Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) explained to skeptical reporters at a Capitol press conference Tuesday afternoon his reasoning for opening the door to an impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden, but McCarthy did not call for one to begin. The House is set to go on a six-week vacation this week. It could be the fall before McCarthy decides to pull the trigger on a Biden impeachment.
Screen image via CNN reporter Manu Raju/Twitter.
McCarthy first dropped the notion of a Biden impeachment inquiry on the Fox News Channel show Hannity on Monday night. McCarthy deliberately mentioned the phrase “rising (or rise) to the level of impeachment inquiry” twice. In addition to Joe Biden’s alleged foreign bribery schemes with son Hunter, McCarthy also said he wanted to investigate Joe Biden for abuse of power, saying, “…because this president has also used something we have not seen since Richard Nixon, use the weaponization of government to benefit his family and deny Congress the ability to have the oversight.”
White House scandal spokesman Ian Sams responded to McCarthy late Monday night via Twitter, “Instead of focusing on the real issues Americans want us to address like continuing to lower inflation or create jobs, this is what the @HouseGOP wants to prioritize. Their eagerness to go after @POTUS regardless of the truth is seemingly bottomless.”
Instead of focusing on the real issues Americans want us to address like continuing to lower inflation or create jobs, this is what the @HouseGOP wants to prioritize.
Their eagerness to go after @POTUS regardless of the truth is seemingly bottomless. https://t.co/fwX2yKleMF
— Ian Sams (@IanSams46) July 25, 2023
McCarthy spoke to reporters Tuesday about his bombshell revelation he is considering a Biden impeachment inquiry. McCarthy explained that it is not impeachment, but an inquiry about serious allegations of wrongdoing that could lead to impeachment if evidence is developed through the inquiry. McCarthy went through several examples of alleged Biden corruption, changing stories and government interference that warrant an impeachment inquiry.
One of the skeptical reporters was CNN’s Manu Raju, “McCarthy moves closer to announcing impeachment inquiry. Asked him if Rs have corroborated unverified allegations from FBI informant that Biden engaged in bribery scheme with foreign national as VP. He argued that an impeachment inquiry would allow them to answer those questions”
McCarthy moves closer to announcing impeachment inquiry. Asked him if Rs have corroborated unverified allegations from FBI informant that Biden engaged in bribery scheme with foreign national as VP. He argued that an impeachment inquiry would allow them to answer those questions pic.twitter.com/LmvERRGSFL
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) July 25, 2023
The House leaves for a six-week summer break at the end of this week. McCarthy gave no indication when or whether he would trigger an impeachment inquiry into Biden. A month ago McCarthy floated an impeachment inquiry of Attorney General Merrick Garland–nothing has happened on that front since then.
After the press briefing, McCarthy reiterated he has not called for an impeachment inquiry yet, “Our investigations are revealing more info every day about the Biden family’s shell companies and the sweetheart deal from the DOJ. The American public has a right to the truth. If evidence continues to rise to the level of an impeachment inquiry, House Republicans will act.”
Our investigations are revealing more info every day about the Biden family’s shell companies and the sweetheart deal from the DOJ. The American public has a right to the truth.
If evidence continues to rise to the level of an impeachment inquiry, House Republicans will act.
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) July 25, 2023
The last workday for the House this week is Friday, July 28. The House is set to return on Tuesday, September 12. After September, the House has a total of five weeks scheduled to be in session over the remaining three months of the year, though an impeachment could upend that schedule. (House schedule at this link.)
Summary of the traditional impeachment process via Cornell Law School:
1 The House Judiciary Committee deliberates over whether to initiate an impeachment inquiry.
2 The Judiciary Committee adopts a resolution seeking authority from the entire House of Representatives to conduct an inquiry. Before voting, the House debates and considers the resolution. Approval requires a majority vote.
3 The Judiciary Committee conducts an impeachment inquiry, possibly through public hearings. At the conclusion of the inquiry, articles of impeachment are prepared. They must be approved by a majority of the Committee.
4 The House of Representatives considers and debates the articles of impeachment. A majority vote of the entire House is required to pass each article. Once an article is approved, the President is, technically speaking, “impeached” — that is subject to trial in the Senate.
5 The Senate holds trial on the articles of impeachment approved by the House. The Senate sits as a jury while the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the trial.
6 At the conclusion of the trial, the Senate votes on whether to remove the President from office. A two-thirds vote by the Members present in the Senate is required for removal.
7. If the President is removed, the Vice-President assumes the Presidency under the chain of succession established by Amendment XXV.
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