Republicans are examining the legal basis for starting the procedure to impeach President Biden

2023-09-29 16:49:36, Kosova & Bota CNA

Republicans are examining the legal basis for starting the procedure to impeach

Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives held the first investigative session on Thursday, which aims to start impeachment proceedings against President Biden. They said that Mr. Biden has illegally used his power for the financial benefit of his family. But as VOA correspondent Katherine Gypson reports, Democrats claim that the investigation has yet to provide evidence to support these claims.

In their first investigative session, which aims to start the procedure for the impeachment of President Biden, the Republicans said that members of his family have benefited from Mr. Biden's public positions.

" For years, President Biden has lied to the American people saying that he was unaware of and had not participated in his family's corrupt business schemes. Joe Biden has lied at least ten times to the American people, that he had never spoken to his family members about their business relationships. He lied to the American people that there was a wall between his official duties and his personal life ," said House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer.

But Democrats say Republicans have yet to provide any hard evidence that President Biden has abused his office. Even at Thursday's hearing, they did not present any new evidence.

" They have invited three witnesses, none of them are eyewitnesses of any criminal offense by the president, or of any kind whatsoever. None of them are direct witnesses to the facts of any of the events related to Ukraine and the Burisma firm and none of them participated in the eight months of investigation that our honorable chairman (Mr. Comer) has publicly posted about. that it has managed to provide 100% of everything it was trying to find ," said lawmaker Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight and Accountability Committee.

Democrats say Republicans are investigating President Biden to distract from the 91-count indictment against former President Donald Trump.

" This is about Donald Trump, about his campaign and about getting him support ," said Democratic lawmaker Robert Garcia.

Republicans say they are rooting out corruption. Meanwhile, according to a poll conducted by the news agency 'Associated Press' and the Research Center for Public Affairs 'NORC', 1 in 3 Americans are very concerned about claims that President Joe Biden may have committed legal violations in relation to relations of his son's business.

" We need to be transparent and pay attention to the implementation of the law ," said Republican legislator Lisa McLain during the session.

But some Republicans in the House of Representatives have expressed doubts about the investigations, saying they do not rise to the level that would suggest the removal of a president for major crimes and misdemeanors. Other Republicans note that any impeachment effort would end up in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.

" We don't expect the Senate to vote to impeach him ," said Republican lawmaker Darrell Issa.

If lawmakers do not reach an agreement on the budget, the US government will shut down on October 1 and impeachment hearings cannot take place until the budget is approved./ VOA