US House panel sets first Biden impeachment inquiry hearing for next week

WASHINGTON – The Republican-led United States House of Representatives is set to hold its first committee hearing on Sept 28 on

its long-shot impeachment inquiry

against Democratic President Joe Biden launched by Speaker Kevin McCarthy last week.

The House Oversight Committee, led by Republican Representative James Comer, said it will explore constitutional and legal questions at the hearing, and also intends to subpoena the personal and business bank records of Mr Hunter Biden, the President’s son, and Mr James Biden, the President’s brother.

Republicans allege that Mr Biden profited from Hunter’s business dealings while serving as vice-president between 2009 and 2017, but have not released any concrete evidence of misconduct.

Mr Biden, who is running for re-election in 2024, has denied wrongdoing.

White House spokesman Ian Sams on Tuesday accused Republicans of trying to “distract from their own chaotic inability to govern” by “staging a political stunt”. He said they had not requested any information from the White House.

“Until they do that, we’re just going to wait and see what they do,” Mr Sams said.

Two other House committees also are taking part in the inquiry.

The Constitution establishes an impeachment process under which Congress can remove a president from office. The House can approve formal charges – articles of impeachment – by a simple majority. The Senate then holds a trial and can remove a president with a two-thirds majority vote. Democrats control the Senate, making conviction and removal highly unlikely.

Mr McCarthy

announced the impeachment inquiry

after facing pressure from far-right lawmakers in his party who were furious that Democrats, when they controlled the House, impeached Republican former president Donald Trump in 2019 and 2021. Trump was acquitted both times by the Senate. REUTERS