House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is dealing with some reluctant moderate Republicans as he considers launching an impeachment inquiry against President Biden.
McCarthy has promised to hold a floor vote if he decides to go ahead with an investigation into the Biden family’s foreign dealings, and he can probably only afford to lose four Republican votes.
“For me, regarding impeachment, we’re not there yet,” Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) told CNN in an interview last month that aired again on Sunday. “It’s not about focusing on impeachment, but rather whether the facts and evidence justify any further action.”
Lawler scored one of the narrowest congressional election victories in the 2022 cycle and faces a competitive reelection in 2024.
He doesn’t seem to be alone.
“I think that before moving on to [an] impeachment inquiry … there should be a direct link to the president in some evidence,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) said in a recent interview with The Hill. “I think we need to have more concrete evidence to go down that path.”
An anonymous Republican lawmaker, referring to the House members pushing the investigation, told Fox News last week: “I don’t think they have the votes to get it.”
President McCarthy said Friday that he would hold a vote to formally open an impeachment inquiry into Biden. But several Republicans in swing districts are not willing to support her. “We’re not there yet,” Mike Lawler said. She can only lose four GOP votes.More from today @insidepolitics pic.twitter.com/nHehXxFJB0
-Manu Raju (@mkraju) September 3, 2023
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, criticized the press before the recess of Congress for underestimating him. AFP via Getty Images
So far, it’s unclear exactly how many hurdles there are in an impeachment inquiry, which is a separate process from the formal impeachment process for a president.
Republicans who vote against an investigation will face the politically awkward position of having to defend Biden.
In theory, the president could skip the tradition of holding a floor vote to launch a formal investigation, similar to what former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (R-Calif.) did against former President Donald Trump.
But McCarthy seems to rule it out.
“Opening an impeachment inquiry is serious business, and one that House Republicans would not take lightly or use for political gain,” McCarthy told Breitbart News in a statement. “So if we go forward with an impeachment inquiry, it would come through a vote in the House of People and not through a statement by a single person.”
The White House has criticized Republicans for even toying with an impeachment inquiry against President Biden.REUTERS
McCarthy has not publicly committed to opening an impeachment inquiry, but has reportedly left hints behind the scenes that he might pursue one later this month.
“The thing that stops us from doing an impeachment inquiry is that they provide us with the documents that we ask for,” McCarthy told Fox Business host Larry Kudlow last month, referring to Biden. “The determination here is how the Bidens handled this.”
“If they provide us with the documents, there would be no need for an impeachment inquiry. But if they withhold the documents and fight as they have now to not give the American public what they deserve to know, we will move forward with the impeachment inquiry when we come back in session.”
Complicating the situation further is the shutdown fight McCarthy is facing.
McCarthy has favored a short-term stopgap measure known as a continuing resolution to maintain government funding after September.
If Congress doesn’t act, the government will shut down in October, when the next fiscal year begins.
But some conservative members of his caucus are asking for concessions on both issues. For example, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ge.) is demanding that McCarthy hold a vote to investigate impeachment in exchange for funding the government.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georg.) has helped House Speaker McCarthy through past battles over the presidency and the debt ceiling.Shutterstock
Tonight, I made an announcement directly to my constituents at my Floyd County Town Hall.
I will not vote to fund the government if Congress does not do this:
– Impeachment inquiry vote on Joe Biden – Defund Biden’s use of government as a weapon – Eliminate all COVID vaccines and… pic.twitter.com/2WXd4CrV7R
– Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) August 31, 2023
House Republicans have focused on the Biden family’s overseas businesses. PA
Still, much of the House Republican caucus appears to be on board with an impeachment inquiry.
“I think there is now consensus in our conference that we will have to go to an impeachment inquiry. Obviously, that will be Chairman McCarthy’s decision,” Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer told Fox News’ Sean Hannity last week.
“I feel like that’s imminent.”
Comer has been the point man in House Republican Party investigations into the Biden family’s foreign dealings, which would be the basis for impeachment.
Given the threadbare Republican majority of 222 to 212, McCarthy can only afford to lose four votes if all members of the House are present.
The Chamber is scheduled to meet again next week.
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