The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to formalize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
House votes to authorize impeachment inquiry
Update 5:50 p.m. EST: The House voted on Wednesday to formalize an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden.
House Resolution 918 passed by a 221-212 vote along party lines.
Earlier, a call for the previous question to move forward with the vote passed by a 220-212 vote.
-- Bob D’Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Original report: The vote is scheduled for Wednesday, despite the investigation into the president’s alleged misconduct has not uncovered any evidence supporting the allegations, The Associated Press reported.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has been pressured to show progress in the almost year-long investigation around Biden’s family’s business dealings. The investigation, according to the AP, found ethical issues but no evidence of corruption on the part of Biden, including no indication that he had accepted bribes either while president or while he was vice president.
Still, Johnson called Wednesday’s vote “the next necessary step” noting that there are “a lot of people who are frustrated this hasn’t moved faster.” He believes the vote will pass and “we’ll be in the best position to do our constitutional responsibility.”
Last week Johnson reminded Americans that it is just a process, not an impeachment itself.
“This vote is not a vote to impeach President Biden,” he said. “This is a vote to continue the inquiry of impeachment, and it’s a necessary constitutional step.”
Johnson accused the White House of “stonewalling” the investigation, which was started under then-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in September.
“The House has no choice if it’s going to follow its constitutional responsibility, to formally adopt an impeachment inquiry on the floor so that when the subpoenas are challenged in court we will be at the apex of our Constitutional authority,” he said. Later, he added, “whether someone is for or against impeachment is of no import right now.”
The president has denied the allegations, with the White House calling the impeachment inquiry “illegitimate,” NBC News reported, adding that several GOP lawmakers have said they have not seen evidence of wrongdoing.
“Despite this reality, the far right is calling the shots and demanding House Republicans continue down this path of failure,” the White House has said, according to NBC News.
