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Thursday 14 december 2023
House preps for a key vote on Biden impeachment inquiry as

Republicans unite behind investigation

Continued from Front tice Department officials
currently tasked with inves-
Ahead of the vote, John- tigating the president's son,
son called it "the next nec- Hunter Biden.
essary step." He acknowl- While Republicans say their
edged there are "a lot of inquiry is ultimately focused
people who are frustrated on the president himself,
this hasn't moved faster." they have taken particular
But Johnson said on Fox interest in Hunter Biden and
News he believes the reso- his overseas business deal-
lution will pass the House ings, from which they ac-
and "we'll be in the best cuse the president of per-
position to do our constitu- sonally benefiting.
tional responsibility." Republicans have also fo-
By holding a vote on the cused a large part of their
floor, the speaker, who has investigation on whistle-
been on the job less than blower allegations of inter-
two months, will be putting ference in the long-running
his conference on record Justice Department investi-
in support of an impeach- gation into the younger Bi-
ment process that can lead den's taxes and his gun use.
to the ultimate penalty for Hunter Biden is currently
a president: punishment for facing criminal charges in
what the Constitution de- Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., ranking member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, two states from the spe-
scribes as "high crimes and during a news conference on Republican's impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden at the cial counsel investigation.
misdemeanors," which can U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Associated Press He's charged with firearm
lead to removal from office counts in Delaware, alleg-
if convicted in a Senate tricts, have been hesitant to Republican committee right now," he told reporters ing he broke laws against
trial. to take any vote on Biden's leaders portrayed the GOP this week. "Let's see what drug users having guns in
A successful vote would impeachment, fearing a investigation as overzeal- they find out." 2018, a period when he has
also ensure that the im- significant political cost. But ous and illegitimate as the For the impeachment acknowledged struggling
peachment investigation GOP leaders have made chamber had not yet au- probe vote to succeed, with addiction. Special
extends well into 2024 when the case in recent weeks thorized a formal impeach- nearly all House Republi- Counsel David Weiss filed
Biden will be running for that the resolution is only a ment inquiry by a vote cans will have to vote in fa- additional charges last
reelection and seems likely step in the process, not a of the full House. Richard vor. It will amount to a ma- week, alleging he failed
to be squaring off against decision to impeach Biden. Sauber, special counsel to jor test of party unity, given to pay about $1.4 million
former President Donald That message seems to the president, also wrote GOP's narrow 221-213 ma- in taxes over a three-year
Trump — who was twice have won over skeptics. that when Trump faced jority. period.
impeached during his time "As we have said numer- the prospect of impeach- House Democrats are uni- Democrats have conced-
in the White House. Trump ous times before, voting in ment by a Democratic-led fied in their opposition to ed that while the presi-
has pushed Republicans to favor of an impeachment House in 2019, Johnson had the impeachment process, dent's son is not perfect, he
move swiftly on impeach- inquiry does not equal im- said at the time that any in- saying it is a farce used by is a private citizen who is al-
ing Biden, part of his broad- peachment," Rep. Tom Em- quiry without a House vote the GOP to take attention ready being held account-
er calls for vengeance and mer, a member of the GOP would be a "sham." away from Trump and his able by the justice system.
retribution against his politi- leadership team, said at a Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., legal woes. "I mean, there's a lot of evi-
cal enemies. news conference Tuesday. said Monday that while "You don't initiate an im- dence that Hunter Biden
In a recent statement, the Emmer said Republicans there was no evidence to peachment process un- did a lot of improper things.
White House called the "will continue to follow the impeach the president, less there's real evidence He's been indicted, he'll
whole process a "base- facts wherever they lead, "that's also not what the of impeachable offenses," stand trial," Nadler said.
less fishing expedition" that and if they uncover evi- vote this week would be Rep. Jerry Nadler, the rank- "There's no evidence what-
Republicans are pushing dence of treason, bribery about." ing Democrat on the House soever that the president
ahead with "despite the or other high crimes and "We have had enough po- Judiciary Committee, who did anything improper."
fact that members of their misdemeanors, then and litical impeachments in this oversaw the two impeach- Hunter Biden arrived for
own party have admitted only then will the next steps country," he said. "I don't ments into Trump. "There is a rare public statement
there is no evidence to sup- towards impeachment pro- like the stonewalling the none here. None." outside the U.S. Capitol
port impeaching President ceedings be considered." administration has done, Democrats and the White on Wednesday, saying he
Biden." Most of the Republicans but listen, if we don't have House have defended the would not be appearing
House Democrats rose in hesitant to back the im- the receipts, that should president and his adminis- for his scheduled private
opposition to the inquiry peachment push have constrain what the House tration's cooperation with deposition that morning.
resolution Wednesday. also been swayed by lead- does long term." the investigation thus far, The president's son defend-
"This whole thing is an ex- ership's recent argument Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., saying it has already made ed himself against years
treme political stunt. It has that authorizing the inquiry who has long been op- a massive trove of docu- of GOP attacks and said
no credibility, no legiti- will give them better le- posed to moving forward ments available. definitely that his father has
macy, and no integrity. It gal standing as the White with impeachment, said Congressional investiga- had no financial involve-
is a sideshow," Rep. Jim House has questioned the that the White House ques- tors have obtained nearly ment in his business affairs.
McGovern, D-Mass., said legal and constitutional tioning the legitimacy of 40,000 pages of subpoe- His attorney has offered for
during a floor debate. basis for their requests for the inquiry without a formal naed bank records, dozens Biden to testify publicly, cit-
Some House Republicans, information. vote helped gain his sup- of hours of testimony from ing concerns about Repub-
particularly those hailing A letter last month from a port. key witnesses, including licans manipulating any pri-
from politically divided dis- top White House attorney "I can defend an inquiry several high-ranking Jus- vate testimony.q