President Joe Biden issued a statement accusing Republicans of attacking him with "lies" due to the House of Representatives' decision to authorize an impeachment inquiry against him:
The American people need their leaders in Congress to take action on important priorities for the nation and world. ... Instead of doing their job on the urgent work that needs to be done, they are choosing to waste time on this baseless political stunt that even Republicans in Congress admit is not supported by facts.
The House vote was approved with 221 votes in favor and 212 against. The Constitution dictates that the president can be removed from office in an impeachment trial if it is proven that he committed "serious crimes or misdemeanors." The House of Representatives must vote to file charges against him. However, the eventual impeachment trial would be held in the Senate.
Biden's ties with China
The impeachment inquiry into the president results from Republicans' accusations that he benefitted financially from his son's shady business dealings by using his political influence during his time as vice president under the Obama administration. Hunter Biden was involved with businessmen and governments from China, Russia, Ukraine and more countries.
House Majority Whip Tom Emmer told The New York Post that Republicans were forced to proceed with the impeachment inquiry after the White House prevented witnesses from testifying and withheld thousands of documents linked to Biden and his son's business partners, including emails held by the National Archives.
In recent months, whistleblowers from the IRS told Republicans on the Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means Committees that the Justice Department prevented tax investigations into Hunter Biden due to their potential impact on his father.
Likewise, the approval of the impeachment inquiry occurs just as the House Oversight Committee is proceeding with action to hold Hunter Biden in contempt of Congress after he refused to appear to testify.
