With Republican majority, Chamber opens impeachment inquiry against Biden

The president of the United States House of Representatives, Republican Kevin McCarthy, announced this Tuesday (12) that he ordered the opening of an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden.

The start of the process comes amid record approval from Biden’s administration. A Reuters/Ipsos survey revealed that 42% of the American population approves of the government, the highest level since March this year.

“I am directing our House committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden,” McCarthy told reporters.

McCarthy is being pressured by his most radical supporters. This Republican wing sees the impeachment process as compensation for the authorizations for more public investments that Congress granted to the Biden administration.

Republicans accuse Biden of enriching himself from his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business ventures in Ukraine. McCarthy said Republicans found evidence of phone calls, money transfers and other activities that “paint a picture of a culture of corruption” in the Biden family.

Despite the accusations against the family, the Speaker of the House did not cite any evidence of misconduct by Biden himself. McCarthy ordered three House committees — Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means — to conduct the investigation.

The strategy, however, is viewed with reservations within the Republican party itself. Many of them fear that the process will end up strengthening Biden rather than wearing him down.

Government spokesman Ian Sams publicly rebuked McCarthy via social media. “House Republicans have been investigating the president for nine months and have found no evidence of wrongdoing,” Sams wrote. “Party members themselves say this. He promised to hold a vote to open impeachment and now he has changed his mind because he has no support.”

McCarthy does not have the votes to carry out impeachment

The means by which the Speaker of the House decided to open the inquiry is a tacit recognition that McCarthy does not have the necessary votes to move forward with the impeachment process.

This is because the Republican decided, contradicting himself, to start the process without voting in the plenary. Two weeks ago, McCarthy gave an interview stating that he would not do so through one person’s statement.

“Opening an impeachment inquiry is a serious matter, and House Republicans would not treat it lightly or use it for political purposes. The American people deserve to be heard on this matter through their elected representatives,” he said at the time.