An impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden could start soon, the top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives said this week.
If the president and members of his family stonewall congressional investigators, then an inquiry will be launched when the House returns from its break, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said on Aug. 22.
“The whole determination here is how the Bidens handled this. If they provide us the documents, there wouldn’t be a need for impeachment inquiry. But if they withhold the documents and fight like they have now to not provide to the American public what they deserve to know, we will move forward with impeachment inquiry when we come back into session,” Mr. McCarthy said.
He was speaking on Fox News.
Bank records obtained by congressional investigators show more than $20 million in foreign payments to Hunter Biden, other relatives of President Biden, and their associates. Whistleblowers from the IRS and FBI have testified about what they uncovered during investigations and obstruction by top government officials. And Devon Archer, a former associate of Mr. Biden, has told members about President Biden, while vice president, meeting with Mr. Biden’s business partners.
An FBI document also outlined claims that the Bidens were bribed by a Ukrainian businessman who owned Burisma, the same energy company that employed Mr. Biden.
“Somebody is lying in this process. And the only thing I realize here is the only stories that have not changed are the whistleblowers from the IRS. Their story has held up time and again,” Mr. McCarthy said. “It really looks like there’s two justice systems here.”
He added: “If the Biden administration continues to fight to withhold information that could really clear all this up. Did they take bribes? Did they deal in the business? If they hold that up, we would have to move to an impeachment inquiry.”
The White House did not respond to a request for comment. It has not denied that President Biden spoke with his son’s business associates but has alleged he did not talk business with them.
By Zachary Stieber
