The Republican chairmen of the House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means committees outlined their view of the factual and legal basis for the impeachment inquiry against President Biden in a 30-page memo obtained by CBS News. It was sent to all board members late Wednesday.
According to the note, Mr. The committees will investigate whether Biden “abused his federal office to enrich his family and cover up his and/or his family’s misconduct.”
The alleged misconduct centers on the president’s son, Hunter Biden, and his foreign business dealings.
“The purpose of this hearing — at this point, it’s a hearing — is to determine whether the committees have sufficient grounds to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden for consideration by the full House,” the leaders wrote.
The impeachment inquiry “covers Joe Biden’s tenure as vice president, including the time he left office,” the memo says.
GOP-led House committees have been investigating the president and his son for months. So far, no evidence has been presented that the president broke the law, benefited financially or used his office to help his son.
According to the Constitution, the President can be impeached for treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. “The decision to initiate this investigation does not mean that the committees have reached a conclusion on this question,” the memo said.
“It’s hard to fathom the complete derangement of this moment,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. “Three days before US government shutdown, Republicans launch baseless impeachment drive against President Biden.”
The full House traditionally votes to launch an impeachment inquiry, but it has yet to do so. It voted to open a 2019 impeachment trial of President Trump, but initially not until 2021, when he was impeached for a second term after the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
On Thursday, the House Oversight Committee will hold its first impeachment hearing, consisting of three conservative legal analysts. Witnesses at Thursday’s hearing included Bruce Dubinsky, a forensic accountant; Eileen O’Connor, former Assistant Attorney General of the Department of Justice’s Tax Division; and Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University School of Law. They will testify in general terms about allegations, business dealings and financial crimes.
Minority University of North Carolina Law Professor Michael J. Gerhardt has been invited.
The hearing comes as House Republicans appear Couldn’t agree on funding the government.
Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy Chaired House Committees As a result of mounting pressure from the most conservative members of his congress, an impeachment trial against the president was to begin earlier this month.
The White House has called Thursday’s investigation a baseless stunt.
House Oversight Committee Chairman Jim Comer said communications records, financial records and interviews with Mr. Biden said it showed that his family allowed him to be sold as a ‘brand’ around the world to enrich the Biden family.
The White House released a 15-page memo on Tuesday aimed at countering specific claims by Republicans.
Last month, Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abe Lowell, was asked on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” if it was his position that the president had completely distanced himself from Hunter Biden’s business affairs.
“I understand, my opinion doesn’t matter” Lowell said “Face the Nation” moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan. “Facts and evidence are what matter. The facts and evidence, pursued by many members of Congress and their staffs and the media, repeatedly show a possible connection, which is not there.”
How to Watch Republican Impeachment Hearings
- what: House Republicans hold impeachment hearings
- Date: Thursday, September 28
- Time: 10 a.m. ET
- Location: Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
- Online Stream: Live on CBS News in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.
