The first day of the impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden conducted by House Republicans was deemed a success by the party, as they believe they were able to justify their case. However, expert witnesses called by Republicans cautioned that there was not yet enough proof for impeachment. The hearing revolved around the business dealings of the president’s son, Hunter Biden, with Republicans claiming that he was selling access to his father. The White House has dismissed the inquiry as a “political stunt”.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy initiated the formal impeachment inquiry in September, aiming to investigate allegations of improper business dealings by Hunter Biden that benefited the president. Despite months of Republican probes, no concrete evidence has been unearthed. During the first hearing in the inquiry, it was Hunter Biden, not the president, who dominated the discussion. Republican James Comer, chairman of the Oversight Committee, stated that the panel would scrutinize more than “two dozen pieces of evidence,” including emails and bank records, which he claimed would expose Joe Biden’s “corruption and abuse of public office.” The Republican committee members contended that Joe Biden had lied about discussing business with his son on multiple occasions. They also revealed foreign payments made to President Biden’s family members, particularly millions of dollars received by Hunter Biden, suggesting a “pay to play” scheme.
While some spectators wore T-shirts expressing doubt by stating “NO EVIDENCE,” skepticism about the evidence was prevalent during the hearing. Representative Jamie Raskin, the top-ranking Democrat on the committee, criticized Republicans for not presenting substantial proof, suggesting that if they had definitive evidence, they would have showcased it. Hunter Biden’s attorney, Abbe Lowell, dismissed the allegations as lies. Surprisingly, even the expert witnesses called by Republicans expressed skepticism. The hearing featured individuals with expertise in tax law, criminal investigations, and constitutional legal theory. Two out of three conservative analysts stated that they did not believe there was sufficient evidence to support impeachment. They emphasized the need for further information before making a conclusive assessment.
The sole expert witness called by the Democrats, Michael Gerhardt, shared his opinion that he had not seen credible proof to warrant the probe. Democratic committee members criticized the inquiry as a “sham” and an “embarrassment,” attempting to shift the focus to the impending government shutdown and urging the need for a budget deal. They highlighted the looming deadline, displaying a digital clock counting down to Saturday when the federal government may run out of money if Congress fails to reach an agreement. It remains uncertain whether congressional investigators will seek an impeachment vote in the full House of Representatives after conducting more hearings.
Besides the impeachment inquiry, Hunter Biden is facing criminal charges of lying during the process of purchasing a firearm. A proposed plea deal collapsed in the summer, leading to the charges. Overall, the impeachment inquiry is expected to continue for weeks, and its outcome is currently undecided.
