Democrats mock Biden impeachment inquiry hearing, GOP chair struggles to keep control

Several Democrats have said they want to hear from Trump ally Rudy Giuliani.

Rep. Jamie Raskin put forward a motion to subpoena Giuliani and former Giuliani ally Lev Parnas for testimony about what Raskin said were their efforts to dig up dirt on the Biden family's business dealings -- and Biden's actions as then-vice president -- in Ukraine during the Trump administration.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, quickly moved to table Raskin's motion to subpoena both men. Republicans had the votes to kill the motion, though they seemed caught off guard by the request.

Later on, Democratic Rep. Stephen Lynch also said he wanted to hear from Giuliani as he noted none of today's witnesses have first-hand knowledge about what House Republicans have alleged about the Bidens.

"When I walked into this hearing room, my first question was: where's Rudy?" Lynch said.

University of North Carolina law professor Michael Gerhardt, a witness called by Democrats, told the committee the Constitution's founders designed an impeachment inquiry to have several safeguards -- and expressed concern that they are not be adhered to in this case.

The first safeguard, he said, is credible evidence of the commission of treason, bribery and other high crimes and misdemeanors.

"There is not, at least not that I've yet heard, such credible evidence," Gerhardt said.

"Let me give you an example of what I fear is similar to the current proceedings: Hunter Biden is arrested for speeding in a car owned by his father, and the police go after the father. I don't think that's how the law should work. I don't think that's how impeachment should work."

He also stressed the importance of judicial review, telling the panel the U.S. Supreme Court previously decided that the House Oversight Committee has to conduct an investigation for a legitimate purpose.

"A fishing expedition is not a legitimate purpose," he said.

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Impeachment inquiry should not be 'fishing expedition': Gerhardt

University of North Carolina law professor Michael Gerhardt testified at the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

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Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor and Republican witness, said in his opening statement he didn't believe impeachment articles against President Biden were warranted at this time.

"I want to emphasize what it is that we're here today for," he said. "This is a question of an impeachment inquiry. It is not a vote on articles of impeachment. In fact, I do not believe that the current evidence would support articles of impeachment. That is something that inquiry has to establish."

Turley, also a Fox News contributor, went on to say he supported the impeachment inquiry because of the GOP allegations Biden spoke falsely about foreign business deals and possibly benefitted from his family's business dealings -- but emphasized they're "merely allegations and they should not become presumptions of impeachable conduct."

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Evidence so far does 'not support' articles of impeachment: Turley

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley delivered his opening statement of the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.

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Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, the committee's ranking member, didn't mince words as he tore into Republicans for moving ahead with an impeachment inquiry when Congress is barreling toward a government shutdown.

"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 discredited lie," Raskin said.

"No foreign enemy's ever been able to shut down the government United States but now MAGA Republicans are about to do just that. But they don't want to cut off public services to the people and deny paychecks to more than a million service members without first launching the impeachment drive, even when they don't have a shred of evidence against President Biden for an impeachable offense."

Raskin went on to point to poster boards filled with recent quotes from Republicans on the spending showdown, including comments like "clown show" and "new low."

Raskin also criticized Republicans for launching an impeachment inquiry without a full House vote, and said they sit "empty handed."

As staffers displayed a poster with former President Donald Trump's posts on his social media platform calling for a government shutdown and Biden's impeachment behind him, Raskin slammed Republicans actions.

"We've moved from a Trump-ordered Republican shutdown to a Trump-ordered impeachment hearing. Back in the reality-based world, the majority sits completely empty handed with no evidence of any presidential wrongdoing, no smoking gun, no gun, no smoke," Raskin said. "If the Republicans had a smoking gun or even a dripping water pistol, they would be presenting it today. But they've got nothing," he said.