U.S. House of Representatives Republicans have issued a report alleging that Democratic President Joe Biden committed impeachable offenses.
It was however unclear whether they would push for a vote following a probe the White House has long dismissed as politically motivated.
Allegations Against Biden
Three House committees alleged in a 291-page report that Biden profited from an influence-peddling scheme to enrich himself and his family members.
He did so through foreign business dealings beginning in 2014 when he was vice president.
“The committees present this information to the House of Representatives for its evaluation and consideration of appropriate next steps,” the report said.
It was not clear if Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson would schedule a vote to impeach Biden in the weeks leading up to the November 5 election.
Election On November 5
Republican Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris will face a tough battle , in the November election.
Even if the Republican-controlled House were to pass such a measure, it would be unlikely to remove Biden from office.
Significantly, he would need to be convicted by a Senate controlled 51-49 by his own Democratic Party.
Biden Due To Leave Office On January 20
Biden withdrew his own reelection bid last month.
He is due to leave office when his successor is sworn in on January 20.
Democrats have disparaged the effort as retribution for Trump.
Donald Trump was impeached twice by a Democratic-controlled House and acquitted each time by the Senate.
The first impeachment alleged that Trump pressured Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to help smear Biden in return for U.S. aid.
A House impeachment against Biden’s top border official, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, was put to a swift end by the Senate in April.
Johnson, in a statement, commended the committees’ work and said House Republicans “encourage all Americans to read this report.”
What Hunter Biden Did?
The House investigators say that Biden used his influence to benefit the business dealings of his son, Hunter Biden.
Hunter Biden faced conviction on charges that he lied about his illegal drug use to buy a gun.
He is awaiting trial on charges of tax evasion, including an allegation that he accepted payments from a Romanian businessman.
This businessman allegedly sought to influence U.S. government agencies in connection with a criminal probe in Romania.
Criticism Of Inquiry
Members of both parties have criticized the impeachment inquiry which lawmakers formally authorized last December.
They said that the inquiry failed to produce hard evidence of wrongdoing by Biden.
The House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways & Means Committees, carried out the impeachment inquiry.
(With Inputs From Reuters)
