On Thursday, September 28th, the House Oversight Committee will hold its first hearing in the impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden. This comes just one week after Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) formally announced the inquiry upon the House's return from a summer recess.
According to a panel spokesperson, the hearing will primarily focus on the "constitutional and legal questions surrounding the President's involvement in corruption and abuse of public office." This follows McCarthy's claims that Republicans have uncovered "serious and credible allegations into President Biden's conduct – a culture of corruption."
While Democrats have argued that the inquiry is "illegitimate" and a "fishing expedition," the White House has been actively preparing for the proceedings by assembling a "war room" and calling on the media to assist in defending against the probe. Biden himself has made light of the situation, wishing Republicans "lots of luck" in their endeavor.
However, a recent Harvard University CAPS/Harris poll has shown that voters are split on the legitimacy of the inquiry, with 50% believing it to be politically motivated and the other 50% believing it raises legitimate questions.
This impeachment inquiry comes as Biden is currently running for re-election in 2024, potentially setting up a general election rematch against former President Donald Trump. It also coincides with Congress's efforts to negotiate spending and avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month.
Heading the impeachment effort for the House Oversight Committee is Rep. James Comer (R-KY), with the assistance of Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Ways and Means Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO). Comer has set his sights on the flow of foreign money to the Biden family.
According to Comer, "President Joe Biden was front and center in his family's influence peddling schemes with foreign entities around the world," indicating that the committee will work to subpoena the personal and business bank records of the President's son Hunter and brother James as early as this week.
The committee spokesperson further stated that the committee will continue to follow the evidence and money trail in order to provide transparency and accountability for the American people.
With the first hearing now set, the impeachment inquiry against President Biden will likely dominate political headlines in the coming weeks as both sides argue over the legitimacy of the proceedings and the veracity of the allegations against the President. This could have significant implications for the 2024 election and the political landscape in the United States.