House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced on Tuesday that he is directing the U.S. House to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden over his family’s business dealings. McCarthy cited allegations of abuse of power, obstruction, and corruption that have been raised by House investigations into the business dealings of the president’s son, Hunter Biden. McCarthy stated that these allegations warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives. However, the White House swiftly shot back, dismissing McCarthy’s move as “extreme politics at its worst.”

🚨 BREAKING: Speaker McCarthy announces that a formal impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden will be opened by the House

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— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 12, 2023

Spokesman Ian Sams emphasized that House Republicans have been investigating the president for nine months with no evidence of wrongdoing. McCarthy’s decision to launch the impeachment inquiry without a House vote has raised questions about his ability to secure enough support from his slim GOP majority. Some lawmakers have criticized the evidence presented so far as insufficient to meet the Constitution’s standard of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” In fact, McCarthy himself has previously stated that a speaker acting unilaterally to launch an impeachment inquiry would have no legitimacy. Spokesman Ian Sams accused McCarthy of flip-flopping due to lack of support. The impeachment inquiry will be led by the Oversight Committee, with coordination from the Judiciary Committee and Ways & Means Committee. McCarthy indicated that they will present their findings to the Senate after briefing them on Wednesday. While Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has warned House Republicans against the impeachment effort, he stated on Tuesday that McCarthy does not need advice from the Senate.

On the other hand, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called it an “illegitimate impeachment inquiry” and pledged to defend President Biden until the end. This move by McCarthy has put him in a political bind, as he faces pressure from his right flank to take action against Biden while also trying to pass legislation to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month. The impeachment inquiry also comes amidst the anticipation of the 2024 election, with former President Donald Trump being the Republican frontrunner to challenge Biden. As House Republicans continue to probe the business dealings of Hunter Biden, they have not yet produced concrete evidence linking them to the president.

McCarthy highlighted a few instances when Joe Biden, as vice president, had contact with his son and attended dinners with his business partners. However, the impeachment inquiry aims to provide more weight to the investigation and potentially uncover further information, especially regarding Biden family financial records. It is essential to note that this impeachment inquiry comes at a critical time when federal government funding is set to run out on September 30. McCarthy faces challenges in reaching a compromise with conservatives who demand spending cuts. Moreover, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has set “red lines” against new spending for COVID-19 vaccines, vaccine mandates, and the war in Ukraine.

While McCarthy attempts to navigate these complex political situations, Democrats are preparing to defend President Biden against what they view as baseless claims. Representative Jamie Raskin and other Democrats have already issued a 14-page memo countering the Republicans’ allegations of corruption and financial wrongdoing. The ongoing impeachment inquiry and the impending government shutdown threat have placed Speaker McCarthy in a tough position. He must strive to please his conservative lawmakers while also ensuring his own political survival. The outcome of these proceedings and the potential impact on the 2024 election remain uncertain, but they will undoubtedly shape the political landscape moving forward.