House Republicans make their case for President Biden impeachment inquiry at first hearing
Biden, saying they intend to «provide accountability» as they make their case to the public, their colleagues and sceptics in the Senate. The chairmen of the Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means committees are using the first hearing of their impeachment inquiry to review the constitutional and legal questions involved.
They are trying to show what they say are links to his son Hunter's overseas businesses, though key witnesses said they do not yet see hard evidence of impeachable offences.
Rep.
James Comer, R-Ky, the Oversight chairman, said the lawmakers have «a mountain of evidence» that will show that the elder Biden «abused his public office for his family's financial gain.»
Comer said the panel will continue to «follow the money and the evidence to provide accountability» to the American people.
It's a high-stakes opening act for Republicans, coming in the midst of a potential federal government shutdown, as they begin a process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president, punishment for what the Constitution describes as «high crimes and misdemeanours.»
The hearing comes as House Republicans face scattered reluctance from their own ranks to the inquiry and deep resistance in the Senate from Republicans who worry about political ramifications of impeachment — and who say Biden's conviction and removal from office is a near impossibility.
As the hearing began, Democrats displayed a screen showing the days, hours and minutes left until the government shuts down as Congress struggles to fund the government before Saturday's deadline.
«We're 62 hours away from shutting down the government of the United States of America and Republicans are launching an impeachment drive, based on a long debunked and
