Kevin McCarthy thinks we all have the memory of a goldfish. This morning, Speaker McCarthy announced that he would direct the House Oversight Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Ways and Means Committee to begin a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden without holding a vote in the House. This comes just eleven days after McCarthy publicly committed to a vote – and impeachment lieutenants and proponents Comer and Jordan also promised a vote this September.
After eight months of Congressional investigations, 12,000 pages of documents reviewed, and every subpoena answered, there is no evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden. A wide range of House Republicans from House Freedom Caucus Member Ken Buck to Biden 18 Members Mike Lawler and Don Bacon agree there is not enough evidence to move forward with impeachment. Without the votes for an impeachment inquiry and facing demands from Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, and Donald Trump – and worried about the gavel in his hand, McCarthy is breaking his word, jeopardizing his majority, and following the bidding of the most extreme MAGA voices to protect Donald Trump.
McCarthy on 9/1 – eleven days ago: “If we move forward with an impeachment inquiry, it would occur through a vote on the floor of the People’s House and not through a declaration by one person.” “‘To open an impeachment inquiry is a serious matter, and House Republicans would not take it lightly or use it for political purposes. The American people deserve to be heard on this matter through their elected representatives,’ McCarthy told Breitbart News. ‘That’s why, if we move forward with an impeachment inquiry, it would occur through a vote on the floor of the People’s House and not through a declaration by one person.’” [Breitbart, 9/1/23]
Comer on 9/7: Comer Predicted A Vote Would Be Held In Mid-September. “I think that the House will vote in September. Now this is all up to Kevin McCarthy. But he and I’ve had several conversations. I know Jim Jordan has spoken with him many times as well. I would predict that in the middle of September, we have a vote, I would predict that it passes.” [Newsmax, 9/7/23]
Jordan on 9/6: Jordan Said That A Formal Vote On An Impeachment Inquiry Is Important In Getting Recognition By The Courts. “The benefit of moving to an impeachment inquiry phase is courts have recognized when you’re in that phase, and there’s been a formal vote by the House of Representatives, majority voting to move into that, that part of an investigation.” [Clay Travis and Buck Sexton, 9/6/23]
Jordan on 8/29: Jordan Said The House Was Going To Vote On An Impeachment Inquiry. “I think we’re we’re very close, Lou, I really do. I would not be surprised at all if we have that resolution in September – sometime when we’re back in Congress, back in session, have that resolution and have a vote on it.” [Lou Dobbs, 8/28/23]