Biden Administration’s Approach to Impeachment Inquiry: Disregard, Segregate, Admonish, and Fundraise

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On Capitol Hill, Republican representatives fully endorsed House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s declaration of an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, at the White House, the President was emphasizing the vital role of bipartisan cooperation in cancer research, sidestepping questions hurled at him regarding the impeachment proceedings.

This behavior is indicative of Biden’s overarching re-election message: the belief that by effectively governing, he will demonstrate his worthiness for another four-year term, relegating the impeachment discussion to the background.

A mere hour before, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had labeled the inquiry a “political maneuver,” redirecting inquiries about specifics to the White House Counsel’s Office.

Regarding House Republicans, she stated, “We believe they should collaborate with us on pressing issues—matters that genuinely concern the American populace.”

Central to the White House’s approach for negating impeachment actions instigated ahead of the 2024 elections by Republicans—efforts aimed at associating Biden with his son Hunter’s commercial activities—is a sense of moral high ground. This comes as the GOP aims to divert focus from Donald Trump’s ongoing legal complications.

Ever since Republicans secured a majority in the House in the recent November elections, the White House has been bracing for potential impeachment proceedings. Roughly 24 staff members in the counsel’s office have been specifically assigned to this issue. The newly appointed chief counsel, Ed Siskel, is an alum of the Obama administration legal team that formulated the defense strategy against congressional probes into the 2012 Benghazi attack, which resulted in the deaths of four Americans.

The prevailing playbook for the White House in addressing impeachment has been clear: Disregard, Segregate, Admonish. That is, to dismiss allegations as unfounded, concentrate on governance, delegate impeachment-related matters to the legal team, and reprimand those lending undue credence to the proceedings.

Upon McCarthy’s recent declaration to proceed with impeachment, the counsel’s office circulated a memorandum to media executives, criticizing the extent and nature of their coverage.

“The media should heighten its scrutiny of House Republicans for initiating an impeachment inquiry predicated on falsehoods,” the memo asserted.

The impeachment issue is complicated for Biden as it centers on his personal relationship with his 53-year-old son Hunter, a mix of familial pride and vulnerability. To date, despite prolonged investigations, Republicans have yet to produce substantial evidence implicating Joe Biden in any malfeasance. Hunter Biden’s legal representation maintains a consistent message.

“Instead of squandering time and taxpayer resources on this political spectacle, Mr. McCarthy should steer Congress towards more substantive governance,” attorney Abbe Lowell remarked. “The American people deserve better.”

Before this development, President Biden generally received questions concerning a parallel criminal investigation into Hunter’s business activities. His responses have been succinct and optimistic, affirming his son’s innocence.

However, with this week’s formal inquiry announcement, the dynamics have slightly shifted, compelling a more assertive approach. Fundraising efforts by the Biden re-election campaign have also commenced, sending out emails and texts decrying the inquiry.

Vice President Kamala Harris sent an email appeal to prospective donors, stating, “They are hurling every possible accusation at Joe because they recognize they cannot challenge our accomplishments. If you’ve been contemplating demonstrating your support, this is the moment.”

Impeachment threats used to be exceptional occurrences, making historical comparisons limited. Unlike Trump’s two impeachments, which were not rooted in personal conduct, the current inquiry against Biden is more reminiscent of the impeachment against President Bill Clinton in the late 1990s, spearheaded by then Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich.

“It’s instructive to consider the electoral outcome for Gingrich and GOP House members following the 1998 midterm elections,” Lanny Davis, then-special counsel during the Clinton administration, commented. “They lost five seats to the Democrats, contravening U.S. historical norms.”

He praised the Biden administration’s strong, fact-based rebuttals against the impeachment efforts.

Meanwhile, Rep. Ted Lieu, a leading Democrat, stated that there are no parallels between the Democratic impeachments of Trump and the Republicans’ pursuit of Biden. McCarthy claims that the ongoing House investigations depict a “culture of corruption” within the Biden family.

Chairman of the Oversight Committee, James Comer, R-Ky., stated that he hopes the inquiry concludes before the election season intensifies. “This impeachment inquiry wouldn’t be necessary if the administration would cooperate,” he said.

While impeachment discussions were rife, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden focused on an administrative discussion on cancer research, one of the President’s major objectives. Their late son, Beau, succumbed to brain cancer. After their remarks, reporters were eager to question Biden on impeachment; however, he chose to remain silent.

Contributions to this report were made by Big Big News Writers Chris Megerian, Stephen Groves, Farnoush Amiri, and Lisa Mascaro.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Biden Administration’s Impeachment Strategy

More about Biden Administration’s Impeachment Strategy

• Biden Administration’s Impeachment Strategy
• House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s Announcement
• Remarks by White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre
• Role of the White House Counsel’s Office in Impeachment
• Impeachment Inquiries in U.S. History
• Biden Re-election Campaign’s Fundraising Strategies
• Overview of the Impeachment of President Bill Clinton
• Comments by Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer
• Parallel Criminal Investigation into Hunter Biden’s Business Dealings
• Democratic Party’s Stance on Biden Impeachment Inquiry