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.

  • donuts@kbin.social
    1481·
    10 months ago

    Republicans are absolutely desperate to try to equate Biden with Trump so they can say “well Biden was impeached too” or “Biden had documents too”.

    That’s what it’s all about, and it’s a gross distortion of government and democracy.

    • Daft_ish@lemmy.world
      43·
      10 months ago

      Nah, they did the same thing to Obama. They actually tried to impeach Obama multiple times. THE GOP IS DONE WITH GOVERNING THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN POWER.

      • gregorumEnglish
        19·
        10 months ago

        Hilariously, they’re also trying to shut the government down at the same time. How the fuck do they think this is supposed to work?

        • Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works
          11·
          10 months ago

          Panic. Fear. Uncertainty. All tools of an oppressor. If you create chaos you can blame anyone you want.

          • gregorumEnglish
            6·
            10 months ago

            Well, let’s not forget the obvious here: stupidity, jealousy, shortsightedness, and just plain old blind opportunism. All the basic characteristics of a Republican Congress-member. 

        • Janoose@kbin.social
          8·
          10 months ago

          They’re planning on passing a bill that gives impeachment inquiries unlimited funds by taking money away from everything that might actually benefit the American people?

          Republicans don’t live in reality, it’s very difficult to follow their “logic”.

    • cultsuperstar@lemmy.mlB
      13·
      10 months ago

      I think it’s more to distract Trump supporters from all his indictments and trials, even though most don’t give a shit and will vote for him even if he went on a murderous rampage school shooting. “Well was it a liberal school? It was? He’s got my vote.”

      • gregorumEnglish
        5·
        10 months ago

        Because they know that it will hurt them during the next election cycle if they were involved in an impeachment hearing. Whatever party instigates the impeachment always gets hurt on the next election cycle, and the Republicans are riding razor thin margins as it is.

        • frezik@midwest.social
          31·
          10 months ago

          Eh? Not sure what you’re basing that on. Republicans won in 2000 after impeaching Clinton, and Democrats won in 2020 after impeaching Trump. There are no other modern examples of impeachment, at least not at the Presidential level.

          Now, impeaching for obvious political grandstanding, yes, that will absolutely hurt them.

    • root_beer@midwest.socialEnglish
      41·
      10 months ago

      I can see them doing it twice more, just throwaway motions to impeach, just so they can say Biden was impeached more times than Rich Dad