House Republicans noted that the impeachment of President Donald Trump did not proceed as methodically.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) announced Tuesday that a vote to authorize an inquiry into the impeachment of President Joe Biden will happen next week, before the House breaks for the holidays.
“The House has no choice if it’s going to follow its constitutional responsibility to formally adopt an impeachment inquiry on the floor so that when the subpoenas are challenged in court, it will be at the apex of our constitutional authority,” he said during a press conference.
“This vote is not a vote to impeach President Biden. This is a vote to continue the inquiry of impeachment, and that’s a necessary constitutional step.”
House Republicans have been investigating allegations that the Biden family profited from foreign nationals through the use of Joe Biden’s office as Vice President of the United States and later a leading candidate for the president of the United States, as well as allegations that the Biden administration hampered efforts to investigate this claim.
Top Republicans have said an impeachment inquiry will help further the investigation, granting subpoena power and access to additional materials. The White House has pushed back, stating it has been cooperative in turning over more than 35,000 pages of private financial records.
The first impeachment inquiry hearing was held on Sept. 28, with experts testifying that there were signs of misconduct but more evidence was needed.
On Monday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told reporters that an impeachment inquiry could proceed the way Republicans have already been conducting it, but a vote to cement its official nature was better.
“According to the Constitution, you don’t need it, you can start an impeachment inquiry the way we’re doing it,” he said. The impeachment of President Donald Trump had also proceeded the same way, following the authorization of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
“[Former] Speaker of the House [Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)] said it three months ago, but we think it always helps if the full House of Representatives on the record, a majority of that body, has said this is an official impeachment inquiry,” Mr. Jordan said, adding he expected court challenges to the impeachment inquiry as well.
