Biden impeachment inquiry narrows down end game, while moderate Republicans remain hesitant
House Republicans are nearing the culmination of their impeachment inquiry into President Biden, planning crucial interviews and strategizing a final report that may lead to criminal referrals and potential impeachment articles A remaining to-do list awaits completion
House Republicans are poised to commence the concluding phase of their impeachment inquiry concerning President Joe Biden. Committee chairpersons are prioritizing a remaining roster of notable interviews and beginning to devise a strategy for a final report that is expected to encompass criminal referrals. This report will serve as the foundation for potential impeachment articles.
However, despite their progress, it remains uncertain how much time the endeavor will require or if the House Republicans leading the charge can rally sufficient support from their GOP counterparts, convincing them that President Biden has indeed engaged in any significant illegal or unethical actions. Overcoming this crucial obstacle is yet to be achieved.
The stakes could not be higher for this crucial phase of the investigation, as key committees have been scrutinizing the business deals of Biden and his family throughout the year. Although the inquiry was officially initiated just two months ago, it has already faced numerous setbacks. These setbacks include a criticized opening hearing by some members of the GOP and a three-week period of House paralysis due to the absence of a speaker.
"I believe it is imperative to complete this task at the earliest and then present our findings to the conference to determine our next course of action," stated House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, during an interview with CNN.
Both Jordan and House Oversight Chairman James Comer, who have taken a leading role in their party's efforts to investigate the president and his family, have now narrowed their respective investigations to a select group of nearly 30 witnesses they wish to interview. This includes the president's brother James and son Hunter, according to both chairmen who spoke to CNN. Comer has recently indicated that subpoenas for Biden family members are "imminent."
However, the conclusion of the inquiry is still several months away. Obtaining testimony from important members of the president's family will prove to be a challenging and time-consuming task. This leaves investigators with the decision of whether it is worth waiting or risking prolonging the investigation into the election year.
Nevertheless, they managed to arrange an interview with David Weiss, the special counsel in charge of the ongoing criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, scheduled for Tuesday. This development is remarkable considering the prevailing circumstances, as House Democrats and the White House have consistently disregarded the accusations against the president and cast doubts on the Republican-led inquiry.
In a statement to CNN, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, stated that there is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the President, and even less evidence of an impeachable offense. He emphasized that shifting from public hearings to closed-door depositions does not change the facts.
Once the inquiry concludes, the responsibility of deciding whether to open impeachment proceedings will rest on newly appointed House Speaker Mike Johnson. This decision is arguably the most consequential of his short tenure. Previously a vocal advocate, Johnson has now adopted a more measured approach when discussing the inquiry. He represents moderate Republicans who played a key role in securing the majority and currently do not offer support to the efforts.
"We need to enhance the spread of evidence among more members through socialization," recognized GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, a Judiciary Committee member, implying that the entire House GOP conference is not yet fully supportive of the endeavor.
However, as the conservative base, both within Congress and nationwide, becomes increasingly impatient, Johnson acknowledged the necessity for a prompt resolution.
Whats left on the to-do list
"We are rapidly approaching a critical juncture," Johnson stated during a recent press briefing, acknowledging the collective apprehension felt by a significant number of American citizens, including numerous Republicans nationwide, who are eager to reach a resolution. Furthermore, Johnson emphasized that even certain Democrats are seeking clarity regarding the eventual outcome.
Comer is rushing to conduct a minimum of 25 interviews, although his panel has only completed five interviews thus far, relating to his ongoing investigations into the president.
According to Comer, he expressed his desire to acquire additional bank records and gather information before summoning important witnesses, including distinguished individuals from the president's family.
"If you follow conservative media or groups, you're probably aware that for months they've been questioning why these individuals haven't been brought in," Comer stated. "I have not succumbed to any pressure. I have made an effort to handle this situation appropriately. With the abundance of information we now have, we can finally summon these individuals and demand clear explanations."
Even some conference members believe that the subpoenas for Hunter and James Biden should have been issued earlier, and some point fingers at former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Gaetz told CNN that the subpoenas for Hunter Biden and other members of the Biden family should have already been issued. He expressed frustration over the delay caused by the former speaker and acknowledged the need for an intense catch-up process.
Comer, on the other hand, stated that he is not in a hurry to conduct more hearings. Instead, he intends to film his interviews and depositions, similar to how the House Select Committee investigated the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021. He shifted blame for the initial inquiry hearing to the Democrats, asserting that the witnesses claimed the evidence did not warrant impeachment.
Comer believes that conducting interviews will be a simpler task compared to obtaining bank records. He dismisses the notion that it could take months or may not even occur to pursue the testimony of the president's son and brother.
"I personally would want to come forward to clear my name, wouldn't you?" he enquired.
Comer disputes that the two checks, which James Biden sent to the president and were discovered by his panel, were loan repayments, despite evidence contradicting his belief. Moreover, even if they were loans, Comer still finds the evidence incriminating: "Even if we consider it a loan, they wouldn't have reimbursed him if he hadn't received the funds through illicit influence schemes."
Although Comer considers conducting the interviews crucial before concluding the inquiry, he believes they have already amassed sufficient evidence to impeach the president.
"I believe the evidence we have discovered is grounds for impeachment, although it is not within my role or duty to initiate impeachment proceedings. That responsibility lies with the speaker and the Judiciary Committee," Comer stated to CNN.
Meanwhile, Jordan aims to interview three Department of Justice officials whom he has been disputing with since June, namely tax division attorneys Jack Morgan and Mark Daly, as well as Assistant US Attorney Lesley Wolf. These individuals are relevant to the Hunter Biden criminal case.
Jordan said there would likely be a contentious battle over interviewing Morgan and Daly, which may cause a delay that is undesirable for everyone involved.
Despite months of investigation, Jordan remains convinced that the strongest piece of evidence against the president is a repeated accusation that Joe Biden was involved in improper actions to assist his son, Hunter, who served on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company. This accusation stems from Biden's push as vice president in the mid-2010s to have the Ukrainian government remove their prosecutor general.
However, there is no publicly available evidence to support the claim that Biden engaged in any wrongdoing regarding the prosecutor. In fact, the prosecutor's failure to address corruption had been criticized by various US government officials, Ukrainian anti-corruption activists, and international entities at that time.
I dont think its right for the country
The task of persuading 218 of their colleagues, especially the 18 Republicans who oversee districts won by Biden, certainly presents a daunting challenge for the investigators.
"I believe it would be more prudent to allow the election to determine the outcome," expressed Rep. Don Bacon, a centrist Republican from Nebraska. "I understand that many individuals seek retribution, but I do not believe it is in the best interest of our nation. Nonetheless, I am willing to consider the evidence they present."
Freshman Rep. Mike Lawler, who represents a crucial swing district in New York, remained undecided when questioned about his stance on supporting impeachment.
"The process is still underway, so we will allow it to unfold," Lawler informed CNN. "We will wait to see the outcome." Even those participating in the investigation acknowledge that the evidence does not overcome the crucial obstacles required for progress.
"Although it is clearly damaging for Hunter, it is important to remember that Hunter is not the president. Therefore, if they intend to proceed, they must focus on building a case," stated GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a member of the Ways and Means Committee, regarding the evidence and task that lie ahead for Jordan and Comer.
However, GOP Rep. Tom McClintock from California, a member of the Judiciary Committee who has previously expressed skepticism towards impeachment, indicated a degree of openness to the idea, though he emphasized that he has not fully reached that point yet.
"The growing evidence meets the constitutional definition of bribery," he stated. "Prior to forming a conclusion, I believe it is important to have a comprehensive overview of the evidence. Additionally, I am interested in listening to the president's perspective. This is essential for ensuring due process."
Echoing a comparable viewpoint, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, who is also a Republican from California, concurred.
"It certainly appears to be a substantial amount of compelling evidence; however, it is unlikely to be neatly packaged with a bowtie on top," he remarked.
Additional Republicans, including those representing more conservative districts, indicated that the impeachment inquiry is not their primary concern - a further indication of the need for investigators to generate significant momentum in the final phase of the inquiry.
"Ive got so many other things to worry about. That aint one of them," said Rep. Steve Womack, a Arkansas Republican.
Added Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama: "I dont think anything about it."
