Kevin McCarthy, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a member of the Republican Party, stated that an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is necessary. Although the actual possibility of impeachment is "zero," this move is analyzed as a measure to escalate attacks against the Biden administration ahead of next year's presidential election.
On the 27th (local time), Speaker McCarthy appeared on Fox News and, when asked about plans for an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, said, "Looking at all the information collected so far, moving to an impeachment inquiry is the natural next step," adding, "An impeachment inquiry provides Congress with the greatest legal authority to obtain all necessary information."
Currently, the Republican Party is focusing on allegations related to Hunter Biden, President Biden's second son, in various standing committees. Hunter Biden is suspected of having received large sums of money after being appointed as an executive at Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company, during President Biden's vice presidency. There have also been allegations of investigation interference, claiming the Biden administration blocked prosecution related to Hunter Biden's tax evasion issues.
The impeachment inquiry pursued by the Republicans is conducted with the possibility of impeachment in mind. However, it is not a constitutional procedure that must be followed to initiate impeachment. Furthermore, the impeachment process against a U.S. president proceeds with the House passing articles of impeachment and then a trial in the Senate. Since the Democratic Party currently holds the majority in the Senate, the likelihood of the impeachment being ultimately approved by Congress is practically nonexistent.
Nevertheless, Speaker McCarthy's mention of the need for an impeachment inquiry into President Biden is analyzed as a move ahead of the 2024 election. It reflects the internal atmosphere within the Republican Party and aims to strengthen attacks against the Biden administration. There is also analysis that this is intended to prompt the necessity of passing a temporary budget by being mindful of the hardliners within the Republican Party. The fiscal year 2023 budget ends at the end of next month, and if the budget for the next fiscal year is not passed by then, the U.S. government will enter a temporary shutdown. Speaker McCarthy has proposed first passing a continuing resolution (CR) to execute next year's budget based on this year's budget to prevent a shutdown.
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