What are the keys to the impeachment investigation against Joe Biden?

The opening of an impeachment investigation against Joe Bidenordered by the speaker of the US House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthyhas no signs of prospering, but reflects an increase in pressure from the conservative bench against the Democratic president.

What do Republicans want to investigate?

Conservatives accuse Biden of intervening in his son’s foreign businesses Hunter taking advantage of their political connections and benefiting from those transactions. They also believe that the Democratic Administration has granted favorable treatment to the family for being who they are.

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After months of preliminary investigations without conclusive evidence, the opening of this investigation paves the way for them to request bank records and other documents in their attempt to find evidence of corruption or financial irregularities.

The Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, at the United States Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, on September 12, 2023. (Photo by EFE/EPA/SHAWN THEW)

Who is leading this investigation?

McCarthy has put the president of the Surveillance Committee of the House of Representatives, James Comerin coordination with the presidents of the Judicial Committee, Jim Jordanand the Ways and Means Committee, Jason Smithall of them Republicans.

At first, the legislator assured that he was going to submit the opening of the investigation to a vote of the plenary session, but the reluctance of some moderate conservatives has made him make the decision unilaterally, under pressure from the hardest wing of his party.

How does the impeachment process work?

When the time comes, the Low camera must vote if he presents charges against the current Democratic president, but the power to carry out that impeachment (“impeachment”) subsequently falls to the Senate.

The Constitution gives Congress the authority to impeach and remove the president, vice president, and other federal officials for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

The process begins in the Lower House with the vote on the presentation of charges by approving an impeachment resolution by a simple majority of its members. If approved, it goes to the Senate, where resolutions on the matter must obtain the support of two-thirds of the senators present.

The Senate also has the authority to disqualify the person on trial from holding federal office again in the future.

What chances does it have of prospering?

The Republicans gained control of the House of Representatives in the mid-term elections last November and have held that majority since January, with 222 of its 435 seats.

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In the Senate, the Democrats have 48 seats and the Republicans 49, but the three independent senators are progressive, so the eventual removal of Biden is an unlikely scenario. The Senate’s decision cannot be appealed in the Supreme Court.

What precedents are there?

The Republican Richard Nixon (1969-1974) resigned before the Lower House voted against him due to the scandal Watergate and thus avoided being dismissed by the Legislature. He remains the only president to have voluntarily resigned from office.

However, American history accumulates four cases of political trials: one of the Democrat Andrew Johnson (1865-1869), another also progressive Bill Clinton (1993-2001) and two to the Republican donald trump (2017-2021). All of them were acquitted by the Senate, which considered them not guilty.

Source: Elcomercio