What McCarthy and House Republicans hope to accomplish with Biden impeachment inquiry

Months of Republican allegations and investigations into President Biden have led to the GOP-controlled House of Representatives launching an impeachment inquiry. Republicans have lobbed unsubstantiated allegations against Biden since taking over the House, but have turned up no evidence of wrongdoing so far. Laura Barrón-López discussed the developments with Heather Caygle of Punchbowl News.

House Freedom Caucus says Biden impeachment inquiry ‘long overdue’

The chairman of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) said Tuesday that the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced earlier that day, was "long overdue," though it should not be done for political reasons.

Representative Scott Perry, R-Pa., HFC chairman, took questions after a press event, in which members of the caucus blasted the Biden administration’s spending, border security, and negotiating deals when the U.S. is on the verge of running out of money, like the end of this month.

But when it came to the impeachment inquiry, Perry said he thinks the caucus agrees with McCarthy that it should not be for political reasons.

HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES FORMAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN

"If the facts take us to that location, then that’s where they should take it," Perry said. "But it has nothing to do with the debt, the deficit, the outrageous spending, the inflation that’s crushing American families. Those are two separate issues, and they should be dealt with separately."

He explained that Americans should not have to suffer under the current economy, where interest rates are high, and credit card payments are "through the roof."

"I think the impeachment inquiry is long overdue," the chairman said, adding he thinks any citizen that had what the president has stacked against him would be in court by now.

MCCARTHY TO GREEN LIGHT BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY THIS WEEK

McCarthy announced late Tuesday morning that House Republicans "uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden’s conduct" that will serve as the basis of an impeachment inquiry.

The Speaker announced in a statement at the Capitol that the "logical next step" gives the committees the full power to get the facts and answers for the American public.

House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, R-Ky., is taking the lead on the inquiry.

MCCARTHY ‘DANGLING' BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY TO DELAY RECKONING OVER SPENDING, SOME CONSERVATIVES SAY

McCarthy spoke of allegations against Biden by several GOP-led committees, which included "abuse of power, obstruction and corruption."

"Through our investigations, we have found that President Biden did lie to the American people about his own knowledge of his family’s foreign business dealings," McCarthy said. "Eyewitnesses have testified that the president joined on multiple phone calls and had multiple interactions, dinners resulted in cars and millions of dollars into his sons and his son’s business partners.

The speaker concluded by accusing the president’s family of getting special treatment by the Biden administration, which would not have been offered if they were not related to the president.

"These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption…," he said.

Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo and Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.

New Mexico attorney general won’t defend governor’s gun order

New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez told Democrat Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham he won't defend her executive order suspending open and concealed carry across Albuquerque and the surrounding Bernalillo County for at least 30 days, saying he believes it's unconstitutional.

Grisham announced on Sept. 7 that she needed to respond to recent gun-related deaths, which include an 11-year-old boy who was shot and killed while outside a minor league baseball stadium on Wednesday night.

The suspension of open and concealed carry in the defined area is being classified as an emergency public health order.

Torrez, a Democrat himself, wrote the letter to Grisham on Tuesday, stating he won't defend her administration in two lawsuits concerning the executive order.

NEW MEXICO REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS CALL FOR DEM GOV. GRISHAM'S IMPEACHMENT AFTER GUN ORDER: 'SHE'S ROGUE'

"I am writing to inform you that my office will not defend your administration in the above referenced cases challenging the Public Health Emergency Order Imposing Temporary Firearm Restrictions, Drug Monitoring and Other Public Safety Measures (the Emergency Order) issued by the Secretary of Health on September 8, 2023," Torrez wrote. "Though I recognize my statutory obligation as New Mexico's chief legal officer to defend state officials when they are sued in their official capacity, my duty to uphold and defend the constitutional rights of every citizen takes precedence. Simply put, I do not believe that the Emergency Order will have any meaningful impact on public safety but, more importantly, I do not believe it passes constitutional muster."

While the attorney general says that he grieves with victims of gun violence, Torrez wrote that Grisham shouldn't be making executive orders such as the one she signed last week.

"However, I encourage you to engage in a more thoughtful and deliberative process with members of the New Mexico Legislature rather than taking unilateral action that infringes on the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens while having little if any discernible impact on the underlying dynamics driving gun violence in our community," he wrote. 

In the four-page letter, Torrez also told Grisham it's "unwise to stretch the definition of a ‘public health emergency’ to encompass something that is fundamentally a public safety issue."

Torrez said that the executive order is "near certain" to violate the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment.

Responding to criticism, Grisham's press secretary Caroline Sweeney told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that her office received the letter, but said the governor didn't ask Torrez to defend the order in court.

"The governor’s office received the letter from the Attorney General Torrez and let me be clear – Gov. Lujan Grisham did not ask the attorney general to represent the state," Sweeney said. "The governor is looking for state leaders to step up and take bold steps to make New Mexicans safer from the scourge of gun violence. We invite the Attorney General to turn his attention to that effort."

Sweeney said on Sunday that the order "does not suspend the Constitution but instead state laws over which the governor has jurisdiction."

NEW MEXICO GOV. GRISHAM SWIPES AT FELLOW DEMOCRAT WHO CALLED HER GUN CARRY BAN UNCONSTITUTIONAL

"The governor is looking for proactive partners who will bring solutions to the table - not naysayers who have no real answers to the gun violence epidemic we are faced with," Sweeney said. "She was elected to serve the people of New Mexico, and not a day goes by that she doesn’t hear from a constituent asking for more to be done to curb this horrific violence. If Ted Lieu is so interested in addressing this issue, we invite him to join our next police academy class in January."

Republican state Reps. Stefani Lord and John Block announced on Sept. 9 that they are calling for the governor to be impeached.

"I am calling on counsel to begin the impeachment process against Governor Grisham," Lord said. "This is an abhorrent attempt at imposing a radical, progressive agenda on an unwilling populous. Rather than addressing crime at its core, Governor Grisham is restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Even Grisham believes this emergency order won’t prohibit criminals from carrying or using weapons; a basic admission that this will only put New Mexicans in danger as they won’t be able to defend themselves from violent crime." 

Speaking with Fox News Digital, Lord said that Grisham is a "rogue governor."

LIBERALS TURN ON NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR OVER GUN SUSPENSION: ‘VIOLATES THE US CONSTITUTION’

The National Association for Gun Rights and Foster Haines, a resident of Albuquerque, announced on Saturday they filed a lawsuit against Grisham and New Mexico Secretary of Health Patrick Allen, arguing the emergency order is unconstitutional. They are asking for a temporary restraining order against the measure to be issued.

Fox News Digital reached out to Grisham's office for comment.

Fox News' Houston Knee contributed to this report.

WATCH: Sen. John Fetterman gives odd, animated reaction to news of Biden impeachment inquiry

First-term Pennsylvania Democrat Senator John Fetterman gave an odd, animated reaction to the news of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., announcing an impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

Fetterman stopped to talk with reporter Liz Brown-Kaiser in the underbelly of the Senate and was asked about the news of McCarthy's Tuesday announcement.

The Pennsylvania Democrat responded to the question in an animated fashion — as his staffer tried to get him to move along.

HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY ANNOUNCES FORMAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY AGAINST PRESIDENT BIDEN

"Oh my God, really?" Fetterman said, backing up from the news and grabbing his head. "Oh my gosh."

"You know, it's devastating," the Pennsylvania Democrat continued before laughing and putting his hands down.

"Ooooohhhh," Fetterman said, wiggling his fingers from outstretched hands. "Don't do it!"

Fetterman said "please don't do it" and "oh no, oh no" as he lumbered down the hall away from reporters, waving his hands.

Fox News Digital reached out to Fetterman's office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Fetterman's reaction comes after McCarthy announced on Tuesday a formal impeachment proceeding against Biden.

McCarthy on Tuesday said House Republicans have "uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden's conduct" that will serve as the basis of an impeachment inquiry.

"Today, I am directing our House committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe," McCarthy announced in a statement at the Capitol Tuesday. "This logical next step will give our committees the full power to gather all the facts and answers for the American public."

The speaker said House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., will lead the inquiry in coordination with House Oversight Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Ways & Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith, R-Mo.

McCarthy spoke for only roughly three minutes and did not take questions from reporters. He made no mention of holding a floor vote before opening the impeachment inquiry, despite telling Breitbart earlier this month it would happen "through a vote on the floor of the People’s House and not through a declaration by one person."

He listed allegations of "abuse of power, obstruction and corruption" made against Biden by several GOP-led committees who have been investigating the president. 

"Through our investigations, we have found that President Biden did lie to the American people about his own knowledge of his family's foreign business dealings. Eyewitnesses have testified that the president joined on multiple phone calls and had multiple interactions, dinners resulted in cars and millions of dollars into his sons and his son's business partners," McCarthy said.

"We know that bank records show that nearly $20 million in payments were directed to the Biden family members and associates through various Shell companies. The Treasury Department alone has more than 150 transactions involving the Biden family. Another business associates that were flagged as suspicious activity by U.S. banks. Even a trusted FBI informant has alleged a bribe to the Biden family. Biden used his official office to coordinate with Hunter Biden's business partners about Hunter's role in Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company," he continued. 

He concluded, "Finally, despite these 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 received if they were not related to the president. These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption, and they want further investigation by the House of Representatives."

Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo and Elizabeth Elkind contributed reporting.