McCarthy to greenlight Biden impeachment inquiry in closed-door GOP meeting this week
Cami Mondeaux
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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) will tell Republicans in a closed-door conference meeting this week that an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is the next necessary step to obtain materials for the party’s investigations into possible corruption by the president and his son, a source familiar with the plans confirmed to the Washington Examiner.
The House GOP conference is scheduled to meet twice this week on Wednesday and Thursday, with the latter meeting focused on the latest updates from House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) related to their investigations into the Biden family. During that second meeting, McCarthy, who has previously floated support for an impeachment inquiry into the president, is expected to endorse an inquiry into the matter.
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The move comes as several rank-and-file Republicans have pressed the House speaker to greenlight an impeachment inquiry, with some even going so far as to threaten stripping McCarthy of his leadership position if he does not comply. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) became the first lawmaker to make such calls over the weekend, suggesting he would stretch a hand across the aisle and work with Democrats if it meant electing a new House leader.
“Hi, Eric. If I make a motion to remove Kevin, how [many] democrat votes can I count on? Asking for a friend,” Gaetz said in response to a post on X (the social media outlet previously known as Twitter) from Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who previously criticized the Florida Republican for making “empty threats” to remove McCarthy from the No. 1 position.
Gaetz then went further, pressing Swalwell to act as a whip on his behalf among his Democratic counterparts.
“Are all Democrats so willing, [Swalwell]? Will my NorCal twitter troll have the courage and efficacy to become my dem whip?? If I’ll work with [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] to ban congressional stock trading I’ll absolutely work with [Swalwell] to rid the House of ineffective leadership,” Gaetz said. “How many votes can you deliver against a Motion to Table a Motion to Vacate, eric? Asking for (many) friends!”
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It only takes a single member to call a motion to vacate, and with just a four-vote majority in the House, it would only take a handful of Republicans to join Democrats to vote for his removal. However, it’s not clear whether Swalwell, or any Democrat for that matter, would assist Gaetz in those efforts.
A Biden impeachment inquiry has also emerged as a top demand among some House Republicans who have threatened to withhold their support on any government spending legislation unless an investigation is opened — putting McCarthy in a bind just 17 days before the government is set to run out of money. However, it’s unclear whether there’s enough support among the GOP caucus for a Biden impeachment inquiry as some vulnerable Republicans have expressed hesitancy toward the idea.