With a vote along party lines yesterday (Dec. 13, 2023), the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives voted 221-212 to approve a resolution authorizing a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
The resolution states “That the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, and the Judiciary are directed to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Joseph Biden, President of the United States of America, including as set forth in the memorandum issued by the Chairs of the Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Ways and Means, and Judiciary of the House of Representatives, entitled “Impeachment Inquiry.”
Following the vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN), and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) released a joint statement calling the resolution “a critical step in our investigation into serious matters involving President Joe Biden by formally opening an impeachment inquiry. As President Biden continues to stonewall lawful Congressional subpoenas, today’s vote of the full House of Representatives authorizing the inquiry puts us in the strongest position to enforce these subpoenas in court.”
The statement went on to say, “We have seen witness testimony and bank records showing millions of dollars flowing to the Biden family from foreign adversaries. Witnesses have testified about the President’s numerous interactions with his family’s foreign clients. The President and White House have repeatedly misled the public, shifted the goalposts, and stonewalled our investigation.”
In remarks urging the House to pass the resolution, James Comer (R-KY), Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, who has been the lead lawmaker on the months-old informal probe regarding the Biden family, said, “We are now at a pivotal moment in our investigation. We will soon depose and interview several members of the Biden family and their associates about these influence peddling schemes. But we are facing obstruction from the White House. The White House is seeking to block key testimony from current and former White House staff. It is also withholding thousands of records from Joe Biden’s time as Vice President. President Biden must be held accountable for his lies, corruption, and obstruction. We have a duty to provide the accountability and transparency that Americans demand and deserve.”
Editor’s Note: To learn more about the congressional use of the impeachment power from a historical and constitutional perspective, read America’s Future In Focus series here.
