WASHINGTON — The Republican-led House on Wednesday voted to officially authorize its impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, a move that will likely escalate their investigation.
The motion was agreed upon in a vote along party lines, 221-212 as all Republicans voted yes and all Democrats voted no.
“The impeachment power resides solely with the House of Representatives. If a majority of the House now says we’re in an official impeachment inquiry as part of our constitutional duty to do oversight, that carries weight. That’s going to help us get these witnesses in,” Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) said.
The news came just hours after the president’s son, Hunter Biden, appeared at a news conference outside of the Capitol, where he once again offered to testify in a public hearing.
“For six years, I have been a target of the unrelenting Trump attack machine shouting, ‘Where’s Hunter?’ Well, here’s my answer. I am here,” he said.
“I’m here today to make sure that the House committee’s illegitimate investigations of my family did not proceed on distortions, manipulated evidence, and lies. And I’m here today to acknowledge that I’ve made mistakes in my life, and wasted opportunities and privileges I was afforded,” Hunter Biden added. “For that, I’m responsible, for that I’m accountable and for that, I’m making amends.”
House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has accused Hunter Biden and other Biden family members of engaging in “shady business practices” but has yet to produce any concrete evidence on the matter.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) described the inquiry as based on “distortions, concoctions, and outright lies.”
“This is an impeachment inquiry where no one has been able to define what criminal or constitutional offense they’re looking for,” Raskin said later in the Capitol. “This is more like a what-is-it, not a whodunnit,” he said.
Biden himself responded to the inquiry with a lengthy statement as he blasted Republicans for focusing on impeachment rather than passing aid for Ukraine and Israel.
“Instead of doing anything to help make Americans’ lives better, they are focused on attacking me with lies,” the President said. “Instead of doing their job on the urgent work that needs to be done, they are choosing to waste time on this baseless political stunt that even Republicans in Congress admit is not supported by facts.”
