During an interview with NBC News’ Kristen Welker on Sunday, Representative Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican, shared that lawyers hired by Congress have found no evidence of a specific crime committed by President Joe Biden in the ongoing impeachment probe against him.
The Context:
For more than a year, House Republicans, led by House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, have been conducting an investigation into the Biden family. They claim that President Biden was involved in and gained from his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business ventures during his tenure as vice president under former President Barack Obama.
President Biden has consistently denied these allegations, asserting that the impeachment inquiry against him is nothing more than a groundless political maneuver.
To impeach an officeholder, Congress must determine that the politician is guilty of a high crime or misdemeanor. A simple majority in the House is required to advance the matter to the Senate. The Senate will then conduct a trial and can either find the officeholder guilty based on the articles of impeachment passed by the House, or acquit the officeholder.
What We Know:
During an interview on Meet the Press, Bacon informed Welker that the lawyers on the committee staff have stated that there is currently no specific crime that has been committed.
Welker then asked the congressman his opinion on whether the investigation has concluded, inquiring, “Do you think it’s time to let it go?”
According to Bacon, it may not be the perfect time at the moment, but he believes that we are getting closer to wrapping up this investigation. He emphasizes the significance of showcasing to the American people that the family managed to raise $24 million in foreign funds and utilized various hidden LLCs to move the money around. However, he clarifies that this action, in itself, does not constitute a serious offense or wrongdoing.
The impeachment inquiry has not yet presented significant evidence to support its claims.
Views:
During a committee hearing focused on the impeachment investigation, Representative Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat and member of the Oversight Committee, attempted to challenge Comer and Jordan by proposing a motion to impeach Biden.
“Why don’t we just proceed with the impeachment?” he suggested. “There’s no point in continuing to waste millions of dollars of the taxpayers’ money if we’re already convinced that he has committed a high crime or misdemeanor. What are we waiting for? By the way, Chairman Jordan is also present here. Why aren’t you all pushing for a vote in your committee? When will it take place?”
Jordan fired back, saying, “We don’t engage in snap impeachments like you all. Instead, we prioritize the facts and conduct oversight in accordance with the Constitution.”
Despite receiving no response, Moskowitz went ahead and presented the motion, with Jordan offering a second.
“They’ll never impeach Joe Biden,” Moskowitz confidently declared to the public. According to him, this impeachment is highly unlikely to occur due to the lack of evidence. In his eyes, it’s all just a staged spectacle, a charade that holds no real substance.
What’s Next?
In a letter on Thursday, Comer suggested that Biden should testify before the committee on April 16. Comer pointed out that the testimony of former business associates of Hunter Biden, Tony Bobulinski and Jason Galanis, during last week’s public hearing contradicted the president’s statements about his involvement in his son’s business dealings.
Bobulinski and Galanis have made allegations that the president was involved in schemes to support Hunter Biden’s businesses. The White House has refuted their testimonies, with White House spokesperson Ian Sams dismissing the invitation for the president to testify as a “pathetic stunt following a failed impeachment.”
As the presumed 2024 Republican Presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump is facing a reelection campaign against Democratic incumbent Biden.