpatrick wanted to consult with GOP Reps. James Comer of Kentucky and Jim Jordan of Ohio before making a decision.
Anticipating an imminent vote, House Democrats issued a five-page memo on Friday criticizing Republicans for asserting that Biden exchanged policy decisions for money during his tenure as vice president. The memo, released by the Oversight Committee, contends that the evidence collected shows no wrongdoing by President Biden and refutes the core allegations against him as false.