Is McCarthy failing as House Speaker? Some Republicans are starting to thinks so.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican representing California, made it clear on Friday that any potential impeachment inquiry against President Biden would require a formal vote in the House of Representatives.
In a statement to Breitbart News, McCarthy emphasized the gravity of initiating an impeachment inquiry, stressing that House Republicans would treat it with utmost seriousness, avoiding any partisan motives. He highlighted the importance of the American people’s representation in this matter and asserted that any such inquiry should be subject to a vote on the House floor rather than initiated unilaterally.
According to Fox, McCarthy’s stance stands in contrast to the approach taken by his predecessor, Representative Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, during the first impeachment inquiry against former President Donald Trump. In 2019, Pelosi announced the commencement of an impeachment inquiry against Trump on her own, following the controversy surrounding Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Pelosi stated on September 24, 2019, “This week, the president has admitted to asking the president of Ukraine to take actions which would benefit him politically. Therefore, today, I’m announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. I’m directing our six committees to proceed with their investigations under that umbrella. The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law.”
Initially, the Trump administration resisted cooperation with the investigation, citing concerns about the lack of a House vote to initiate the inquiry. It wasn’t until several weeks later, on October 31, 2019, that the House finally authorized the impeachment inquiry through a vote, with 232 votes in favor and 196 against.
As of now, a spokesperson for McCarthy has not responded to requests for comment. However, sources have informed Fox News Digital that House Republican leaders are considering launching an impeachment inquiry against President Biden this month.
During a members-only conference call on Monday night, McCarthy reportedly discussed the possibility of an impeachment inquiry as a natural progression from ongoing investigations. Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, informed members on a previous call that McCarthy suggested a House vote on opening an impeachment inquiry could occur next month.
A source familiar with these discussions indicated that McCarthy has informed several conference members that Congress’ investigations have gained momentum and that an impeachment inquiry could be pursued in the fall, once lawmakers return from the August recess.
Presently, President Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, face scrutiny from three separate House GOP-led committees over allegations related to bribery and other forms of corruption in Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. Additionally, there is an ongoing investigation into a nearly finalized plea deal between Hunter Biden and the Justice Department regarding his taxes, although this deal has since fallen apart.
The House of Representatives is scheduled to reconvene from its six-week August recess on September 12. It is expected that discussions regarding an impeachment inquiry will be temporarily set aside as Congress prioritizes reaching an agreement on government funding by September 30, in order to avoid a potential partial government shutdown.