House GOP Takes Up Impeachment Probe Against Biden Amid Controversy
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has commenced an investigation into the potential impeachment of President Joe Biden, with the chamber passing a resolution approving the probe on Wednesday, by a vote of 221 to 212. The Republicans accuse the president of being involved in business dealings of his son, Hunter, which they claim are controversial. However, Biden and his Democrats counter that the Republicans are engaging in a political stunt.
Formalizing Legal Grounds
This move by the Republicans serves as a technical step, enabling them to bolster their legal position during their investigations. Despite this, the approval of the investigation does not constitute the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Biden. Kevin McCarthy, the former Republican Chairman of the House of Representatives, had already called for an impeachment investigation against Biden on September 12, but a vote on the matter had never transpired in the chamber's plenary session. This formalization of the ongoing probe renders it more robust, fortifying its legal standing, particularly in the context of potential legal disputes regarding witness subpoenas and document requests.
Impeachment Unlikely
An impeachment of President Biden would require a new majority in the House of Representatives and a two-thirds majority in the Senate. Since the Democrats hold a majority in the Senate, Biden's impeachment is considered an improbable outcome.
Moreover, the Democrats view this Republican action as revenge for the impeachment proceedings initiated against former President Donald Trump during his administration and a strategy to tarnish Biden's reputation ahead of the presidential election in 2023. Some Republicans claim that Biden has abused his public office for his family's financial benefit, but they have not provided concrete evidence to support these accusations.
Controversial Business Deals
Republicans allege that Hunter Biden exploited his father's former position as Vice President (under Barack Obama) to secure business deals in Ukraine and China. They further accuse the current president of being complicit in these deals and of lying to the public about his involvement.
Additional Insights
The allegations against Hunter Biden and his business dealings, which serve as the basis for the impeachment investigation, have been the subject of extensive investigations by the House Oversight Committee. They have reviewed hundreds of pages of documents, including bank records, emails, and text messages, and have heard testimony from numerous witnesses, such as Devon Archer and Jason Galanis.
An FBI informant, Alexander Smirnov, was also charged with fabricating a bribery scheme involving the Bidens and a Ukrainian energy company, which serves as a central element of the Republicans' impeachment argument. However, this fabrication has since been discredited by prosecutors.
References
- Stern.de (2025). In the House of Representatives: US Republicans push impeachment investigation against Joe Biden. Retrieved from
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