The Biden impeachment: Where does it stand?

An AP-NORC poll in early October found that 35 percent of U.S. adults believe President Joe Biden did something illegal related to his son Hunter’s business deals. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., in September directed three House committees to investigate the possibility of impeaching Biden on articles that could include bribery, conspiracy, obstruction, and abuse of power. As Republicans scrutinize the president and his family, though, Democrats have decried the proceedings, which began Sept. 28, as political theater.

What are the claims against President Biden? Republicans say there is evidence that while Biden served as vice president, his son Hunter often used his father’s name—“the brand”—to peddle influence and get access to business positions he was unqualified for, including board seats at Chinese and Ukrainian companies. President Biden has said he had no involvement in these businesses, but later admitted he’d met some associates on trips or over phone calls. Biden as vice president also helped to oust a Ukrainian investigator who was scrutinizing Burisma, an energy company that was paying Hunter. The Department of Justice has launched investigations into fraud allegations against Hunter, but Republicans and whistleblowers claim investigators slow-rolled these inquiries for political purposes.

Has the House inquiry turned up anything? GOP lawmakers on the oversight committee said they have obtained financial records that show not only Hunter but also James Biden, the president’s brother, selling “access” to the then–vice president “to enrich the Biden family.” But Republicans must prove that this promised access actually materialized. Simple discussions are not illegal, nor is a false promise of access, but influence peddling is a legally ­recognized form of corruption.

Have Republicans produced evidence of payments directly going to Joe Biden? Not thus far. To prove wrongdoing, Republicans would need to show that Biden leveraged his position in the White House and affected American policy in exchange for money.

What happens next? Three House committees—Oversight, Ways and Means, and Judiciary—will hold hearings that may or may not uncover evidence of wrongdoing. A House committee has subpoena power to gain access to phone call records, financial documents, texts, and witness testimony. If the committees find evidence of corruption, they can recommend articles of impeachment for the entire House chamber to vote on.

Is this impeachment inquiry a form of political retribution? House Democrats twice impeached former President Donald Trump, and Republicans have long promised to return the favor. Biden allies say the House GOP investigation is meant to distract from Trump’s four pending criminal trials.