The US House of Representatives is poised to vote on Wednesday to formally proceed with an impeachment probe into President Joe Biden.
This move by House Republicans gains its momentum as they face increasing pressure from conservative elements. The vote coincides with Biden's son, Hunter, being subpoenaed to testify in a private session, and it's uncertain if he'll comply.
The GOP-led investigation has struggled to find substantial evidence against the president, and this would be the first time the full House votes to legitimize the inquiry.
Former House Speaker McCarthy initiated the probe unilaterally last September, mirroring Democrats' previous actions with former President Trump. However, current House Speaker Mike
Johnson and his team now believe they have the support to pass the vote, strengthening the inquiry’s legal position and enforcing subpoenas for witness testimonies.
Last week, Hunter Biden faced a tax indictment, with allegations intersecting GOP investigations into his financial dealings. Despite the White House's claims of cooperation, providing thousands of pages of documents and testimony, GOP Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado remains unsupportive of the inquiry.
While the majority of House Republicans support the inquiry, GOP leaders clarify that it doesn't guarantee an impeachment. They emphasize adherence to the law, not politics. Yet some, like Texas Rep.
Tony Gonzales, are prepared for potential impeachment proceedings. House Democrats and the White House have consistently denied the Republicans' allegations. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland asserts that there's no evidence directly linking President Biden to wrongdoing.
Since the probe's onset, committees have conducted interviews and gathered a substantial amount of documentation, but have yet to validate their main accusations against Biden.
Only one hearing has been held to date, with experts saying the evidence presented thus far is insufficient. Ahead of the vote, the committees continue to press forward with their investigatory efforts.