Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced his intention to initiate an impeachment investigation on Tuesday, calling it the “next logical step” following months of investigation into the Biden family by House Republicans. The investigations have not yet uncovered evidence that the president has broken the law.
— WASHINGTON Republicans supporting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s impeachment investigation of President Joe Biden insist it’s only equitable after months of investigations and two impeachments of President Donald Trump.
Democrats in Texas who worked on Trump’s impeachment, however, repel from the comparison.
“They do nothing but make Donald Trump pleased. Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Houston, stated in an interview, “They have made themselves the investigative arm of the Trump campaign, and they are attempting to exact what I would consider to be simple payback.”
Garcia served as a manager in Trump’s first impeachment trial in response to House allegations that he abused his office by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Biden prior to the 2020 election.
Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said in a statement, “The impeachments of Donald Trump began after serious investigations – first, after Trump attempted to extort Ukraine for political favors, and second, after he incited a deadly insurrection.” “These were grave offenses that posed a peril to our nation. This situation with Hunter Biden cannot be compared.”
After the violent assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Castro was a manager in Trump’s impeachment trial in 2021.
McCarthy announced his intention to initiate an impeachment investigation on Tuesday, stating that it was the “logical next step” following months of investigation by House Republicans into the Biden family.
Investigations have not yet uncovered evidence of the president’s direct participation in any of his son’s illegal activities.
However, House Republicans have described a “culture of corruption” in which the president’s son, Hunter Biden, used his father’s name and connections to advance his own business interests.
“It’s exactly what we want to know, the answers, and I believe the President would want to answer these questions and allegations as well,” McCarthy told reporters outside of his Capitol office.
Garcia contrasted McCarthy’s impeachment investigation with the sluggish, methodical buildup to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 2019 decision to initiate an impeachment investigation of President Trump.
Pelosi held off on impeaching Trump despite months of requests from her progressive colleagues until a phone call revealed Trump had pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden in exchange for military aid.
“The Republicans have a serious credibility problem with the general public because everyone heard the phone call,” Garcia stated. “It’s as if there’s been nothing in this one. There has been absolutely no evidence linking the president to any of the allegations made against Hunter Biden.
McCarthy is politically sensitive. He must maintain the confidence of a fractured, miniscule majority in the House, with a vocal far-right faction demanding impeachment as well as a host of policy concessions before enacting legislation to keep the federal government funded.
In the meantime, moderate and swing-district Republicans feared that an impeachment vote could alienate them from voters in the upcoming election cycle.
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has exhibited a lukewarm attitude toward impeachment in the past, expressing skepticism about the effort’s likelihood of success in a Democratic-controlled Senate.
Before McCarthy’s announcement, he told CNN, “I don’t think the House cares all that much about what Senate members think.” “If they actually do it, then it becomes our responsibility.
But I will not speculate on what they will ultimately do. I am aware that there are differences of opinion.” Cornyn’s office referred CNN’s request for comment on McCarthy’s announcement on Tuesday to the senator’s remarks.
An impeachment inquiry would escalate the investigations, but it would not necessarily result in the filing of articles of impeachment.
Numerous Texas Republicans issued resounding support for the initiative.
U.S. Representative and Judiciary Committee member Troy Nehls wrote on social media, “The walls are closing in on the Biden Family.” “I look forward to participating in the impeachment investigation.
” House Oversight Chair James Comer of Kentucky, House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan of Ohio, and House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith of Missouri will lead the impeachment investigation.
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz has been one of the most vocal supporters of impeachment. He has accused Biden on his podcast for months of using his position for personal gain and deceiving investigators to cover it up.
“The weight of evidence that Joe Biden received bribes from Ukrainian oligarchs and Chinese Communist Party officials is overwhelming,” Cruz tweeted on Tuesday. “The House is doing the proper thing by opening this impeachment investigation.”
Rep. John Carter (R-Round Rock) of the United States termed an investigation the “next step toward accountability.” Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Willis) stated that the investigation will enable House Republicans to “gather irrefutable evidence”
In a statement, U.S. Representative August Pfluger, R-San Angelo, said, “This Congress has uncovered grave wrongdoing; it is now time to formalize our investigation to combat Democrat stonewalling.”
In a social media post, U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, detailed the findings of his party’s investigations, including “suspicious” payments and contacts with Hunter Biden.
“An impeachment investigation will provide House Republicans with access to the evidence. He added, “If you have nothing to hide, you should not oppose a fact-finding mission.”
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However, Democrats retort that Republicans have had years to investigate Biden and sift through thousands of documents, but have yet to find evidence of presidential misconduct. Since the Republicans already control the House majority, they could use their subpoena authority.
Castro stated, “Today, under Kevin McCarthy’s leadership, Congress is less than three weeks away from a government shutdown, and instead of doing their jobs, Republicans are talking about impeaching Joe Biden.”
“Today’s announcement is a fairly transparent attempt to divert attention away from the fact that congressional Republicans have done nothing to address the most pressing issues facing Americans.”
