House Republicans are beginning to temper expectations about the success of their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
The possibility of pursuing articles of impeachment remains on the table, but Republicans are far from gathering the near-unanimous support needed to recommend removing him from the White House. A resolution formalizing their impeachment inquiry was approved in December.
Losing steam
Some Republicans feel there’s an unwillingness to follow through, as the chamber has pressing matters to address during a presidential election year. House Republicans face an uphill battle to keep their majority in 2024, and multiple members in vulnerable seats are focused on their reelection campaigns. Headed into November, the GOP majority dwindled further when Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) announced he would resign next week.
“I don’t think we have the will to impeach Joe Biden,” Rep. Troy Nehls (R-TX) told Fox News. “We just don’t. We’ve got a two-seat majority. You’ve got some guys in these tough districts that don’t want to alienate maybe independents or moderates.”
“They’ve laid out a good case for impeaching Joe Biden,” added Nehls, a member of the House Freedom Caucus. “But I just don’t think we have the will to do it.”
Uncovering facts
Republicans have spent months claiming they have evidence of Biden’s wrongdoing, but without producing a smoking gun, they’re beginning to justify their efforts as a fact-finding venture. The inquiry, led by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), has zeroed in on Hunter Biden, subpoenaing AT&T to obtain phone records last week. Hunter Biden has testified that his father wasn’t involved in his business dealings.
“When the staff tells you that they can’t identify a particular crime, that’s a problem,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) told Fox News. “But we should welcome the investigation. It’s more about letting the voters know the truth.”
Criminal referrals and drafting legislation
Republicans are reluctant to abandon their efforts to remove Biden, as it is a top priority for the GOP base. After months of investigation with no solid evidence, other methods are being explored to keep the spotlight on the alleged wrongdoings by the Bidens.
Comer said the end of the investigation might result in issuing criminal referrals to the Justice Department. Instead of impeaching Biden, members could suggest the prosecution of people, although the DOJ is not required to act on the referrals. Comer has not clarified if those being referred would include the president.
“At the end of the day, what does accountability look like? It looks like criminal referrals,” Comer said. “It looks like referring people to the Department of Justice.”
Other concrete steps House Republicans are taking include legislative reforms, such as tightening financial disclosure requirements and increasing regulations on foreign lobbying, Politico reported.
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Comer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) have yet to give a clear indication on when the impeachment inquiry will wrap up, telling Punchbowl News they are focused on an open hearing on March 20, when they asked Hunter Biden to testify. The president’s son has not confirmed if he will make an appearance. He provided testimony behind closed doors last month.
“After this public hearing, then we’ll see where we are,” Comer said. “But I would love to wrap it up.”
