Impeachment probe for Joe Biden ordered by top US Republican, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy

An impeachment inquiry would put the younger Biden’s dealings with Chinese and Ukrainian entities back into the spotlight, opening another front on which China will likely get negative press.

Coming amid intense pressure from the Republican Party’s right wing, McCarthy’s order sidesteps a House vote to proceed with the inquiry, which he previously said would be necessary. Some centrist members of the caucus, which controls the chamber, had expressed opposition to such a move.

With the Republicans holding a narrow majority in the 435-member House, a vote in favour of the inquiry was never assured.

“House Republicans have uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden’s conduct,” McCarthy told reporters on Capitol Hill.

“Taken together, these allegations paint a picture of a culture of corruption. That’s why today I am directing our house committee to open a formal impeachment inquiry.”

“This logical next step will give our committees the full power to gather all the facts and answers for the American public. That’s exactly what we want to know,” he added. “I believe the president would want to answer these questions and allegations as well.”

The White House responded to McCarthy’s announcement by highlighting the lack of a House vote on the matter.

McCarthy’s “own GOP members have said so”, Sams added. “He vowed to hold a vote to open impeachment, now he flip-flopped because he doesn’t have support.”

Hunter Biden to be charged in gun case this month, prosecutor says

The extensive report on these ties highlighted what Republicans called “a vast web of corporate connections and financial transactions between and among the Biden family and Chinese nationals”.

But no evidence has emerged that he used his influence to support his son’s business or that they violated US law.

McCarthy put control of the inquiry under Kentucky congressman James Comer, chairman of the oversight committee, in coordination with Ohio congressman Jim Jordan, chairman of the judiciary committee, and Missouri congressman Jason Smith, chairman of the ways and means committee.

Hunter Biden could face trial as US special counsel named

Republicans on Comer’s committee have been investigating Hunter Biden’s alleged violations since before the party took control of the House this year.

Their investigation led to a comprehensive report in November last year in which the younger Biden was portrayed as an ally of the Chinese government.

However, not all Republicans have supported efforts to find evidence that Joe Biden acted illegally with his son in foreign business dealings.

Biden jokes that Republicans may impeach him because US inflation is down

Colorado congressman Ken Buck is just one of a handful of House Republicans who have criticised the investigations. Buck’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry about McCarthy’s announcement on Tuesday.

“There is not a strong connection at this point between the evidence on Hunter Biden and the evidence connecting the president,” Buck said in an interview with MSNBC on Sunday.

Even if the investigation were to lead to an impeachment vote in the House, Biden would almost certainly be acquitted in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats. A Senate acquittal would block Biden’s removal from office.

The House impeached Trump a second time in 2021, several days after the January 6 attack on the Capitol. Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury for his role in that attack.