House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s announcement of an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden isn’t surprising so much as it is depressingly predictable. The Republican Party’s inability to generate the tiniest shreds of evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the then-vice president regarding his son Hunter Biden’s business dealings has been a pathetic spectacle of political theater for just under a year. McCarthy’s impeachment inquiry was him bowing to the pressures from the “Freedom Caucus” wing of his party, but just a short while after his announcement, he was still roundly excoriated on the House floor by Rep. Matt Gaetz, who called McCarthy’s move a “baby step.”
Ian Sams, a White House spokesman, released a statement saying McCarthy’s new political move amounted to an “evidence-free goose chase.” That was the diplomatic reaction to what is clearly the naked abuse of government by conservative lawmakers. “The House Republicans’ investigations for the past 9 months have proved that — as their own witnesses testify the President hasn’t done anything wrong, and their own documents show no ties to the President.”
There are a lot of reactions, but first, let’s hear from legal scholar Elie Mystal:
Why would I write about House GOP's impeachment inquiry? I write about law and law adjacent issues. Not the inevitable result of Unfrozen Caveman Congresswoman having her hand so far up Kevin McCarthy's ass that she controls his vocal chords.
— Elie Mystal (@ElieNYC) September 12, 2023
RELATED STORY: McCarthy thinks impeachment inquiry rules should apply to everyone but him
Let us start with some criteria.
Any news organization that reports the news about McCarthy endorsing an impeachment inquiry without CLEARLY and AT THE TOP stating that there is no meaningful reason for such an inquiry is doing journalism wrong. Too many orgs already jumping into the gamesmanship.
— Garrett M. Graff (@vermontgmg) September 12, 2023
Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman gave this Halloween-style response to the news.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley called out the chaos of the Republican Party.
From sham impeachment inquiries to threats of government shutdown. Republicans continue to govern with chaos, cruelty, and callousness—and they are wasting our damn time. https://t.co/3rfxMLic0l
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) September 12, 2023
As some people pointed out, McCarthy, like every single Republican in office, is an enormous hypocrite when it comes to just about anything he says or does.
Kevin McCarthy literally authored a resolution condemning Pelosi for launching impeachment without a vote. “this decision represents an abuse of power and brings discredit to the House” pic.twitter.com/aXkZ31t5jz
— Sawyer Hackett (@SawyerHackett) September 12, 2023
Rep. Ted Lieu decided to give people some context.
What about the leader of the Senate Republicans, Mitch McConnell? Can you say, duck and run?
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reacts to possible Biden impeachment inquiry: “I don’t have any advice to give to the House. They’ve got a totally different set of challenges … So I think the best advice for the Senate is to do our job and we’ll see how this plays out.” pic.twitter.com/lBzmvy6Yum
— The Recount (@therecount) September 12, 2023
Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer gave some advice to McCarthy on leadership.
“I have sympathy with Speaker McCarthy. He’s in a difficult position. But sometimes you’ve got to tell these people who are way off the deep end… that they can’t go forward with it.” — Senate Majority Leader Schumer reacts to “absurd” impeachment inquiry against President Biden pic.twitter.com/EIjoGGGikx
— The Recount (@therecount) September 12, 2023
Rep. Adam Schiff had some important constitutional information to impart.
McCarthy’s reading of the Impeachment Clause: The President shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or … when the Speaker, lacking moral authority or control over his members, can’t remain speaker or fund the government without it.
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) September 12, 2023
At least McCarthy can hang his hat on the idea that now that he’s given the so-called Freedom Caucus what they claim to have wanted, they will totally not try and shut down the government for no discernible reason.
Yikes.
Why you never negotiate with terrorists, Exhibit 37,548
— Raymond J. Mollica (@RaymondMollica) September 12, 2023
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