WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) did not commit to holding a vote on articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden when asked about it on Wednesday. Republicans have been struggling to find clear evidence in their investigation of the president.
During the House GOP retreat in West Virginia, Johnson was asked if he can see a path to impeaching Biden this Congress. He was noncommittal and said that lawmakers need to gather more information before making a decision.
He mentioned at a press conference that the impeachment inquiry and investigation will continue. Lawmakers are still waiting for requested information, and the committees will process all the information and make decisions as they come forward.
In a later conversation at the retreat with New York Post reporter Josh Christenson, Johnson said that they will carefully evaluate the information and make a decision on how to proceed after the committees receive more information.
When pressed about what information is missing from the probe, Johnson accused Hunter Biden and James Biden of giving false information during their closed-door depositions.
Both Bidens testified that the president was not involved in their business dealings.
Johnson stated that what was missing from those interviews is more truth in his view. He believes they were evasive and that some of the testimony provided is demonstrably untrue based on bank records, evidence, and whistleblower testimony.
He continued that it's a concerning set of facts and that the American people can draw their own conclusions. He emphasized the constitutional responsibility to draw an ultimate conclusion about the impeachment process regarding the president.
Johnson's comments come after months of the GOP's impeachment inquiry into Biden, which has not found evidence that the president committed a high crime or misdemeanor. Investigators have focused on the overseas business dealings of Hunter Biden but have not found evidence supporting their claims of corruption and influence peddling by the president.
Last month, closed-door testimony from Hunter Biden and James Biden failed to provide clear evidence to support the GOP's allegations.
Republicans are vowing to continue their investigation. The House Oversight and Accountability Committee is set to hold a hearing titled “Influence Peddling: Examining Joe Biden’s Abuse of Public Office.” Republicans invited Hunter Biden to appear at the hearing, but he rejected the request.
Republicans also invited Devon Archer, a former business associate of Hunter Biden who testified about the Biden “brand,” and said he was not aware of any wrongdoing on the part of the president; Tony Boblinski, a former associate of Hunter Biden who was only briefly involved in their business dealings and later became involved with former President Trump’s campaign; and Jason Galanis, a former associate of Archer who is serving time in federal prison on charges related to defrauding a Native American tribe.
Johnson has consistently defended the slow pace of the impeachment inquiry, stating that it must be a “methodical” process.
“The investigation has been slow and deliberate and methodical as it must be under the Constitution,” he said during a press conference at the House GOP retreat Thursday. “I referenced yesterday, I understand and I think about this all the time what a heavy power that is, that the House is given specifically in the Constitution and how it needs to be very careful and deliberate.”
But he did admit that he has not yet conducted a “deep dive” into the evidence gathered by House GOP investigators because he has been occupied by other Speaker responsibilities.
“To be very honest and transparent, because I’ve been so busy with all my other responsibilities, I have not been able to take the time to do the deep dive in the evidence,” Johnson said.
