Democrats call Biden impeachment inquiry 'about nothing,' GOP chair struggles to keep control
Republicans say Americans 'demand accountability."
House Republicans on Thursday held the first public hearing of their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
Republicans say their House Oversight Committee inquiry is focused on whether Biden was involved in or benefitted from his family's foreign business dealings, among other issues. But so far, they have yet to release evidence that Biden profited from his son Hunter's business deals or was improperly influenced by them.
The White House has blasted the impeachment inquiry as "extreme politics at its worst."
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GOP witness believes 'best practice' is to vote on impeachment inquiry
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).
Raskin displays countdown clock to government shutdown
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.
Democrats say they want to hear from Rudy Giuliani
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.
Witness for Democrats says 'fishing expedition' not legitimate purpose for impeachment inquiry
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.
What to expect at today's hearing
The committee is expected to reexamine the findings of months of GOP-led investigations and offer an explanation as to why an inquiry is warranted.
"This week, the House Oversight Committee will present evidence uncovered to date and hear from legal and financial experts about crimes the Bidens may have committed as they brought in millions at the expense of U.S. interests," chairman James Comer, R-Ky., said in a statement.
The committee will hear from four witnesses, three of whom were called by Republicans to provide testimony.
The panel's 46 members (plus other lawmakers) will be allowed to question the witnesses in a hearing that could stretch on for more than six hours.
Read more about what to expect from the hearing here.