Republicans reignite stalled Biden impeachment inquiry amid 3-week speaker race

Following the recent speaker dispute, the House Republican-led committees handling the impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden have been actively conducting confidential interviews and acquiring additional bank records from Hunter and James Biden. With the election of Speaker Mike Johnson, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Republicans now face the challenging objective of garnering broader public support for their endeavor, which has thus far been limited to their far-right base, and presenting compelling evidence that warrants impeachment.

The investigation into the president got off to a difficult start but took a turn for the worse when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was removed. The three weeks of internal conflict, which culminated in Republicans choosing Johnson, have resulted in a completely transformed situation. These events have only deepened divisions within the GOP conference and have significantly disrupted the legislative schedule. As a result, the entire Republican agenda, beyond vital tasks such as government funding, has lost momentum.

According to House Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith, a Republican from Missouri who heads one of the inquiry panels, "We have wasted 22 days."

The uncertainty of when the investigation will be completed is also uncertain due to the extensive time occupied by the speaker's race on the legislative calendar.

Additionally, the return of House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan to the scene poses another unknown factor. Republicans have often depended on Jordan as their primary spokesperson for controversial topics, but the considerable opposition he encountered from a significant portion of his colleagues revealed the constraints of his influence within the conference.

During the three-week period without a speaker, Republican staff from the House Oversight and Judiciary committees emphasized that their work remained active. According to Judiciary spokesman Russell Dye, the inquiry has recently intensified with interviews, bank records review, and the compilation of testimony and documents for future public use. Dye added that there has been no slowdown in their progress.

When eight candidates, including Johnson, presented their pitches to be speaker, none of them emphasized the inquiry as a priority, according to multiple lawmakers in attendance. However, Johnson has long supported the inquiry, maintaining regular contact with Jordan. Earlier this month, Johnson also met with Oversight Chairman James Comer for an update on their work amidst the speaker race when Jordan was still a candidate. Furthermore, some far-right members believe that Johnson, coming from the Judiciary panel, is best positioned to prioritize and focus on the inquiry.

During a Thursday interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity, the newly appointed speaker confidently stated that House Republicans would persistently adhere to the facts. He emphasized that the accumulating evidence strongly suggests potential impeachable offenses.

Although he recognized that certain members of his party are becoming "anxious" and "restless" in their desire for impeachment, he emphasized the necessity for any articles to be grounded in evidence. A reliable source informed CNN that Johnson perceives it as a fact-finding endeavor. Moreover, he has confidence in Comer, Jordan, and Smith to conclude their investigations and provide recommendations, which he will support.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, admitted to CNN on Thursday that the ongoing speakers battle has hindered the inquiry's progress, resulting in it losing some momentum.

"The inquiry has been somewhat compromised due to this delay," stated the New Jersey Republican, referring to the impact caused by the speakers race. "I had reservations about the speakership matter from the beginning. The more time passed without a resolution, the greater the potential for complications arose."

The current situation is adding to the challenge of gaining support from swing district Republicans, who were already skeptical of the inquiry and are now prioritizing keeping the government operational beyond November 17.

According to GOP Rep. Jen Kiggans, who represents a Virginia district that was won by Biden in 2020, there are pressing tasks, such as passing the appropriations bills, that need our attention. Let's prioritize those matters first.

"Do I believe that the majority of American people are currently prioritizing and focusing on this issue? I don't think so," stated GOP Rep. Mike Garcia of California, who represents a competitive district, in regards to the inquiry. "I believe we should first address the immediate concerns such as restoring stability and functioning of the government, avoiding a shutdown, and funding essential services. Only then should we consider these matters."

Even Rep. Ralph Norman from South Carolina, known for his strong conservative views, questioned on CNN, "Have the facts regarding this issue become more conclusive? I would argue that they have. Thus, it is important for the public to be informed. However, I am unsure if we can successfully pass this through here."

Several Republicans acknowledge that while they want the panels to carry on with their investigative work, they recognize that it is not the conference's top priority. "I believe that James Comer and Jim Jordan will persist with their investigations, and if they manage to present enough evidence that can convince the American people of the necessity for impeachment, then I would consider moving forward," stated GOP Representative Austin Scott of Georgia during an interview with CNN. "However, our current focus is on avoiding a government shutdown and ensuring the passage of appropriations measures. So, I believe the investigations will continue, but it is not a primary concern for me."

House Republicans have not conducted any impeachment inquiry hearings after their initial one on September 28. Expert witnesses brought in by Republicans during the first hearing admitted that they did not possess sufficient evidence to substantiate the accusations made against the president. "When you're up to bat, you have more than one swing," commented Van Drew regarding the first hearing. "I'm uncertain if every hearing will unveil the outcomes we desire."

Following the hearing, there were reports that GOP Representative Matt Gaetz from Florida commended several Democratic legislators for their impressive performance against Republicans on the House floor, as revealed by multiple sources who spoke to CNN. One Democratic lawmaker, who had discussions with Republicans, disclosed to CNN that they perceive the hearing as a disastrous debacle.

The House Oversight Committee had considered inviting Tony Bobulinski, a business associate of Hunter Biden, to testify in a second inquiry hearing in October, according to a source familiar with the matter. However, these plans have not materialized yet.

With the election of a new speaker, Democrats are anticipated to attempt to invalidate the impeachment inquiry. This inquiry was unilaterally initiated by McCarthy and never obtained an official floor vote, as stated by a Democratic aide knowledgeable about the plans.

GOP Representative Ken Buck of Colorado, a member of the Judiciary panel who has expressed skepticism about the existence of evidence for impeaching the president, expressed to CNN that the operations of the House Oversight and Judiciary panels during the three weeks without a speaker demonstrated that an inquiry was unnecessary from the start.

"I was saying that there was no need to label it as an impeachment inquiry because these committees were progressing," stated Buck. "They are still progressing, and as evidence is collected, we will determine if there is a connection."

GOP Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, a member of the Judiciary Committee, informed CNN that the inquiry may have been temporarily halted as Jordan pursued the role of speaker. However, he emphasized that significant progress was being made despite this delay. Consequently, due to the competing demands, committee members may have had limited engagement, although the committee staff continued their work diligently. As an illustration, during the Judiciary Committee's interview with California US Attorney Martin Estrada on Tuesday regarding his role in the Hunter Biden criminal case, Jordan was occupied in another member forum focused on selecting a new nominee for speaker.

As news spread about Jordans panel successfully securing an extraordinary, private interview with special counsel David Weiss regarding his ongoing criminal investigation into Hunter Biden, after months of negotiations with the Department of Justice, Jordan found himself engaged in discussions with individuals who were impeding his aspirations of becoming the speaker.

Nevertheless, his supporters remain optimistic that Jordan will be able to meet the challenges ahead.

"Following Jordan's unsuccessful bid for speaker, fellow member Rep. Ben Cline of Virginia expressed that Chairman Jordan is an essential leader on the Judiciary Committee. Cline believes that Jordan's role as the judiciary chair will be crucial in the upcoming months."

Gaetz, who spearheaded the effort to remove McCarthy, voiced his preference for Johnson to handle the inquiry as speaker. Gaetz compared the two, stating that the impeachment inquiry would be better served with a competent lawyer in the speakers office rather than someone who happened to win the California lottery."