House of Representatives approved start of investigation into impeachment of Biden
President of the United States Joe Biden (photo: Getty Images)
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, December 13, approved a formal authorization for an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Republicans rallied around this initiative, despite not yet finding evidence of wrongdoing by the current White House leader, according to Reuters.
The Republican majority in the House approved the investigation with 221 votes. It aims to determine whether Biden received undue benefits from his 53-year-old son Hunter's foreign business dealings, just hours after Hunter Biden declined to testify behind closed doors.
The agency clarified that this decision is unlikely to lead to Biden's resignation as the head of the White House. Even if the House of Representatives initiates the impeachment process, the Senate must confirm the charges by a two-thirds majority, which is practically impossible in a chamber where there are 51 Democratic senators and 49 Republicans.
According to the procedure, the vote for impeachment itself should take place three months after Republicans informally began the investigation, and it is not a mandatory step for the removal of the president or any other official from office.
However, the authorization for the investigation will allow Trump supporters to accuse Biden of corruption during the 2024 election campaign. The investigation may also give Republicans more legal leverage to compel the Biden administration to cooperate and help counter accusations from Democrats who claim that the investigation lacks legitimacy.
The White House dismissed the investigation as unfounded and politically motivated.
The essence of the accusations against Biden
Republicans in the House of Representatives claim that Joe Biden and his family benefited from their actions when he was vice president to President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. They focused on his son's business ventures in Ukraine and China during this period.
Trump allies found evidence that Hunter Biden led clients to believe he could provide access to the vice president's office. However, they did not provide evidence that Biden took any official actions to assist these businesses or received financial benefits from them.
On Monday, December 11, Hunter Biden, as reported by Reuters, ignored the committee's subpoena for closed-door testimony, stating that he would only testify publicly because he fears his words could be distorted.
"There is no evidence to support the allegations that my father was financially involved in my business, because it did not happen," said Hunter Biden.
Committee members stated that they would take steps to accuse Biden of contempt of Congress, which could potentially lead to imprisonment.
Hunter Biden faces federal charges of lying about drug use when purchasing a gun and separate charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. He has not pleaded guilty to buying the gun, and his lawyer claims he has fully paid his taxes.
"In the depths of my addiction, I was extremely irresponsible with my finances. But to suggest that is grounds for an impeachment inquiry is beyond the absurd. It's shameless," said Hunter Biden.
Case of impeachment against Joe Biden
Republican Kevin McCarthy announced back in September the official launch of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
Meanwhile, the White House remains convinced that President Biden's son, Hunter, who is suspected of tax-related violations, has not committed any illegal actions.
Later, the Speaker of the House of Representatives announced that the decision on the impeachment of Joe Biden would be made very soon.
