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

Democrats again tried to force a vote on subpoenaing Trump ally Rudy Giuliani over his alleged efforts to dig up dirt on the Biden family's business dealings in Ukraine and Biden's actions as vice president. Republicans were able to successfully kill the motion.

Chairman Comer attempted to dispense of the motion with voice vote but Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin pushed for a recorded vote. It failed 20-18.

"Where in the world in Rudy Giuliani?" Rep. Kwesi Mfume, D-Md., bellowed, holding up a piece of paper that read the same.

Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law professor called by Republicans to testify, said he believes it's a "best practice" to hold a full House vote to open an impeachment inquiry.

"It brings solemnity and weight of the decision," Turley told Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna.

Republicans have yet to hold a formal vote. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, despite previously stating he'd hold a floor vote, unilaterally ordered the inquiry on Sept. 12. At the time, it appeared he lacked the support from his caucus for any such measure to pass.

When pressed by Khanna if he'd advise McCarthy to change course, Turley responded: "I always said I thought it was best practice."

Whether or not a House vote is needed to launch an impeachment inquiry -- as has been tradition -- is a point of contention. Democrats have pointed to a Trump-era Office of Legal Counsel memo that stated impeachment inquiries must have sign off from the House. Meanwhile, Republicans highlighted a 2019 federal district judge decision that the Democrats were legally engaged an impeachment inquiry into former President Donald Trump despite no vote being held at the time (Democrats later did vote to formalize the impeachment inquiry).

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., has propped up a clock that is counting down to the the end-of-the-day Saturday deadline when the federal government runs out of money.

Raskin brought up the impending shutdown when he questioned law professor Michael Gerhardt, a witness called by Democrats.

"Professor Gerhardt, have there ever been an impeachment process launched in the middle of a government shutdown?" Raskin asked.

"No," Gerhardt responded.

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.