Republican-led House committees have been investigating the president and his son for months, but so far, have not cited specific laws or statutes with evidence to show the president broke the law, boosted his personal finances improperly or abused his office to help his son. That didn't change Thursday, as Republicans largely criticized Hunter Biden's alleged actions. But Republicans say that's the purpose of an impeachment inquiry — to build a case.
"The purpose of this inquiry — and at this stage, it is just that, an inquiry — is to determine whether sufficient grounds exist for the committees to draft articles of impeachment against President Biden for consideration by the full House," the chairmen wrote. "I do not believe that the current evidence would support articles of impeachment," Turley said."That is something that an inquiry has to establish. But I also do believe that the House has passed the threshold for an impeachment inquiry into the conduct of President Biden."
But Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the oversight panel, had a darker view of Republicans' reason for Thursday's hearing. He pointed to a recent Trump social media post in which Trump encouraged Republicans to shut down the government to"defund these political prosecutions against me and other patriots."
View of a social media message by former President Trump as House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jamie Raskin speaks next to Chairman James Comer during a House Oversight and Accountability Committee impeachment inquiry hearing into U.S. President Joe Biden on Sept. 28, 2023, in Washington, D.C.A president can be impeached for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, according to the Constitution.