The American people have a right to know whether the president − through his family − traded official acts for foreign dollars, whether the president is compromised and whether Joe Biden abused his power as president to impede or obstruct the investigation into Hunter Biden.
Mike Johnson (Speaker of the House)
House Republicans wisely formalized an impeachment inquiry into President Biden, despite there being no way two-thirds of the Senate will vote to convict, because it levels the playing field for a Trump-Biden rematch. It was the GOP’s one chance to force legacy media to discuss whether President Biden partook in a pay-to-play family business and the cover-up. Eleven months out from Election Day, Republicans can leave nothing to chance.
It’s this simple. Trump is the presumptive GOP nominee and, but for January 6, independent voters (49% of electorate) would be all-in on his re-election. Peace and prosperity felt better – and were better – under him than under Biden. And, Republican positions on climate and energy, immigration, and transgender rights are in line with super-majorities of voters. The X-factor in 2024 is how everyday folks perceive Trump’s 91 felony counts and any convictions.
If Republicans can’t sugar-coat Trump’s behavior, they can at least knock President Biden and his party off the moral high horse they used in 2016 (traitorous Trump) and 2020 (racist Trump), because middling Americans increasingly view Biden’s and Trump’s transgressions as white collar crimes that are not crime-crimes (like killing Colonel Mustard in the Lincoln Bedroom). In fact, years of polling show voters have soured on presidential prosecutions:
- In 1974, 58% supported Nixon’s removal for Watergate break-in and cover up
- In 1998, 44% supported Clinton’s removal for sexual harassment and lying under oath
- In 2019, 43% supported Trump’s removal for abuse of power
- Today, 39% support Biden’s removal for bribery involving foreigners
- Today, 45% will still support Trump even if “he’s found guilty of felonies”
Watergate was 50 years ago, so flip a coin. Presidential guilt is in the political lens of the beholder. What bothers you more: Trump inflating values to get a loan, or Biden ousting a prosecutor to benefit his son’s employer? A US president being careless with top-secret documents, or a US senator? Trump’s campaign pressuring election officials to win an election, or Biden’s campaign pressuring social media and former intelligence officials?
One 2024 reality is no member of Congress, investigator, judge, juror, or prosecutor can think of Biden or Trump without partisan bias. So, think of Biden’s impeachment as a civil cease and desist order against his 2020 sales pitch: no more promises of “an absolute wall” between government and his family’s financial interests, or claims to “have never discussed with my son or my brother or anyone else anything having to do with their businesses. Period.”
Another 2024 reality is that inquiries erode a president’s support. Ask WHY Vice President Biden sent emails under pseudonyms, and many will suspect wrongdoing. In fact, every time the White House modifies his “involvement” in Hunter’s business dealings, the President’s approval rating falls. When Hunter said Joe was not “financially” involved (and defied a subpoena) Wednesday, Joe’s approval fell to the lowest at this point (37.7%) for any president since 1948 (source: CNBC).
Can the optics get any worse than Hunter’s prepared statement and the White House response on Wednesday? By defying a Congressional subpoena, Hunter invited additional criminal prosecution. By admitting the President “was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say,” White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre implied Joe Biden was party to obstruction of justice (an impeachable offense).
Biden is now on the defensive. Bank records show possibly-laundered money flowed from China to Joe Biden’s bank account. Hunter has defied a Congressional subpoena. For the first time, Trump now has over 50% in a head-to-head national poll (52% in Harvard-Harris on December 15). And…Team Biden is starting to crack.
Asked about interacting with foreign business associates, the President replied he was “not going to comment” and then blurted, “it’s just a bunch of lies.” Asked about the impeachment inquiry, Jean-Pierre called it a “waste of time” and then blurted a 30-second rebuttal (someone needs to explain “no comment” and “waste of time” to Joe and his spokeswoman).
No question, House Republicans will press the DOJ to prosecute Hunter for contempt of Congress. How can Merrick Garland refuse after Joe Biden claimed in 2021 that Steve Bannon should be criminally prosecuted for defying a Congressional subpoena? And who inside the deep state, with the President’s tumbling numbers, wants to take one for the losing team?
Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright…
But not on a third Election Day with only crooked candidates. Hillary Clinton destroyed evidence, Donald Trump faces 91 indictments, and Joe Biden’s clearly lied about what he knew and did. That’s America’s current reality: Democrats racing to make Trump un-electable, and Republicans racing to remove “character” from the ballot.