The Republican-controlled House Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees launched their first open impeachment hearing against Joe Biden Thursday morning, weeks after House Speaker Kevin McCarthy allowed the chairmen of those committees to open the inquiry without a floor vote.
WATCH NOW: โThe Basis for an Impeachment Inquiry of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.โ https://t.co/bZ9UWQQOcP
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 28, 2023
The Republicans aim to prove that Joe Biden was an active participant in his son Hunter Biden’s corrupt overseas business dealings.
“An impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden is clearly warranted and Americans demand and deserve answers, transparency, and accountability for this blatant corruption that has jeopardized Americansโ national security,” said House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.).
Republicans released a 30-page memo laying out the scope of their impeachment inquiry ahead of the hearing.
Democrats argue that the GOP push to impeach Biden is baseless and that Republicans have failed to produce any evidence of wrongdoing.
In reality, Republican investigators have produced a mountain of evidence in the form of bank records, suspicious activity reports, wire transfers, text messages, whatsApp messages, emails, voicemails, photos, along with the testimonies of whistleblowers, and Hunter Bidenโs former business partners, not to mention Joe Bidenโs admission on tape that he got the Ukrainian prosecutor general fired by withholding $1 billion in US loan guarantees in exchange for his ouster.
Witnesses testifying Thursday include Eileen OโConnor, former assistant attorney general at the Justice Department, and George Washington law Professor Jonathan Turley.
Live Updates:
In his opening statement, Comer listed at least ten times Joe Biden lied to the American people about his involvement in his family’s influence-peddling operations.
โAt least ten times, Joe Biden lied to the American people that he never spoke to his family about their business dealings,” Comer said. โHe lied by telling the American people that there was an ‘absolute wall’ between his official government duties and his personal life. Letโs be clear: there was no wall. The door was wide open to those who purchased what a business associate described as โThe Biden Brand.โ
๐จ ๐จ ๐จ
โAt least ten times, Joe Biden lied to the American people that he never spoke to his family about their business dealings.
โHe lied by telling the American people that there was an โabsolute wallโ between his official government duties and his personal life.
โLetโsโฆ pic.twitter.com/X4FUPTSfV8
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 28, 2023
Professor Turley backed the Republican effort, testifying that he believes “that the House has passed the threshold for an impeachment inquiry into the conduct of President Biden.โ
๐๐
โI do believe that the House has passed the threshold for an impeachment inquiry into the conduct of President Biden.โ- @JonathanTurley pic.twitter.com/SWf2n2ZUAK
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 28, 2023
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) in his opening statement slammed Republicans for launching an impeachment inquiry without a full House vote, and said they sit “empty handed.”
Republicans pointed out that in 2019 Rep. Raskin didn’t think a House vote was needed to launch an impeachment inquiry.
โThere is no formal constitutional or statutory or even the House rule for how an impeachment inquiry is to begin, and so it means different things to different people,” Raskin argued in 2019.
๐จFLASHBACK ๐จ
In 2019 Rep. Raskin didn't think a House vote was needed to launch an impeachment inquiry.
โThere is no formal constitutional or statutory or even the House rule for how an impeachment inquiry is to begin, and so it means different things to different people." pic.twitter.com/bE1tihy1aF
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) September 28, 2023
In his opening statement, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan laid out “four key facts” about the case that never change:ย 1. Hunter Biden sat on Burismaโs board. 2. He was unqualified to do so. 3. Burisma pressured him to get D.C. to act on policy issues in Ukraine. 4. Joe Biden did just that.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) September 28, 2023
House Ways and Means Committee chairman Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in his opening statement that newly released documents reveal that Joe Biden wasn’t merely aware of the family’s influence peddling operation, he was connected to it.
The Ways and Means Committee released new documents linking Joe Biden to the family’s influence peddling business on Wednesday.
Link to the full archive of whistleblower documents released today: https://t.co/QVctCHfRVk
— Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) September 27, 2023
“In a newly released message to a Chinese business executive, Hunter Biden mentions preserving, quote, ‘keys to my family’s only asset.’ That asset, Joe Biden,” Smith said. “Whether it was lunches, phone calls, White House meetings, or official foreign trips, Hunter Biden cashed in by arranging access to Joe Biden.”
Whether it was lunches, phone calls, White House meetings, or official foreign trips, Hunter Biden cashed in by arranging access to Joe Biden. pic.twitter.com/XkvO7ZDJfi
— Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) September 28, 2023
The Biden family and their associates received millions in payments from foreign sources, including:
๐ดRussia
๐ดChina
๐ดUkraine
๐ดRomaniaHunter Biden even bragged that he cut a deal for $10 million from just one company for 'introductions alone.' pic.twitter.com/O61FPxTRcq
— Rep. Jason Smith (@RepJasonSmith) September 28, 2023
Professor Turley shot down the Democrats’ bad faith argument that without a money transfer directly to Joe Biden’s bank account, the Republicans have nothing incriminating.
“There have been repeated statements that you have to show that President Biden accepted direct money in order for this to constitute a benefit,” Turley said. “Even in criminal cases that deal with bribery, extortion under the Hobbs Act, the courts actually have rejected that. They said that money going to family members is, in fact, a benefit.”
The professor added, “Obviously, the strongest case is if you have a direct payment, but this idea that you can have millions going to a politician’s family, and that’s NOT a benefit, I think is pretty fallacious.”
.@Jim_Jordan: "Can a benefit to your family be a benefit to you?"@JonathanTurley: "This idea that you can have millions going to a politician's family, and that's NOT a benefit, I think is pretty fallacious." pic.twitter.com/C0YtIhHItx
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 28, 2023
Turley said he didn’t understand the opposition to the inquiry because there is a clear basis to look into Joe Biden’s conduct.
๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
Witnesses testify that weโve passed the threshold of evidence to open the President Joe Biden impeachment inquiry.
@JonathanTurley says there are credible allegations that warrant scrutiny of President Bidenโs conduct. pic.twitter.com/RpkXDZRnZI— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 28, 2023
Rep. Jordan dismantled the Democrats’ main argument defending Biden’s December 2015 quid pro quo in Ukraine. Biden leveraged $1 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine to pressure the government to fire its Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin. Democrats have repeatedly claimed that Shokin had to be fired because he was corrupt. Memos released earlier this month revealed that Biden likely acted alone and counter to US policy when he threatened in December 2015 to withhold $1 billion in US loan guarantees for Ukraine in exchange for Shokinโs ouster.
“He leveraged $1 billion in American tax money and he did so at a time when our government was supportive of the prosecutor,” Jordan said.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) September 28, 2023
Turkey argued that while Washington, D.C., is โawashโ with influence peddling, the โsize and complexityโ of the allegations against Biden and his family are unprecedented.
Rep. Byron Donalds released incriminating new text messages directly linking Joe Biden to the family’s corrupt business activities.
“You’ve been drawn into something for the purpose of protecting Dadโand I know any of the BS money is mine,” Hunter wrote his uncle Jim Biden in March of 2018.
๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฅ
Hunter Biden: โYou've been drawn into something purely for the purpose of protecting Dad.โ
@RepDonaldsPress dissects incriminating text messages. pic.twitter.com/MsDpezx7O7— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 28, 2023
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) focused on Hunter Biden’s influence-peddling activities in Romania, where he was hired by a corrupt oligarch while his then V.P. dad was touting the Obama regime’s anti-corruption efforts in the country.
“What was Hunter Biden selling to the Romanian oligarchs for millions of dollars??,” McClain asked. “I’d still like to see a contract.”
.@RepLisaMcClain: "While Joe Biden is touting anti-corruption efforts in Romania, Hunter Biden is employed by a corrupt Romanian oligarch. Interesting…
What was Hunter Biden selling to the Romanian oligarchs for millions of dollars?? I'd still like to see a contract." pic.twitter.com/wo9B99rTNc
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) September 28, 2023
Rep. Comer apologized to the witnesses for the Democrats’ behavior at the hearing and explained that the impeachment inquiry status was necessary for Republicans to be able to to continue their investigation unobstructed.
“Americans are counting on us to address public corruption,” he said.
Americans are counting on us to address public corruption.
We are following the evidence of Joe Bidenโs abuse of public office for his familyโs financial gain.
But Democrats are only trying to pull stunts.
The American people deserve better. pic.twitter.com/D3O8WovdsY
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 28, 2023
Rep. Jake Turner (R-Kans.) took aim at the Biden White House’s evolving narrative regarding Joe’s involvement in the family business.
“The White House strategy has been to deny, deny, deny, lie, and then counterattack, but the evidence and facts have forced the White House to change its story time and time again,” he said.
“The mischaracterization of what this hearing is about by my colleagues on the other side is astounding,”ย Turner added. “Do not allow the White House, or our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, try to convince you that what you’re seeing isn’t the truth.”
"The mischaracterization of what this hearing is about by my colleagues on the other side is astounding," says @RepLaTurner.
"Do not allow the White House, or our colleagues on the other side of the aisle, try to convince you that what you're seeing isn't the truth." pic.twitter.com/6nHT160H7C
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 28, 2023
Expert Witness Bruce Dubinsky, a forensic accountant, explained that “codenames like ‘the Big Guy’ are often used in financial crimes.”
๐ฅ ๐ฅ ๐ฅ
Codenames like โTHE BIG GUYโ are often used in financial crimes.
โTypically, youโll see codenames used and money is being paid to someone under that codename. Thatโs how these processes work.โ
Witness Bruce Dubinsky, a forensic accountant, breaks down how fraudstersโฆ pic.twitter.com/Jnw8bxiK8g
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 28, 2023
At the end of the hearing, Rep. Comer announced that he is issuing subpoenas for Hunter and James Bidenโs personal and business bank records.
๐จBREAKING๐จ
@RepJamesComer ends first impeachment inquiry hearing by announcing he is issuing subpoenas for Hunter and James Bidenโs personal and business bank records. pic.twitter.com/EKtYKiCNOM— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) September 28, 2023
The House Judiciary GOP put out a statement Thursday listing the key facts justifying their impeachment inquiry.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐จ๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ $๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฑ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ.
-From 2014 to 2019, Biden family members and their affiliate companies received over $15 million from foreign companies and foreign nationals in Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Romania, and China. Biden business associates received an additional $9 million.
-This money was transmitted to Biden family members from foreign sources through an exceedingly complex chain of transactions that made it difficult to track the flow of these funds.
๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ง๐ฏ๐จ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐จ๐๐๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ข๐๐ฌ.
-The President had knowledge of many of his familyโs business dealings, and indeed participated in them by having phone calls and attending private dinnersโincluding while he was Vice Presidentโwith his familyโs business associates and foreign business associates who would pay his family millions of dollars for no identifiable product or service.
-These foreign business associates of the Presidentโs family had interests in countries where then-Vice President Bidenโand as Presidentโplayed, and continues to play, an active role in formulating and implementing the foreign policy of the United States.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฎ๐ฅ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒโ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ.
-Weeks before the 2020 Presidential election, then-candidate Joe Biden said on national television that his family did not receive any money from China. That was a lie. Joe Biden not only knew about his familyโs work with Chinese nationals, business associates have confirmed that Joe Biden met with his familyโs Chinese associatesโincluding while he was Vice President.
-President Bidenโs assertions that he never discussed business with his family are false.
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