Topline
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said on Fox News on Saturday he believes Republicans have the votes to launch a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden—the latest Republican effort to rebuke the president.
Republicans said a House floor vote on a formal inquiry could come as soon as next week. (Photo by … [+]
Key Facts
Johnson and House GOP conference chairwoman Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), who also appeared on Fox News, said they will hold a vote on launching a formal impeachment inquiry soon over allegations Biden and his family concocted an illegal scheme to use his power when he was vice president for financial gain.
They also argued the White House has “stonewalled” the three committees investigating Biden—the Judiciary, Oversight and Ways and Means—by accusing it of preventing witnesses from coming forward and withholding documents.
On Friday, Republicans, including Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), said after a closed-door Republican conference meeting they could bring a vote to the House floor as early as next week, NBC News reported.
Johnson referenced former President Donald Trump’s impeachments, which he said Democrats did for “brazen, partisan political purposes,” and claimed that this impeachment inquiry is different because “we are the rule of law team.”
Key Background
Johnson’s predecessor, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), first initiated an impeachment inquiry into Biden in September over allegations that when Biden was vice president, he and his family—specifically his son, Hunter Biden—used his power to enrich themselves financially. At the time, McCarthy did not hold a vote of the entire House. If Johnson does, it will formalize this process. So far, the impeachment inquiry, which sparked the committee investigations, has not produced any evidence of wrongdoing by the president. And even if Republicans ultimately impeach Biden, he is very unlikely to be removed from office because Democrats control the Senate, which is responsible for deciding whether impeached presidents are removed. When Trump was president, Democrats impeached him twice, but he was acquitted in both Senate trials.
Chief Critic
Biden has continually denied the allegations Republicans are leveling at him, calling their impeachment effort illegitimate and pushing back against investigations, the Associated Press reported. In November, a top White House attorney wrote to House Republicans arguing they have “misrepresented the facts, ignored the overwhelming evidence disproving your claims, and repeatedly shifted the rationale for your ‘inquiry.’” Forbes has reached out to the White House for further comment.
Tangent
In September, Trump suggested that Republicans’ impeachment inquiry into Biden is revenge for his own. During an interview with former NBC and Fox News host Megyn Kelly on SiriusXM radio, Trump said: “They did it to me … and nobody officially said this, but I think had they not done it to me … perhaps you wouldn’t have it being done to them.” He made similar remarks on his criminal indictments, and said that if he returns to the White House, he would “think about (the prospect of indicting Democrats) differently,” but that if he had never been indicted, he “never would’ve even thought about doing it.”
Further Reading
House Could Vote On Biden Impeachment Inquiry As Soon As January, Report Says (Forbes)
Trump Suggests Biden Impeachment Is Revenge For His Own Impeachments (Forbes)
Biden Impeachment Inquiry: All The Allegations Against The President Leveled By House GOP, Explained (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/willskipworth/2023/12/02/speaker-johnson-believes-he-has-enough-votes-to-formalize-biden-impeachment-inquiry/