The House Republicans authorized a formal impeachment inquiry against US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, this move gives more leverage to the GOP lawmakers to gather more information or compel testimony until 2024.
The Republicans voted in favor of the resolution, voting 221-212.
The chairman of the House Oversight Committee, James Comer (R-Ky) further said, “President Biden must be held accountable for his lies, corruption, and obstruction.”
“We have a duty to provide the accountability and transparency that Americans demand and deserve.”
Rep. Kelly Armstrong authored the 14-page measure allowing the House Ways and Means, Oversight and Accountability, and Judiciary committees to pursue an investigation against the Biden family.
The Republicans were able to unearth documents of financial dealings and leverage his influence to acquire business deals even when he was still the vice president. This business involved his son, Hunter.
For House Speaker Mike Johnson, the formalization of the impeachment inquiry is required to compel the White House to cooperate with Congress in submitting certain documents and records and demand witnesses to speak in court.
“So, we have no choice but to fulfill our constitutional responsibility,” Johnson said. “We have to take the next step. We’re not making a political decision. It’s not. It’s a legal decision.”
Nebraska lawmaker Rep. Don Bacon, supported this sentiment. He told reporters, “When the president put in his letter last week or the week before that he wasn’t going to answer the subpoenas because we didn’t have a formal inquiry vote, it means we have to have an inquiry vote.”
GOP representatives accuse the current president of delaying the investigation.
This resolution permits the House Judiciary Committee to publish articles of impeachment. Additionally, committees are also allowed to release a report based on their investigation and transcripts of closed-door depositions.
Last September Mr. Comer, raised the possibility of subpoenaing President Biden.
“Anything’s possible, but right now, we’re following the money,” he said.
The House probed into Bidens’ bank records and found at least $20 million worth of payments from foreign institutions. These payments were coursed through 20 shell companies under the name of the president’s family members and other business associates.
The payments came from Russia, China, Ukraine and Romania. The committee observed that this money started pouring in when Biden was vice president and sometimes coincides with some of his “trips” to those countries.
In addition to this, a confidential FBI source exposed President Biden of receiving a $5 million bribe to ensure the dismissal of a Ukrainian prosecutor probing Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company, where his son was a board member.
