House Republicans have released their initial impeachment inquiry report on President Joe Biden, accusing him of abuse of power and obstruction of justice in relation to the financial dealings of his son, Hunter Biden, and family associates. The report, which is nearly 300 pages long, alleges that the Biden family engaged in corrupt business practices that warrant impeachment. However, the report stops short of alleging any criminal wrongdoing by the president, and the next steps in the impeachment inquiry are uncertain due to lack of support within the Republican ranks for impeachment and removal. Some Republicans are focusing their attention on Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s nominee.
The White House has dismissed the House impeachment inquiry as a “stunt” and urged House Republicans to move on from the matter. The report, led by the House Oversight and Accountability, Judiciary, and Ways & Means panels, claims that the Constitution provides a clear remedy for a president’s abuse of office – impeachment by the House of Representatives and removal by the Senate. Republicans have been investigating various aspects of the Biden family’s finances dating back to 2009 when Joe Biden was serving as vice president under Barack Obama.
Through bank records, witness interviews, whistleblower accounts, and millions of documents, House Republicans allege a years-long pattern of soliciting foreign business deals by Hunter Biden and his associates using their proximity to political power in Washington. The focus of the report is not on Biden’s time as president but on the years following the death of his son Beau and his decision not to run for president in 2016. The report details business payments totaling $27 million from partners in Russia, China, and other countries, as well as loans received by Hunter Biden from various sources, including Hollywood attorney Kevin Morris.
The report accuses President Biden of participating in a conspiracy to monetize his office for the benefit of his family, although Biden himself declined to testify before the House. The report also alleges obstruction of justice on Biden’s part and revisits previous complaints about the Justice Department’s handling of the investigation into Hunter Biden. Attorney General Merrick Garland has denied these accusations and defended the department against claims of political influence. The report mentions President Trump’s impeachments and contrasts his situation with the Biden family’s dealings but acknowledges the differences in the criminal charges faced by Trump.
House Republicans have issued criminal referrals recommending that the Justice Department prosecute Hunter Biden and James Biden for making false statements to Congress as part of the investigation. James Biden’s involvement in various family businesses is also highlighted, with Republicans pointing to payments that they claim benefited the president. The report makes references to “Biden-Harris administration,” reflecting the increased focus on Vice President Harris following Biden’s decision not to seek reelection. New probes into Harris and her vice presidential pick, Tim Walz, have also been initiated by the same committees leading the Biden inquiry.
