House Republicans set first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing for Sept. 28

House Republicans have scheduled their inaugural hearing for the Biden impeachment inquiry, set to take place on September 28. This hearing’s primary focus will be on addressing “constitutional and legal questions” related to allegations of President Joe Biden’s involvement in his son Hunter’s international business ventures, as reported by a spokesperson from the House Oversight Committee.

Over recent weeks, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and fellow Republicans have been asserting that Biden’s actions during his tenure as vice president suggest a pervasive “culture of corruption.” They argue that his son, Hunter Biden, leveraged the “Biden brand” to advance his business interests with foreign entities.

In addition to these developments, Representative James Comer of Kentucky, who chairs the Oversight Committee, has revealed plans to issue subpoenas for both Hunter Biden’s and the president’s brother James Biden’s personal and business bank records, potentially within the coming week. McCarthy appointed Comer to lead the inquiry, working in tandem with Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Ways & Means Chairman Jason Smith.

The White House, on the other hand, has characterized these actions by House Republicans as “extreme politics at its worst,” particularly given the proximity to the presidential campaign. Ian Sams, a White House spokesman, criticized the move, stating that it prioritizes unfounded personal attacks on President Biden over averting a government shutdown and the ensuing hardship on American families.

McCarthy’s decision to initiate the impeachment inquiry came in response to mounting pressure from the more conservative faction of his party, threatening his leadership position. Simultaneously, he is grappling with the challenge of passing necessary legislation to prevent a federal government shutdown at the end of the month.

The inquiry was launched without a formal House vote, leaving uncertainty about whether it would garner sufficient support from the slim GOP majority. Some lawmakers argue that the evidence presented thus far does not meet the Constitutional standard of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

This impeachment inquiry represents a significant step in the direction of a presidential impeachment, a rare occurrence in recent Congressional history. Republicans pursuing this course of action are also attempting to divert attention from the legal challenges facing the indicted former president, Donald Trump, and shift the spotlight toward President Biden.

The inquiry is expected to build upon previous investigative work conducted since Republicans gained the House majority in January. Chairman Comer’s focus has been on tracing the financial transactions related to the Biden family’s various business ventures. While allegations of influence peddling have been leveled against the Biden family, there has been no direct link established to the president himself.

One focal point of Republican attention has been an unverified tip to the FBI, alleging a bribery scheme involving Biden during his time as vice president. This claim, which emerged in 2019 and was part of Trump’s first impeachment, revolves around the assertion that Biden pressured Ukraine to remove its top prosecutor in order to halt an investigation into Burisma, an oil and gas company where Hunter Biden served on the board.

Democrats counter this narrative by pointing out that the Justice Department investigated the Burisma allegation during Trump’s presidency and closed the case after eight months due to insufficient evidence. Moreover, other countries also advocated for the removal of the Ukrainian official, citing corruption concerns. Additionally, a former business partner of Hunter Biden testified before Congress, refuting the bribery allegations as untrue.

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More about Impeachment Inquiry

• House Republicans schedule first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing
• White House responds to House Republicans’ impeachment inquiry
• House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s decision to launch impeachment inquiry
• Details on the allegations against President Biden and Hunter Biden
• Impeachment inquiry’s potential impact on Kevin McCarthy’s leadership
• The significance of initiating an impeachment inquiry
• Focus of the investigation into the Biden family’s activities
• Details of the bribery allegation involving Hunter Biden
• Democrats’ response to the bribery allegation