U.S. House Speaker, top Republicans plan Biden impeachment

U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other top Republican officials are in talks to advance an impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Joe Biden in September, CNN reported on Monday.

McCarthy told top Republicans that he intends to initiate the impeachment inquiry by the end of next month, the report said, citing Republican sources familiar with the talks.

McCarthy has previously hinted at the potential for an impeachment inquiry into Biden, threatening earlier this month to launch the process if documents are withheld from lawmakers investigating Biden and his family for alleged criminal activity.

An impeachment inquiry would grant Congress increased authority to subpoena Biden for documents like bank and credit card statements that could reveal financial ties to foreign sources, McCarthy has said.

However, Republican lawmakers do not ubiquitously support an impeachment inquiry, the report said.

The party lacks the 218 votes needed to open an inquiry via floor vote, although there is no constitutional rule requiring they hold a vote, the report said.

The potential inquiry would also launch as Congress pushes to secure government funding before the end of September to avoid a government shutdown.