House Speaker McCarthy calls for an impeachment inquiry against President Biden

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced on Tuesday his decision to open a formal impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Joe Biden.

In a short statement delivered from the U.S. Capitol, McCarthy stressed that “House Republicans have uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden’s conduct over the past several months.

I am directing our House committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Over the past several months, House Republicans have uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden’s conduct—a culture of corruption. https://t.co/3uoDlUB3Sy

— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) September 12, 2023

"This logical next step will give our committees the full power to gather all the facts and answers for the American public,” McCarthy added.

The speaker went on to list the allegations against the president, citing abuse of power, obstruction and “a culture of corruption."

"Through our investigations, we have found that President Biden did lie to the American people about his own knowledge of his family's foreign business dealings. Eyewitnesses have testified that the president joined on multiple phone calls and had multiple interactions, dinners resulted in cars and millions of dollars into his sons and his son's business partners," McCarthy said.

"We know that bank records show that nearly $20 million in payments were directed to the Biden family members and associates through various Shell companies," McCarthy continued.

"The Treasury Department alone has more than 150 transactions involving the Biden family. Another business associates that were flagged as suspicious activity by U.S. banks. Even a trusted FBI informant has alleged a bribe to the Biden family."

"Biden used his official office to coordinate with Hunter Biden's business partners about Hunter's role in Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company," he added. 

Democrats claim that Republican House investigations have not produced a “smoking gun” evidence that directly ties Biden to his son’s dealings with foreign entities and any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, The Hill quoted an unnamed Republican senator who called Biden’s impeachment inquiry “a waste of time” that could backfire against the GOP in the next elections. The anonymous senator said there is no way the Democrat-controlled Senate will vote to impeach the president.

“Several members of the Speaker’s own conference have come out and publicly panned impeachment as a political stunt, pointing out there is no evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden as Republicans litigate the same debunked conspiracy theories they’ve investigated for over four years,” said a Biden campaign spokesperson in response.

The campaign accused McCarthy of serving as a “Trump campaign’s super-surrogate by turning the House of Representatives into an arm of his presidential campaign.”

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) will lead the inquiry in coordination with House Oversight Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO).

The three issued a joint statement in support of McCarthy’s decision, which stated: “Since January, House Republicans have uncovered an overwhelming amount of evidence showing President Joe Biden lied to the American people about his knowledge and participation in his family’s influence-peddling schemes."

"Bank records, suspicious activity reports, emails, texts, and witness testimony reveal Joe Biden allowed his family to sell him as ‘the brand’ around the world to enrich the Bidens. And, thanks to two brave IRS whistleblowers, we know that the Justice Department – which has been sitting on much of this evidence – has prevented career investigators from pursuing information that could have led to Joe Biden,” the statement read.