On the surface, the House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden seems to fall short of the required legal evidence. However, a thorough examination by experts suggests that it’s actually a well-crafted strategic “trap.”
Strategy Over Evidence?
The Republicans, upon securing control of the House, did not unveil an extensive legislative agenda. Instead, they chose a different tactic, pledging to the MAGA base a thorough investigation centered on President Biden’s embattled son, Hunter Biden. This promise marked a strategic shift, focusing on a high-profile target within the presidential family.
Legal Trap Uncovered
Amidst the House impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, a notable lack of evidence has cast doubt on the GOP’s accusations of the president channeling bribes via his son Hunter’s international business ventures. Interestingly, even witnesses from the GOP’s side have denied Biden’s connection to his son’s work.
A Game of Subpoenas
Time Magazine revealed on Tuesday that the GOP’s approach in the impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden may not be focused on finding evidence. Instead, they could aim to overwhelm the president with excessive subpoenas for information, setting the stage to accuse him of obstruction of justice.
Biden’s Impeachment Risk
Eric Cortellessa notes that the GOP intends to corner Biden with unreasonable information requests, which, if unmet, could be framed as impeding the inquiry. With the formal initiation of the impeachment investigation, any action by Biden perceived as obstruction could be grounds for impeachment.”
Cornering Biden
“Some experts suspect the GOP will try to trap Biden by making outlandish requests for information that he doesn’t provide, and then argue that he impeded the inquiry,” Cortellessa wrote. “Anything Biden does that can be viewed as obstruction could constitute an impeachable offense.”
The Shadow of Nixon’s Impeachment
Michael Conway, an attorney who worked as counsel for the House Judiciary Committee’s 1974 impeachment inquiry into former President Richard Nixon, offered a further explanation on the GOP’s potential maneuvers.”Republicans could ‘send any kind of subpoena and then on a partisan vote say the President didn’t give us what we asked for,” he said.
It’s worth remembering that one of the impeachment articles against Nixon was for resisting an impeachment inquiry.
Clash Over Finances
In December 2023, the Republican-majority House voted to officially launch an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden concerning his family’s financial dealings. This move marks a significant development in a year-long investigation that, to date, hasn’t substantiated the GOP’s allegations of Biden financially benefiting from his son’s foreign investments.
No Specific Misconduct Cited
The resolution, approved 221-212 along party lines with solid Republican backing, doesn’t allege any specific misconduct by the 46th President. However, it grants three GOP-led committees continued investigative authority, including the ability to request grand jury materials through court petitions. Additionally, it retroactively validates several already-issued subpoenas and permits the engagement of external legal counsel for the inquiry.
Evidence-Lacking Efforts
Democrats have strongly criticized the Republican-led efforts for not producing any evidence of misconduct by President Biden. Representative Pramila Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, expressed that House Republicans are “focused on trying to distract Americans from what they haven’t been to do” by delving into the Biden family’s affairs.
Historical Rarity
Despite extensive efforts, the chances of the impeachment motion against President Biden advancing beyond the GOP-dominated House seem slim, especially with the Democratic-majority Senate requiring a two-thirds majority for a conviction.
Influential Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell from Kentucky, have already voiced doubts. McConnell emphasized in August, “Impeachment ought to be rare.”
GOP Persists in Impeachment
House Republicans are continuing with the impeachment inquiry regardless, believing that a formal process will unearth the conclusive evidence they seek. Meanwhile, Democrats, anticipating a potential Biden-Trump electoral rematch, view this impeachment as a tactic to strengthen Trump’s campaign of retribution.
Trump’s “Revenge Show”
California Representative Robert Garcia commented, “Clearly, Donald Trump wants to damage and hurt President Biden as much as possible. This is the Donald Trump revenge show.”
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