2023-09-28 14:21:05
The impeachment inquiry against Joe Biden started today in the House, initiated by the Republican majority, which however has so far been unable to show any evidence of Biden’s alleged involvement in his son Hunter’s affairs in Ukraine and other foreign countries when he was deputy president.
What is impeachment
Impeachment from the Latin impetere “to accuse”, is the accusation of a public official. The legal institution, born in England starting from 1376, in the legal system of the United States is aimed at the president, the vice president, judges and officials of state administrations, accused of treason, corruption and other serious crimes in the exercise of their functions. The proceeding is promoted by the Chamber, which formulates the accusation through a vote, and by the Senate, which assumes the role of judge. If the recipient of impeachment is the president of the United States, the Senate is presided over by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. If found guilty at the end of the proceedings, the individual may be removed or dismissed from office or banned from holding public office. The sanctions contemplated are removal or dismissal from office.
No witnesses at the first hearing
At the first hearing, which will be chaired by the president of the Supervisory Commission, James Comer, no direct witnesses will be heard about Biden’s affairs or any help his father may have given him. The speakers will be legal experts who will delve into the scope of the accusations made against the president – that is, of having used his position to enrich his family – instead of providing elements to support them.
Nine months of investigation into Hunter Biden
The hearing, which therefore marks the formal start of the impeachment inquiry, comes after 9 months of the commission’s investigation into Hunter Biden’s activities as a consultant and lawyer. Comer’s team obtained more than 12,000 pages of financial documents, and conducted dozens of interviews with people who had working relationships with the president’s son. But, despite having found evidence that Hunter tried to use his father’s name for his business, the commission found no evidence of Biden’s direct involvement, much less his personal enrichment.
The Trampian branch behind the procedure
Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced in recent weeks the formal launch of the impeachment inquiry, saying that in this way investigators will be able to more easily send subpoenas to the White House. But observers consider the launch of the investigation a move by the Republican leader to satisfy the extremist and Trumpian faction of the party on whose votes his place as Speaker depends.
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