Factbox-Why have US Republicans opened an impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden?
(Reuters) — U.S. House of Representatives Republicans will open an impeachment inquiry into Democratic President Joe Biden after months of investigations of his son Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings, Speaker Kevin McCarthy said on Tuesday.
The inquiry is being cheered on by Donald Trump, who was twice impeached by the House — a historic first — when it was controlled by Democrats but acquitted by the Senate both times. Trump, the front-runner in the race for the Republican nomination to challenge Biden in next year's U.S. presidential election, has been charged in four separate criminal cases this year.
The White House dismisses the move as unsupported by evidence.
WHAT IS AN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY?
The U.S. Constitution empowers Congress to impeach federal officials including the president for treason, bribery and «other high crimes and misdemeanors.» A president can be removed from office if the House approves articles of impeachment by a simple majority and the Senate votes by a two-thirds majority to convict after holding a trial.
An impeachment inquiry is a formal step that can precede a House vote on whether to approve articles of impeachment and eventually a trial in the Senate.
The House in 2019 voted for an impeachment inquiry into Trump before his first impeachment charging him with abusing his power as president by pressuring Ukraine to investigate Hunter Biden's business dealings. It did not hold a full impeachment inquiry before bringing impeachment charges in the final weeks of Trump's presidency following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Senate Republicans both times provided sufficient votes to acquit Trump.
WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS?
Republicans allege that Biden's son Hunter has profited in
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