The US Congress has officially launched an investigation into Biden's impeachment

On September 12, US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (Republican Party) launched a formal impeachment investigation into the 46th US President Joe Biden, reports Reuters. The reason is the actions of his son Hunter, whose illegal activities were allegedly covered up by Biden. Republicans have long tried to bring these suspicions to impeachment hearings.

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McCarthy's actions set the stage for months of hearings in the House of Representatives. It could also play into the hands of Donald Trump, who is hoping to avenge his 2020 election defeat against Biden and return to the White House.

What are Republicans accusing Biden of?

Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden's business activities for years, and federal prosecutors have also brought criminal charges against the president's son related to tax evasion and firearms.

McCarthy said Republicans had uncovered evidence of phone calls, money transfers and other activity that "paints a picture of a culture of corruption" in the Biden family. He did not provide any evidence of misconduct by Biden himself.

The impeachment inquiry could give Republicans more opportunities to obtain information from the Biden administration and other sources.

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The commission of inquiry will begin its work without a vote of the full House of Representatives, as was the case before Trump's first impeachment in 2019. Such a vote is not mandatory, but can add legitimacy to the effort.

It was unclear whether McCarthy had enough support from his narrow 222-212 majority for the inquiry vote to succeed, since just five dissenters could block the initiative.

Democrats have criticized the investigation as an attempt by Republicans to distract attention from the fact that they cannot agree even among themselves, as well as from Trump's legal problems (he faces four separate criminal charges).

“This impeachment is Kevin McCarthy's new shiny object to distract the public from the fact that the Republican Party can't even pass bills to fund the government,” said Democratic spokeswoman Pramila Jayapal.

Biden spokesman Ian Sams said Republicans have not presented any evidence of wrongdoing by the president.

“Extreme politics at its worst,” Sams wrote on social media.

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Republicans, who now virtually control the House of Representatives, have accused Biden of profiting while he served as vice president from 2009 to 2017. They claim Biden received it from his son Hunter Biden's overseas business ventures. They provided no justification.

Biden previously mocked Republicans about possible impeachment. No US president has ever been removed from office by impeachment. But this procedure, which was once rare, has recently become commonplace.

Many in McCarthy's party were furious when the then Democratic-controlled House of Representatives impeached Trump twice, in 2019 and 2021. Both times he was acquitted by the Senate. Some conservative Republicans have said they will try to remove McCarthy as House leader if he does not move to impeach Biden.

What to expect

Any attempt to remove Biden from office is unlikely to succeed. Even if the House votes to impeach Biden, an uncertain prospect given the slim GOP majority, the case will almost certainly fail in a subsequent trial in the Democratic-controlled Senate. In the Senate, a two-thirds vote is required for conviction.

Trump is the only US president to be impeached twice. In 2019, the House of Representatives accused Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress after he asked Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son over unsubstantiated corruption allegations.

Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives in 2021 on charges of inciting insurrection after his supporters attacked the US Capitol.

Both times he was acquitted in the Senate. Trump denied any wrongdoing and called both attempts a political “witch hunt.” He pressured Republicans to impeach Biden.

Besides Trump, only two other US presidents have been impeached: Bill Clinton in 1998 and Andrew Johnson in 1868. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 when he faced an impeachment vote.

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“The impeachment bar seems to be getting lower and lower every year,” said Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

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