House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Tuesday he is directing House committees to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, amid pressure from some hard-right members of the Republican caucus to do so.

The inquiry would center on whether Biden benefited from his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings, among other issues, McCarthy said.

“These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption and warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives,” McCarthy told reporters Tuesday morning. “That’s why today I am directing our House committee to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.”

McCarthy spoke for three minutes, did not take any questions and left the lectern shortly after making his remarks. McCarthy has previously said he would not launch an inquiry without a vote by the full house.

The House faces a critical Sept. 30 deadline to fund the government and avoid a shutdown. McCarthy has been trying to hang on to support for a funding bill from far-right GOP lawmakers, who have been pushing to impeach Biden.

Republican leaders have been weighing whether to use an impeachment inquiry vote as a bargaining chip in the funding negotiations. But it’s not certain that Republicans have the necessary 218 votes to pass it. Some lawmakers are staunchly against it, and McCarthy has said that an impeachment inquiry would occur through a vote on the House floor, as opposed to his unilateral decision-making.

  • evatronicEnglish
    662·
    10 months ago

    It’s worth noting that even if “your guy” Republican hasn’t actually voted for or said anything bad, they are complicit in allowing their colleagues to do so.

    I.e., it’s not just McConnell, but him and 49 other senators that allow him to lead.

    • Steeve@lemmy.caEnglish
      35·
      10 months ago

      I don’t know that this approach really works for politicians, there isn’t really anything they can legally do about their colleagues voting habits. They were voted in by their constituents to vote in their interests, it isn’t their place to force the voting habits of a different politician that was voted in by different constituents to represent them. That’s undemocratic.

      I think I’d be very hard pressed to find a conservative that votes in my interests regardless though.

      • grue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        31·
        10 months ago

        They can switch parties (or at least disavow the Republican Party and become independent). Failure to do that makes them complicit.

        • Steeve@lemmy.caEnglish
          1·
          10 months ago

          if “your guy” Republican hasn’t actually voted for or said anything bad, they are complicit in allowing their colleagues to do so

          Sure, but the original topic was about allowing colleagues to vote they way they do, which isn’t (and frankly shouldn’t be) in their power to change. Switching parties or going independent doesn’t change the voting habits of other conservatives.

        • FabioTheNewOrder@lemmy.world
          11·
          10 months ago

          But-but can’t you think about the implications for their political careers??? Poor Bois would have to abandon a life of ease and good food to start actually working in the society they helped create. Imagine the HORROR!!