House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) has stated that the impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden is entering its final phase and he wants to conclude it quickly. Comer’s desire to wrap up the investigation comes after he expressed his reluctance to hold any more public hearings, stating that he could achieve more through depositions. However, during the inquiry’s sole hearing last month, Comer faced ridicule when his own witnesses admitted that there wasn’t enough evidence to support impeachment.
In an appearance on Benny Johnson’s YouTube show, Comer reiterated his belief that the House GOP’s investigation had uncovered evidence of bribery and the president’s involvement in illegal profiting from his family’s foreign business dealings. He claimed to have an abundance of evidence and expressed his readiness to question individuals in depositions or committee hearings.
Despite Comer’s claims, the evidence presented by his investigation thus far has been criticized for being misleading, incomplete, or lacking in context. For example, Comer boasted about a $200,000 payment from the president’s brother, James, in 2018, suggesting it was incriminating. However, bank records and the check itself indicate that it was actually a loan repayment and not proof of the president profiting from foreign influence peddling.
Comer continued to tout the findings of his probe, stating that it had largely achieved its goal of uncovering criminal wrongdoing by Joe Biden throughout his tenure as vice president and president. Consequently, he argued that it was time to conclude the investigation.
Acknowledging the setback caused by the GOP’s recent turmoil in selecting a new Speaker of the House, Comer claimed that his committee had obtained all of the Biden family’s bank records, including those of the president’s son, Hunter.
However, House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Jeff Van Drew admitted to CNN that momentum behind the impeachment inquiry had diminished, particularly because the House has more pressing issues to address. Even under the previous Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, the push to impeach Biden failed to resonate beyond the far-right wing of the party due to the lack of solid evidence presented by the GOP.
While new House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has raised hopes among the MAGA base that impeachment will remain a top priority, moderate Republicans continue to caution against moving forward without irrefutable evidence.
In conclusion, Chairman James Comer aims to swiftly conclude the impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden, despite criticisms of the evidence presented thus far. He claims that the investigation has uncovered criminal wrongdoing and a cover-up at the highest levels of government. However, the lack of compelling evidence and other pressing matters facing the House have dampened the momentum behind the impeachment inquiry.
