Biden’s impeachment hearing begins
Republicans are set to hold impeachment inquiry into the business dealings of President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
The event has been given the title “The Basis for an Impeachment Inquiry of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.” and features a line-up of academics and former Trump administration officials.
As the name suggests, the hearing will focus on setting the legal and constitutional framework for the impeachment inquiry, rather than digging more deeply into any of the specific allegations against Mr Biden.
“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 US interests,” James Comer, the chair of the committee holding the hearing, said in a statement.
None of the individuals on the witness list – George Washington Law Professor Jonathan Turley, forensic accountant Bruce Dubinsky, former Trump Assistant Attorney General Eileen O’Connor and North Carolina law professor Michael Gerhardt – are directly involved in the House impeachment investigation.
Their testimony, it appears, is intended to provide some context to the Republican accusations that Mr Biden benefitted illegally from his son Hunter’s international business dealings. (Mr Gerhardt was chose by Democrats, so he is likely to rebut the Republican accusations.)
For Republicans intent on impeaching Mr Biden, then, this hearing is only a small first step – better than nothing, but hardly progress toward their ultimate goal.
Many of the claims revolve around Hunter Biden’s business dealings abroad and his father’s involvement in them
A more notable development this week could come when the committee begins issuing subpoenas for financial documents from the president’s family using the new enforcement powers that an official impeachment investigation could give them in the courts.
The president’s Republicans critics hope those requests could reveal solid evidence of a financial connection between the president and his son that substantiate the allegations of corruption and influence-peddling that they have been levelling at the White House.
Culled from the BBC
