Staff Reports
House Republicans are gearing up for a showdown as they prepare to greenlight an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, setting the stage for a high-stakes battle ahead of the upcoming election cycle. Despite acknowledging that the investigation may not yield any significant findings, some GOP members from districts won by Biden in 2020 are throwing their support behind the move.
The House is slated to vote on formalizing the impeachment inquiry into Biden this week, marking a pivotal step in the GOP’s extensive probe into alleged influence peddling by the president’s family members. This vote will force lawmakers to take a stance on escalating the investigation, potentially putting vulnerable Republicans in a tough spot as they seek reelection in districts won by Biden.
Representative John Duarte, a Republican from a Biden-won district in California, emphasized the need for a formal impeachment inquiry, citing mounting evidence that justifies moving forward with the investigation. Despite the political risks, several other vulnerable Republicans from Biden-won districts have expressed their intention to support advancing the inquiry, clarifying that this decision does not equate to backing impeachment itself.
Some vulnerable Republicans in Biden-won districts say they'll vote to open impeachment inquiry even as they acknowledge it may not uncover evidence of crimes.
Don Bacon said it's "more likely than not" the inquiry will end w/o articles of impeachmenthttps://t.co/6RIoQCVEZD
— Cami Mondeaux (@cami_mondeaux) December 12, 2023
Amid concerns about the White House’s lack of compliance with congressional requests, Republican lawmakers argue that formalizing the inquiry would grant them greater authority to gather evidence. Representative Marc Molinaro from New York stressed the importance of asserting oversight and the constitutional responsibility of the House in continuing the inquiry.
The resolution to vote on the impeachment inquiry represents a departure from former Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s approach, who unilaterally approved the investigation without a formal vote to shield vulnerable GOP members from facing the contentious issue. Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson aims to counter the White House’s argument that the investigation lacks “constitutional legitimacy” by holding a vote to formalize the proceedings.
Although some Republicans expressed skepticism about the likelihood of uncovering evidence of high crimes and misdemeanors, they underscored the importance of providing voters with information ahead of the elections. Representative Don Bacon from Nebraska highlighted the need for transparency regarding the alleged financial dealings involving the Bidens.
As the House prepares to vote on the impeachment inquiry, concerns loom over the potential impact on vulnerable Republicans in Biden-won districts. With polling indicating that a significant portion of voters in GOP-held districts won by Biden are opposed to members of Congress backing the impeachment inquiry, the political ramifications of this move are on the forefront of lawmakers’ minds.
Despite the pushback from Democrats, who argue that investigators have failed to unearth any incriminating evidence against the President, some Republicans remain resolute in their support for continuing the inquiry. Representative Mike Garcia from California emphasized the importance of due process and the necessity to consider all possibilities based on the evidence and testimony gathered.
The impending vote on the impeachment inquiry presents a critical leadership test for Speaker Mike Johnson, with the outcome hinging on a narrow margin for potential GOP defectors. As the House grapples with this divisive issue just before adjourning for the holidays, the implications of this vote reverberate across party lines, setting the stage for a heated political showdown in the days to come.
