Washington, Aug 28 (EFE).- The White House downplayed on Monday the threat by congressional Republicans to impeach President Joe Biden.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that Biden was instead “focused on what real Americans care about, the real priorities,” such as public education.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Sunday in an interview with Fox TV that impeaching Biden was “a natural step forward” following the investigations Republicans launched into the president since January when they took the majority.
“If the Biden administration continues to fight to withhold information that could really clear all this up — did they take bribes? Did they deal in the business? If they hold that up, we would have to move to an impeachment inquiry,” McCarthy said.
“(It) gives the apex of power to Congress when it comes to our subpoena power and others to get the documents we need: the bank statements, the credit card statements, and others show us where the money went.”
McCarthy has repeatedly said he intended to impeach Biden and has come under intense pressure from the ultra-conservatives of the GOP in recent months to do so.
US media reported on Monday that McCarthy and top Republicans were strategizing about how to move forward with the impeachment plan.
Former President Donald Trump, the favorite in the Republican primaries for the 2024 election, has on several occasions expressed support for the impeachment proceedings against his predecessor.
During his tenure, Trump faced two impeachment attempts, one for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress and another for inciting the Capitol Hill riots on Jan.6, 2021.
However, a political trial against Biden would have little chance of succeeding because the Democrats have a majority in the Senate.
The US Constitution requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate for successful impeachment of a president. EFE
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