Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday directed high 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 House.
In doing so, Mr. McCarthy leveled a collection of accusations towards Mr. Biden that he mentioned amounted to a “picture of a culture of corruption” and warranted the House utilizing its most potent investigative instrument to attempt to make the case for eradicating the president.
A White House spokesman famous that Republicans had “turned up no evidence of wrongdoing” and accused Mr. McCarthy of embracing “extreme politics at its worst.”
Here is what we all know concerning the seven accusations Mr. McCarthy made towards Mr. Biden on Tuesday, and the way they line up with the info of what Republicans have — and haven’t — uncovered to date.
Mr. Biden has made false or overly simplistic statements about his son’s business dealings, and what he knew about them.
Mr. McCarthy’s declare: “President Biden did lie to the American people about his own knowledge of his family’s foreign business dealings.”
The info: It shouldn’t be clear whether or not Mr. Biden willfully misrepresented his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings. The most outstanding 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 mentioned he had “never discussed” and had “never spoken to” Hunter about his business dealings, and Republicans have produced no proof that he was ever briefed on particular transactions or offers.
House Republicans have uncovered proof that the elder Mr. Biden was conscious of and met a few of his son’s business companions, elevating questions on whether or not the president’s statements have been deceptive. But 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 ebook, he recounted how his father known as him after Hunter joined the board of the Ukrainian vitality firm Burisma and warned, “I hope you know what you’re doing” — an acknowledgment of at the least one dialog apparently unrelated to the main points of any business dealings.
There’s no direct proof Mr. Biden gained business for his son.
Mr. McCarthy’s declare: “Eyewitnesses have testified that the president joined on multiple phone calls, and had multiple interactions, dinners” that “resulted in cars and millions of dollars into his sons and his son’s business partners.”
The info: Republicans have discovered proof that Hunter Biden and his business companions engaged in a high-flying life-style, due to the wealth that they had flowing in from their abroad business. For occasion, an affiliate of Hunter Biden’s confirmed that he had obtained a wire of $142,300 from Kenes Rakishev, a Kazakh businessman, to pay for an costly automotive.
Beyond Mr. Biden exchanging niceties with associates of his son, Republicans have offered no proof that the elder Mr. Biden was concerned in touchdown that business or participated in it in any manner.
Hunter Biden and his associates earned tens of millions of {dollars}.
Mr. McCarthy’s declare: “We know that bank records show that nearly $20 million in payments were directed to the Biden’s family members and associates through various shell companies.”
The info: Republicans have data that replicate that the Bidens, together with Hunter Biden and the president’s brother Jimmy Biden, obtained tens of millions of {dollars} from abroad business pursuits, however that whole contains cash that went to associates, not solely to relations. They have produced no proof that any of the business relationships — akin to Hunter’s seat on the Burisma board — have been unlawful.
Republicans have additionally pointed to the truth that Hunter Biden and his associates fashioned restricted legal responsibility companies to accuse them of making “shell companies.” But such entities are widespread in new business ventures.
Some Biden household business exercise was flagged as suspicious, however none of it led to costs.
Mr. McCarthy’s declare: “The Treasury Department alone has more than 150 transactions involving the Biden family and other business associates that were flagged as suspicious activity by U.S. banks.”
The info: House Republicans have reviewed so-called suspicious exercise report data pertaining to Biden household business transactions. Those stories are described as “preliminary and unverified tip-and-lead information” that banks are required to file for any transaction that might doubtlessly be a pink flag for cash laundering, together with any money transaction of greater than $10,000.
Senate investigators and the Justice Department additionally reviewed such stories, however they didn’t end in any felony costs.
A Ukrainian businessman has denied an unverified allegation that the Bidens sought to bribe him.
Mr. McCarthy’s declare: “Even a trusted F.B.I. informant has alleged a bribe to the Biden family.”
The info: The F.B.I. obtained an unverified allegation that Mr. Biden, whereas vice chairman, 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 and mentioned that no such bribe occurred.
Mr. Biden publicly pushed again on allegations that his son’s business in Ukraine influenced his administration’s insurance policies.
Mr. McCarthy’s declare: “Biden used his official office to coordinate with Hunter Biden’s business partners about Hunter’s role in Burisma.”
The info: This refers to 2015 emails between a former Biden spokeswoman and a business affiliate of Hunter Biden discussing how to reply to an article in The New York Times. In a press release, the spokeswoman mentioned that Mr. Biden had no involvement along with his son’s firm and that he had pushed for years for Ukraine to analyze and prosecute corruption.
There is not any proof that Mr. Biden ordered that his son get particular remedy in any investigation.
Mr. McCarthy’s declare: “Finally, despite the serious allegations, it appears that the president’s family has been offered special treatment by Biden’s own administration, treatment that not otherwise would have” been “received if they were not related 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 occasions. But additionally they mentioned a lot of their complaints arose throughout the Trump administration, and so they made no allegation that President Biden had tried to impede the inquiry.
Source: www.nytimes.com