House Republicans’ efforts to impeach President Joe Biden have hit a roadblock, with the acknowledgment that they lack the votes to proceed based on the scant evidence they’ve gathered.
In a bid to salvage their credibility, they are considering packaging their findings into a criminal referral to the Department of Justice, according to House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer.
Comer’s admission comes after months of fruitless investigations, marred by revelations that a key witness was manipulated by Russian agents.
The shift towards criminal referrals appears to align with Donald Trump’s desire to make Biden’s alleged wrongdoing a focal point of the upcoming elections.
Trump’s influence on the GOP is palpable, with some lawmakers openly admitting that their pursuit of impeachment is aimed at providing Trump with ammunition for his political battles.
Even House Speaker Mike Johnson acknowledges discussions around criminal referrals but remains non-committal, citing a lack of time to thoroughly assess the evidence.
However, not all Republicans are on board with the idea, including conservative stalwart Rep. Darrell Issa, who questions the wisdom of referring a sitting president for criminal charges.
The prospect of alienating vulnerable Republicans adds further complexity to the situation, with some members expressing a desire to move on to more pressing issues.
The decision on whether to pursue criminal referrals will require consensus within the GOP conference, placing Johnson in a challenging position as he seeks to balance competing interests.
With Trump loyalists pushing for action and others seeking to distance themselves from the controversy, divisions within the party are likely to deepen.
