House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has directed House Republicans to initiate impeachment against President Joe Biden as he wants Congress to review the president’s interactions with his son Hunter and his business dealings.
Initiating an impeachment inquiry does not mean that articles of impeachment have been prepared. But it does give the Committee on the Judiciary an opportunity to investigate President Biden, potentially holding hearings related to the investigation.
If articles of impeachment are drafted, McCarthy could bring the charges to the full House for a vote, with only a simple majority needed to send them for trial in the Senate.
President Donald Trump has been impeached twice by the House. He was the third US President to be impeached.
Last week, federal prosecutors informed the U.S. District Court for Delaware that they intend to bring a new indictment against Hunter Biden by the end of the month.
Special counsel David Weiss did not say what charges might be filed against the president’s son. Hunter Biden was previously accused of failing to pay more than $200,000 in taxes on income of more than $1.5 million in 2017 and 2018 and illegally possessing a gun, during which time he was allegedly addicted to drugs. He agreed to plead guilty to two misdemeanor tax offenses and enter into a pre-trial diversion agreement for a felony firearm offense. However, that agreement with prosecutors unraveled when the judge in the case raised concerns about the deal. The judge called the deal “confusing” and “not straightforward.”
McCarthy said, “It appears that the president’s family has been offered special treatment by Biden’s own administration, treatment that they would not otherwise have received if they were not related to the president.” “These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption and they warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives.”
The investigation comes amid pressure from several House Republicans, who say they will not approve keeping the government funded unless the House considers impeaching President Biden. The federal government’s budget expires at the end of the month.