WASHINGTON — The House Oversight Committee on Thursday began its first impeachment inquiry hearing where Republican-picked witnesses said there was no evidence to suggest President Joe Biden committed a crime.
The witnesses did add more bank records are needed from him and his son Hunter Biden to fully determine if a crime was committed.
Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) opened the hearing by saying the inquiry would focus on whether the president “engaged in impeachable offenses under the U.S. Constitution”. He added evidence would be presented that showed “Biden’s knowledge of and role in his family’s domestic and international business practices.”
“What were the Bidens selling to make all this money? Joe Biden himself,” Comer said.
Democrats argued that Republicans have no evidence of a crime and are simply trying to impeach Biden as revenge for former President Donald Trump being impeached twice. Democrats went on to slam Republicans for holding the impeachment inquiry just two days before a government shutdown.
Expert witnesses, law professor Jonathan Turley, acknowledged that the evidence Republicans presented does not prove their case.
“I do not believe that the current evidence would support articles of impeachment,” he said.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) commented the bank pages Republicans showed didn’t include a “single dime” going to Biden.
“If the Republicans had a smoking gun or even a dripping water pistol, they would be presenting it today, but they’ve got nothing on Joe Biden,” he said.
The White House counsel in a statement said the House Republicans are attempting to distract from a looming government shutdown.
“Do Comer and Jordan have any explanation for why they are prioritizing conspiracy theory attacks on President Biden over averting a government shutdown that would inflict real pain on Ohio and Kentucky workers and families? They should focus on doing their jobs to avoid economic disaster — not these partisan, D.C. games that have nothing to do with helping Americans’ lives,” Ian Sams said.
Congress is attempting to pass government funding legislation with a Saturday night deadline looming to avoid a government shutdown.
