UPDATE - House Speaker McCarthy endorses formal impeachment inquiry into Biden

ADDS WHITE HOUSE SPOKESMAN’S STATEMENT

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced a formal impeachment inquiry Tuesday into President Joe Biden.

“Today I am directing our house committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden,” McCarthy told reporters.

Accusing ​​Biden of “abuse of power” and “corruption,” the Republican leader said Biden used his office when he was the vice president to coordinate with his son, Hunter’s business partners about the younger Biden’s role in Burisma, the Ukrainian energy company.

“Finally, despite the serious allegations, it appears that the president's family has been offered special treatment by Biden's own administration,” he said. “Treatment that not otherwise would have received if they were not related to the president.”

He said this “logical next step” aims to gather all the facts and answers for the American public.

McCarthy said the probe will be led by the House Republican leaders, including Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer in coordination with Judiciary Committee head Chairman Jim Jordan and the chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Jason Smith.

“I do not make this decision lightly, and regardless of your party, or who you voted for these facts should concern all Americans,” said McCarthy.

“The American people deserve to know that the public offices are not for sale,” he said. ​​​​​​​

A White House spokesman responded to McCarthy and said the move to pin something on the president is never-ending.

"House Republicans have been investigating the President for 9 months, and they've turned up no evidence of wrongdoing His own GOP members have said so He vowed to hold a vote to open impeachment, now he flip flopped because he doesn't have support Extreme politics at its worst," Ian Sams wrote on X.

According to Republicans' allegations, the Biden family received payments from foreign corporations. Additionally, IRS whistle-blowers have alleged that the Justice Department treated the family differently in scrutinizing the younger Biden.