House GOP Reaches Conclusion of Effort to Impeach Biden
The anticipated report on the impeachment inquiry involving Joe Biden has only reinforced the notion that Republicans lack sufficient support to advocate for the president's removal.
TroibNews 
House Republicans are essentially abandoning their efforts to impeach Joe Biden.
Lawmakers from the Judiciary, Oversight, and Ways and Means committees unveiled a nearly 300-page report on Monday outlining the findings of their impeachment inquiry, accusing Biden of "impeachable conduct." However, the Republicans did not specifically call for an impeachment vote, shifting that decision to the broader GOP Conference while stating their investigations will continue.
Following the report's release, Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement urging all Americans to read the report and praised the committees for their efforts. Notably, he did not mention any next steps, which suggests that leadership does not intend to pursue an impeachment vote against Biden. Moreover, committee leaders like Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and James Comer (R-Ky.) are not advocating for a vote either.
This anticlimactic conclusion ends one of the party's most public investigations during its slim majority. Given the current three-vote majority in the House, it has been evident for months that Republicans lack the numbers for a successful impeachment. Moderates have openly expressed doubts about the existence of clear evidence of a crime or impeachable offense despite private briefings, and several GOP members have indicated that the report signifies the conclusion of the inquiry.
A GOP lawmaker, who requested anonymity to speak freely, commented, "We don’t have the votes. We won’t have the votes. It’s math. … The report is going to be the end of it," summarizing the sentiment among some members.
Despite this, conservatives are not completely abandoning the issue, which could become a source of tension for leadership. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) questioned Johnson in a post on X on Monday: “When are we voting to impeach Biden?” Meanwhile, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has previously suggested forcing an impeachment vote over border issues, stated that Biden “must be impeached” and expressed her frustration that Congress has not already moved forward with articles of impeachment.
However, neither Greene nor Steube explicitly committed to forcing a vote when Republicans reconvene in early September, a possibility that could occur without leadership's support. A vote in favor of impeachment would likely fail, as many in the GOP are skeptical of moving forward with the effort. Nevertheless, some conservatives are considering such a vote to compel their colleagues to publicly state their positions, a tactic that could put pressure on centrist Republicans ahead of the upcoming election.
If Republicans forego an impeachment vote, it would represent the first formal presidential impeachment inquiry in modern history that does not culminate in a vote, aside from Richard Nixon's resignation before a vote could be held. Yet, it's a reality that a growing number of lawmakers appear willing to accept as the investigation looks for alternative pathways.
These alternatives might include making criminal referrals to the Justice Department for James and Hunter Biden — the president’s son and brother — along with bipartisan legislation aimed at tightening financial disclosure laws for presidents, vice presidents, and their families.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) recently noted, “I’d say we’re finished with that,” reflecting the sentiment concerning the impeachment effort. Comer has also attempted to distance the inquiry from impeachment itself, stating that he “never asked” for leaders to officially initiate an impeachment inquiry, suggesting instead that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy believed it would aid their legal strategies.
House Republicans have dedicated months to their investigation, primarily zeroing in on the business dealings of Biden’s family members. A significant portion of their report examines the financial activities of Hunter and James Biden, detailing their business ventures and received loans. While the report maintains that the inquiry remains open, both Comer and Jordan have acknowledged that their investigations are largely complete, save for a few ongoing legal matters.
Republicans have claimed to trace $27 million flowing to the Biden family and their associates from foreign sources, suggesting this funding was contingent on Joe Biden's position in office. They further allege that Hunter and James Biden utilized their surname and connections with Biden to enhance their influence.
However, investigators have had difficulty providing clear evidence linking Biden's actions as president or vice president to those business dealings or demonstrating that he committed any crimes.
Some former business associates indicated that Hunter Biden would sometimes put his father on speakerphone during meetings with potential partners, although these conversations were reportedly limited to small talk. In other cases, witnesses recalled Joe Biden making brief appearances at dinners or lunches, but they noted that business discussions did not take place at those times. Both Hunter and James Biden have denied any involvement of Joe Biden in their business dealings, a position consistently supported by the White House.
GOP investigators in their report argued that they did not need to present evidence of a crime or a quid pro quo; however, some of their colleagues have insisted that such proof is necessary for approving an impeachment against Biden. Democrats celebrated what they viewed as a victory on Monday, contending that the report effectively cleared the president of wrongdoing.
“The report they throw out into the world during an August congressional recess and at the start of the Democratic National Convention as a last-minute face-saving gesture is actually a Banana Republican cream pie they have just pressed into their own faces,” Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, remarked. He also circulated a memo to Democratic members stating, “President Biden Exonerated by Impeachment Inquiry.”
GOP leaders are working to counter criticism of their investigative processes, with the speaker’s office and some committees compiling a list of accomplishments they attribute to the GOP's majority. These include pressuring then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign following an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, probing Vice President Kamala Harris’ actions on immigration issues, and seeking resignations related to ongoing investigations at Columbia University.
The lack of sufficient votes is the main reason for the GOP's stalled impeachment initiative, but other factors are also at play. With Biden out of the presidential race, Republicans are increasingly redirecting their focus toward Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. They are delving into Harris’ border efforts and have initiated an inquiry into Walz’s dealings concerning China.
Throughout the GOP’s impeachment report, “Biden-Harris” is mentioned about 20 times, despite Harris not being the focus of the investigation, which primarily addressed Biden family business dealings and ongoing federal inquiries. The timing of the report's release on the first day of the Democratic convention, with Biden expected to speak that evening, adds a layer of political strategy to the situation.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
Lawmakers from the Judiciary, Oversight, and Ways and Means committees unveiled a nearly 300-page report on Monday outlining the findings of their impeachment inquiry, accusing Biden of "impeachable conduct." However, the Republicans did not specifically call for an impeachment vote, shifting that decision to the broader GOP Conference while stating their investigations will continue.
Following the report's release, Speaker Mike Johnson issued a statement urging all Americans to read the report and praised the committees for their efforts. Notably, he did not mention any next steps, which suggests that leadership does not intend to pursue an impeachment vote against Biden. Moreover, committee leaders like Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and James Comer (R-Ky.) are not advocating for a vote either.
This anticlimactic conclusion ends one of the party's most public investigations during its slim majority. Given the current three-vote majority in the House, it has been evident for months that Republicans lack the numbers for a successful impeachment. Moderates have openly expressed doubts about the existence of clear evidence of a crime or impeachable offense despite private briefings, and several GOP members have indicated that the report signifies the conclusion of the inquiry.
A GOP lawmaker, who requested anonymity to speak freely, commented, "We don’t have the votes. We won’t have the votes. It’s math. … The report is going to be the end of it," summarizing the sentiment among some members.
Despite this, conservatives are not completely abandoning the issue, which could become a source of tension for leadership. Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) questioned Johnson in a post on X on Monday: “When are we voting to impeach Biden?” Meanwhile, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who has previously suggested forcing an impeachment vote over border issues, stated that Biden “must be impeached” and expressed her frustration that Congress has not already moved forward with articles of impeachment.
However, neither Greene nor Steube explicitly committed to forcing a vote when Republicans reconvene in early September, a possibility that could occur without leadership's support. A vote in favor of impeachment would likely fail, as many in the GOP are skeptical of moving forward with the effort. Nevertheless, some conservatives are considering such a vote to compel their colleagues to publicly state their positions, a tactic that could put pressure on centrist Republicans ahead of the upcoming election.
If Republicans forego an impeachment vote, it would represent the first formal presidential impeachment inquiry in modern history that does not culminate in a vote, aside from Richard Nixon's resignation before a vote could be held. Yet, it's a reality that a growing number of lawmakers appear willing to accept as the investigation looks for alternative pathways.
These alternatives might include making criminal referrals to the Justice Department for James and Hunter Biden — the president’s son and brother — along with bipartisan legislation aimed at tightening financial disclosure laws for presidents, vice presidents, and their families.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.) recently noted, “I’d say we’re finished with that,” reflecting the sentiment concerning the impeachment effort. Comer has also attempted to distance the inquiry from impeachment itself, stating that he “never asked” for leaders to officially initiate an impeachment inquiry, suggesting instead that former Speaker Kevin McCarthy believed it would aid their legal strategies.
House Republicans have dedicated months to their investigation, primarily zeroing in on the business dealings of Biden’s family members. A significant portion of their report examines the financial activities of Hunter and James Biden, detailing their business ventures and received loans. While the report maintains that the inquiry remains open, both Comer and Jordan have acknowledged that their investigations are largely complete, save for a few ongoing legal matters.
Republicans have claimed to trace $27 million flowing to the Biden family and their associates from foreign sources, suggesting this funding was contingent on Joe Biden's position in office. They further allege that Hunter and James Biden utilized their surname and connections with Biden to enhance their influence.
However, investigators have had difficulty providing clear evidence linking Biden's actions as president or vice president to those business dealings or demonstrating that he committed any crimes.
Some former business associates indicated that Hunter Biden would sometimes put his father on speakerphone during meetings with potential partners, although these conversations were reportedly limited to small talk. In other cases, witnesses recalled Joe Biden making brief appearances at dinners or lunches, but they noted that business discussions did not take place at those times. Both Hunter and James Biden have denied any involvement of Joe Biden in their business dealings, a position consistently supported by the White House.
GOP investigators in their report argued that they did not need to present evidence of a crime or a quid pro quo; however, some of their colleagues have insisted that such proof is necessary for approving an impeachment against Biden. Democrats celebrated what they viewed as a victory on Monday, contending that the report effectively cleared the president of wrongdoing.
“The report they throw out into the world during an August congressional recess and at the start of the Democratic National Convention as a last-minute face-saving gesture is actually a Banana Republican cream pie they have just pressed into their own faces,” Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, remarked. He also circulated a memo to Democratic members stating, “President Biden Exonerated by Impeachment Inquiry.”
GOP leaders are working to counter criticism of their investigative processes, with the speaker’s office and some committees compiling a list of accomplishments they attribute to the GOP's majority. These include pressuring then-Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle to resign following an assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump, probing Vice President Kamala Harris’ actions on immigration issues, and seeking resignations related to ongoing investigations at Columbia University.
The lack of sufficient votes is the main reason for the GOP's stalled impeachment initiative, but other factors are also at play. With Biden out of the presidential race, Republicans are increasingly redirecting their focus toward Harris and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz. They are delving into Harris’ border efforts and have initiated an inquiry into Walz’s dealings concerning China.
Throughout the GOP’s impeachment report, “Biden-Harris” is mentioned about 20 times, despite Harris not being the focus of the investigation, which primarily addressed Biden family business dealings and ongoing federal inquiries. The timing of the report's release on the first day of the Democratic convention, with Biden expected to speak that evening, adds a layer of political strategy to the situation.
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
