Joe Biden impeachment inquiry set for US House vote next week

On Thursday, House Republicans initiated a process to formally authorise an impeachment inquiry against US President Joe Biden, related to his family's business dealings.

A vote is anticipated next week, which will necessitate all House lawmakers to publicly declare their stance on the impeachment investigation that conservative Republicans have been pursuing for several months. This could be a challenging move for 18 Republicans who represent regions that Biden won in the 2020 election. Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed his belief that this vote is essential to counter arguments that the ongoing investigation lacks legal legitimacy.

The resolution, proposed by Judiciary Committee member Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota, calls upon the Judiciary, Oversight and Ways and Means panels to ascertain whether there are sufficient grounds to impeach Biden, aged 81. The Republican-led panels have been probing whether the president profited from his son's foreign business dealings or abused his office. The resolution does not specify any potential articles of impeachment. The White House has not immediately responded. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned the move, stating, 'Next week we are going to waste time on an illegitimate impeachment inquiry of President Biden. ' At least one House Republican, congressman Ken Buck of Colorado, has announced his intention to vote against the resolution. Buck is retiring at the end of this Congress. Johnson and his lieutenants can only afford three Republican defections for the authorisation vote to succeed, with Democrats likely to be unified against it. Johnson has expressed confidence that the resolution will pass.