US House Speaker McCarthy orders Prez Biden's impeachment inquiry; White House slams move
Biden and McCarthy
Republican USHouse of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday (Sep 12) said that he is directing a House committee to open an impeachment inquiry into Democratic President Joe Biden over his family’s business dealings. The move, set to further divide American lawmakers as they continue to struggle to pass legislation to avoid a government shutdown, also comes ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
What did McCarthy say?
McCarthy said the House Oversight Committee’s investigation so far has found a “culture of corruption” around the Biden family, in reference to the probe sought by Republicans into dealings of the incumbent president’s son, Hunter Biden.
“These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption, and they warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives,” said McCarthy, during a press conference at the Capitol.
“I am directing our House committee to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden,” McCarthy said, alleging that the Democratic president had lied to the American people about his son’s foreign business dealings.
He added, “We will go where the evidence takes us.”
The announcement also comes amid mounting pressure on McCarthy from the Republican party’s right flank to take action over Hunter’s business dealings when his father was serving as the vice president under Barack Obama andhas also been a constant target for the GOP.
Three committees will begin gathering evidence of possible financial misconduct, said McCarthy.
McCarthy’s dilemma
Republicans, who now narrowly control the House, have repeatedly accused Biden of profiting while he served as VP from his son’s foreign business ventures, but have notreportedly provided any substantial evidence for their claim.
While no US president has been removed from office by impeachment, the procedure has now become commonplace.
The House, then controlled by Democrats, impeached former US president and now Republican frontrunner Donald Trump in 2019 and 2021. He was acquitted both times after the impeachment resolution failing to gain a majority in the Senate.
It is reported that some hardline Republicans have threatened to remove McCarthy as the speaker of the House if he does not back impeachment efforts against Biden.
It is also worth noting that McCarthy’s decision was not preceded by a House vote, which is not necessary but can add legitimacy to the impeachmenteffort.
This also comes as the House Speaker is struggling to pass legislation needed to avoid a federal government shutdown at the end of the month.
The US government funding will end on September 30 – the end of the federal fiscal year – before which Congress must pass new funding bills or risk a shutdown and the interruption of government services.
White House responds
The move has been called “extreme politics at its worst,” by White House spokesman for oversight and investigations, Ian Sams, on social media. He also said that the Republicans have turned up no evidence of wrongdoing.
“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,” said Sams.
(With inputs from agencies)
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