On Monday, Congressional Republicans initiated a formal case for the impeachment of President Joe Biden, choosing the opening day of the Democratic National Convention to launch their politically charged attack. The move, while dramatic, is seen as unlikely to gain substantial traction.
A report from three key Republican-led committees in the House of Representatives accuses Biden of corruption related to his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings. Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan claimed the investigation “conclusively” demonstrated that Biden “abused his public office for the private financial benefit of the Biden family and Biden business associates.”
Despite these strong allegations, the Republicans have yet to produce direct evidence linking Biden to any wrongdoing or suggesting he used his office to benefit his son’s business ventures. Much of the report is based on inferences and assumptions regarding the relationship between Biden and his son, with many of the claims stemming from the period after Biden’s tenure as vice president under Barack Obama.
Biden, who is set to address the Democratic National Convention and symbolically pass the leadership mantle to Vice President Kamala Harris, has consistently denied any involvement in or support of his son’s business activities, including those in Ukraine and China.
For years, Republicans have targeted Hunter Biden’s foreign business ties and personal struggles, including his battle with drug addiction, as a means to undermine the president. However, efforts to build a compelling impeachment case against Biden—viewed by many as a retaliatory measure for the two impeachments of former President Donald Trump—have yet to come close to a vote in the House.
Given the Republicans’ slim majority in the House, it remains uncertain whether Monday’s report will lead to an actual vote on impeachment. Any such effort would require near-unanimous support within the party to overcome Democratic opposition. Even if the House were to impeach Biden, the Democratic-controlled Senate would almost certainly acquit him, making the likelihood of his removal from office slim to none.
