Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday directed prime congressional Republicans to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, reversing his earlier stance that such an investigation must be initiated solely with a vote of the Home.
In doing so, Mr. McCarthy leveled a sequence of accusations in opposition to Mr. Biden that he stated amounted to a “image of a tradition of corruption” and warranted the Home utilizing its most potent investigative instrument to attempt to make the case for eradicating the president.
A White Home spokesman famous that Republicans had “turned up no proof of wrongdoing” and accused Mr. McCarthy of embracing “excessive politics at its worst.”
Here’s what we all know in regards to the seven accusations Mr. McCarthy made in opposition to Mr. Biden on Tuesday, and the way they line up with the info of what Republicans have — and haven’t — uncovered to this point.
Biden has made false or overly simplistic statements about his son’s enterprise dealings, and what he knew about them.
McCarthy’s declare: “President Biden did misinform the American individuals about his personal data of his household’s overseas enterprise dealings.”
The info: It isn’t clear whether or not Mr. Biden willfully misrepresented his son Hunter Biden’s enterprise dealings. Probably the most distinguished incorrect assertion he has made on the matter got here throughout a presidential debate in 2020, when he claimed that his son had not made cash in China. It has since been revealed that he had.
In 2019, Mr. Biden repeatedly stated he had “by no means mentioned” and had “by no means spoken to” Hunter Biden about his enterprise dealings, and Republicans have produced no proof that he was ever briefed on particular transactions or offers.
Home Republicans have uncovered proof that the elder Mr. Biden was conscious of and met a few of his son’s enterprise companions, elevating questions on whether or not the president’s statements have been deceptive. However a key witness additionally testified that such conversations have been superficial in nature, extending solely to niceties just like the climate or fishing.
In Hunter Biden’s guide, he recounted how his father known as him after Hunter joined the board of the Ukrainian vitality firm Burisma and warned, “I hope you recognize what you’re doing” — an acknowledgment of a minimum of one dialog apparently unrelated to the small print of any enterprise dealings.
There’s no direct proof Biden gained enterprise for his son.
McCarthy’s declare: “Eyewitnesses have testified that the president joined on a number of telephone calls, and had a number of interactions, dinners” that “resulted in automobiles and hundreds of thousands of {dollars} into his sons and his son’s enterprise companions.”
The info: Republicans have discovered proof that Hunter Biden and his enterprise companions engaged in a high-flying life-style, due to the wealth they’d flowing in from their abroad enterprise. As an example, an affiliate of Hunter Biden’s confirmed that he had acquired a wire of $142,300 from Kenes Rakishev, a Kazakh businessman, to pay for an costly automotive.
Past Mr. Biden exchanging niceties with associates of Hunter Biden, Republicans have supplied no proof that the elder Mr. Biden was concerned in touchdown that enterprise or participated in it in any means.
Hunter Biden and his associates earned hundreds of thousands of {dollars}.
McCarthy’s declare: “We all know that financial institution data present that just about $20 million in funds have been directed to the Biden’s relations and associates via varied shell firms.”
The info: Republicans have data that replicate that the Bidens, together with Hunter Biden and the president’s brother Jimmy Biden, acquired hundreds of thousands of {dollars} from abroad enterprise pursuits, however that complete contains cash that went to associates, not completely to relations. They’ve produced no proof that any of the enterprise relationships — similar to a Hunter’s seat on the Burisma board — have been unlawful.
Republicans have additionally pointed to the truth that Hunter Biden and his associates shaped restricted legal responsibility firms to accuse them of making “shell firms.” However such entities are frequent in new enterprise ventures.
Some Biden household enterprise exercise was flagged as suspicious, however none of it led to expenses.
McCarthy’s declare: “The Treasury Division alone has greater than 150 transactions involving the Biden household and different enterprise associates that have been flagged as suspicious exercise by U.S. banks.”
The info: Home Republicans have reviewed so-called suspicious exercise report data pertaining to Biden household enterprise transactions. These studies are described as “preliminary and unverified tip-and-lead information” that banks are required to file for any transaction that would doubtlessly be a crimson flag for cash laundering, including any cash transaction of more than $10,000.
Senate investigators and the Justice Division additionally reviewed such studies, however they didn’t lead to any felony expenses.
A Ukrainian businessman has denied an unverified allegation that the Bidens sought to bribe him.
McCarthy’s declare: “Even a trusted F.B.I. informant has alleged a bribe to the Biden household.”
The info: The F.B.I. acquired an unverified allegation that Mr. Biden, whereas vp, and Hunter Biden every accepted a $5 million bribe from a Burisma official. It has since been undercut by different proof, together with by the Ukrainian businessman who’s alleged to have been concerned, who stated that no such bribe occurred.
Biden publicly pushed again on allegations that his son’s enterprise in Ukraine influenced his administration’s insurance policies.
McCarthy’s declare: “Biden used his official workplace to coordinate with Hunter Biden’s enterprise companions about Hunter’s position in Burisma.”
The info: This refers to 2015 emails between a former Biden spokeswoman and a enterprise affiliate of Hunter Biden, discussing how to answer an article in The New York Occasions. In a press release, the spokeswoman stated that Mr. Biden had no involvement along with his son’s firm and that he had pushed for years for Ukraine to research and prosecute corruption.
There is no such thing as a proof that Biden ordered that his son get particular therapy in any investigation.
McCarthy’s declare: “Lastly, regardless of the intense allegations, it seems that the president’s household has been supplied particular therapy by Biden’s personal administration, therapy that not in any other case would have” been “acquired in the event that they weren’t associated to the president.”
The info: I.R.S. investigators who have been scrutinizing Hunter Biden’s taxes testified that their inquiry was slow-walked and stonewalled at instances. However in addition they stated a lot of their complaints arose in the course of the Trump administration, and so they made no allegation that President Biden had tried to impede the inquiry.
