House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) signaled this week that the House of Representatives will soon open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The move would signal a bolder tone from McCarthy and follows several impeachment resolutions offered by House Republicans.
McCarthy said Tuesday that he supported a formal investigation into the business dealings of the Biden family and the president’s actions.
During a statement on Capitol Hill, McCarthy said that Republican investigations found that “President Biden did lie to the American people about his own knowledge of his family’s foreign business dealings. Eyewitnesses have testified that the president joined on multiple phone calls and had multiple interactions, dinners resulted in cars and millions of dollars into his sons and his son’s business partners.”
His statement follows a wide-ranging investigation by the House Oversight Committee into the business practices of Biden’s son Hunter. Despite numerous denials that he was involved in Hunter’s numerous endeavors, evidence emerged that Biden spoke to a number of his son’s business associates.
McCarthy is expected to ask House Republicans to start such a formal investigation Thursday, calling it the “next logical step” in their look into the Biden family.
🚨BREAKING🚨
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy announces a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
"I am directing our House Committee to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden." pic.twitter.com/lDBIwo6LYP
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 12, 2023
The probe will allow for both special investigatory powers and an opportunity to compile and publicize the evidence found.
The investigations led by House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) is joined by those by House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH). The two committee chairs are expected to be at the forefront of the investigation.
McCarthy’s move does come with some political risk. He has been under pressure from allies of former President Donald Trump to launch such an impeachment inquiry. Following the difficult votes that made him Speaker earlier this year, there is a chance that follow-through, or a lack of follow-through, could imperil his position among the narrow Republican House majority.
It is not yet clear how many House Republicans would support such a probe, though several, including Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) have previously introduced impeachment resolutions against Biden.