House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has fired the starting gun on a monumental battle that could lead to Joe Biden becoming the first U.S. President removed from office – but there is still a long way for Republicans to go.
By launching a formal impeachment inquiry McCarthy has increased the chance of Biden, his son Hunter and their associates, being dragged before Congress to answer questions about allegations of corrupt foreign business dealings.
The Bidens could now have their bank records, mortgage details, emails, text messages and mobile phones subpoenaed, along with anything else Congress wants to see.
What is an impeachment inquiry?
The Constitution gives Congress the power to impeach the president for treason, bribery and other ‘high crimes and misdemeanors.’
An impeachment inquiry can be launched by the Speaker, or by any member of Congress who secures a majority vote for it in the House of Representatives.
In the Biden case several committees – Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means – have already been investigating allegations that he corruptly used the office of Vice President to help his son Hunter make money from deals in countries including China and Russia.
Their discoveries included that Biden repeatedly met with his son’s foreign business partners, and took him on Air Force Two trips.
It contributed to McCarthy’s decision to announce a formal inquiry to pursue more evidence.
The committees will now be able to hold hearings and call witnesses, who could include Hunter, his business partners, and even Joe Biden himself.
Ultimately, the findings of the various investigating committees will be considered by the House Judiciary Committee.
What are articles of impeachment?
The Judiciary Committee will prepare articles of impeachment, which are proposed charges based on the evidence.
The Republican-led Judiciary Committee will then vote on whether to adopt the articles.
If it does, then the articles will be sent to the House, which will debate them and then vote on whether the president should face a trial on the charges.
Only a simple majority of the House – where the Republicans outnumber Democrats 222 to 212 – is needed to proceed.
If the articles did pass the House then Biden would be officially ‘impeached’.
The ensuing trial of President Joe Biden would be held in the Senate, presided over by the Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts.
The Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate to convict the President and remove him from office.
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