House Republicans are accelerating their focus on launching an impeachment inquiry against President Biden, even as some in the party still express caution about establishing a precedent of impeaching presidents of the opposing party.
For the first six months of the Republican House majority, Speaker Kevin McCarthy has worked to keep his far-right flank satisfied in their desire to target Biden by greenlighting investigations into the president, his son Hunter Biden and members of the administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. But McCarthy’s comments earlier this week that indicated he is open to impeachment proceedings represent a shift in both rhetoric and tactics.
McCarthy opening the door to an impeachment inquiry comes as he works to nullify a threat from far-right lawmakers to derail several must-pass funding bills and as some in his party, including a member of his leadership team, areformer president Donald Trump’s impeachments, an action with questionable legal and practical viability.
Any impeachment inquiry would come alongside ongoing legal issues involving Trump, who is the front-runner in the Republican presidential primary race and is facing two indictments — one by a Manhattan grand jury for alleged campaign finance and other violations and another by a federal grand jury over classified documents. Trump also recently announced he received a target letter from the Justice Department over efforts to overturn the 2020 election on Jan.
“This is impeachment theater,” Rep. Ken Buck , a member of the House Freedom Caucus, said on CNN. “[McCarthy] has got to convince the public that he is credible, and that Republicans have a duty to follow him. The party itself is not in agreement, and we’re going to have some real trouble passing appropriations bills.”
That approach gives leadership a happy medium to pursue what many in the conference seek, but also temporarily ensures that vulnerable Republicans representing swing districts do not get caught up in the debate.
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