Democrats Kick Off Convention as House GOP Drops Biden Impeachment Report

In Washington, House Republicans unveiled a comprehensive impeachment report on Monday, detailing allegations of influence peddling and obstruction against President Joe Biden. The findings, which Biden has dismissed as “lies,” are the culmination of nearly two years of investigation.

This 291-page document from three committees—Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Ways and Means—claims that Biden conspired to assist family members in securing millions from foreign sources. The report suggests that interactions, including attended dinners and phone conversations, were part of this alleged conspiracy.

According to the report, “The totality of the corrupt conduct uncovered by the Committees is egregious. President Joe Biden conspired to commit influence peddling and grift. In doing so, he abused his office and, by repeatedly lying about his abuse of office, has defrauded the United States to enrich his family.”

As the report was released, Biden was preparing to speak at the Democratic National Convention. The timing has raised questions, with Biden’s supporters arguing that the investigation seeks to bolster Trump’s polling in the run-up to the election. Biden’s defenders assert that the allegations are politically motivated.

Biden has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations mere fabrications. His family members, including son Hunter Biden and brother James Biden, have also stated that the president had no involvement in their business dealings. White House counsel Edward Siskel previously expressed that the impeachment inquiry should have been considered over after a March hearing, during which even some Republicans voiced skepticism about the evidence against Biden.

The impeachment report was framed as an update on the ongoing investigations Republicans have pursued since gaining control of the House. It does not necessarily indicate that an immediate vote on impeachment is forthcoming. Following Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential race, GOP lawmakers indicated that they may shift their focus to probing Vice President Kamala Harris and her campaign partner, Governor Tim Walz from Minnesota.

Key aspects of the report reference the Democrats’ impeachment of Trump in 2019 regarding his communication with Ukraine, illustrating a perceived overlap in the standards for impeachment. “Despite the cheapening of the impeachment power by Democrats in recent years, the House’s decision to pursue articles of impeachment must not be made lightly,” the report states.

This report coincides with developments in Hunter Biden’s legal troubles, which include charges related to unpaid taxes and firearms possession. Prosecutors have highlighted that Hunter Biden’s role did not correlate with substantial work in exchange for the millions received from various foreign firms.

Republicans have expressed concerns that the historical precedent of partisanship in impeachment could lead to ongoing political accusations between congressional parties. Although the House has already impeached Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas on charges related to border security, those were dismissed in the Senate.

The report investigates multiple aspects of Biden’s alleged offenses, among them his family’s foreign business dealings. It claims that Biden’s relatives received $27 million from foreign entities during a period overlapping with Biden’s vice presidency, though associates of Biden have insisted he did not benefit from these transactions.

Additionally, the report points to instances where Hunter Biden supposedly allowed his father to join conversations with foreign business contacts, though some witnesses indicated those discussions were trivial. The Justice Department has also faced accusations of giving preferential treatment to Hunter Biden during legal proceedings, including an unsuccessful plea deal that sought to avoid jail time.

Furthermore, the report alleges that the Biden administration obstructed the impeachment inquiry by withholding crucial documents and testimony from key witnesses. For instance, Biden invoked executive privilege regarding recordings of his interaction with special counsel Robert Hur about classified documents.

Looking back to December 2019, the Democratic-led House impeached Trump for abuse of power, suggesting parallels with the current allegations against Biden. Republicans argue that Biden’s actions reflect similar misconduct that justifies impeachment.

The report highlights that definitions set forth during Trump’s impeachment have created a framework for addressing alleged abuses of power through foreign relations, thus asserting that Biden’s conduct could be seen as putting personal gain above national interest.

Amid the inquiry, Biden and his allies continue to rebut the allegations against him. Biden stated after the House voted to initiate the impeachment inquiry, “Instead of doing anything to help make Americans’ lives better, they are focused on attacking me with lies.” His legal team asserts that extensive investigations have shown that he has done nothing wrong.

Biden’s family members and associates have all testified to his lack of involvement in their business enterprises. Legal experts and some former lawmakers have criticized the impeachment process as a misuse of power.

Source: USA Today