The House Oversight and Accountability Committee held its first hearing in the impeachment inquiry into President Biden, even as many lawmakers remain focused on the looming government funding deadline this weekend.
Republicans entering Thursday’s hearing hoped to makea convincing case for why they opened the inquiry, seeking to curb doubts from some in the GOP conference that it’s based on insufficient evidence.
Law professor Jonathan Turley, one of the witnesses at the hearing, said, “I do not believe that the current evidence would support articles of impeachment,” adding, “But I also believe that the House has passed the threshold for an impeachment inquiry into the conduct of President Biden.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, railed against what he called a lack of evidence against Biden and the inquiry as a whole in his opening statement. He also redirected attention to Republican infighting over government funding.
“They don’t have a shred of evidence against President Biden. Do you think I’m being harsh? Here’s what some Republicans had to say over the last week about the actions of the Republicans,” Raskin said, displaying several quotes on a poster board.
“The dysfunction caucus at work,” a quote attributed to Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) read on the poster board.
“Individuals that just want to burn the whole place down,” read another from Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.)
The inquiry is largely focused on the business dealings of Biden’s family. Biden has denied any wrongdoing.
CATCH UP QUICK
Sen. Bob Menendeztold Democratic senators on Thursday that he won’t resign, according to Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), after more than half the conference called for Menendez to step down following his recent indictment.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) introduced a bill to undo electric vehicle credits included in the Inflation Reduction Act and establish a new tax credit for gas-powered vehicles made in the U.S.
Maui electric officialstestified before a House Committee on Energy and Commerce subcommittee about the recent wildfires today.
Government funding is set to expire Saturday at 11:59 p.m. With several votes and more negotiations on stopgap measures scheduled in Congress (more on that below), a shutdown for some period of time is possible.
What would that mean? Here are some things that could be affected:
Federal worker furloughs: Federal workers could be furloughed or required to work without pay. The White House said earlier this week that more than 1 million active-duty troops could see pay disruptions.
Food assistance: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that some who depend on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) could see a “denial of those benefits and opportunities.”
Social Security application disruptions: Social Security beneficiaries would continue receiving benefits, but would-be applicants may see disruptions.
Transportation: Air traffic controller training would shut down.
A vote to end debate on the Senate’s continuing resolution (CR) is expected in the chamber Saturday, after the legislative vehicle for the CR — a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill — cleared a procedural vote Thursday.
While both Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) endorsed the CR, divisions remain in the upper chamber because a lack of border security elements and the presence of Ukraine funding are sticking points for some Republican senators.
The House, meanwhile, is expected to vote on its own, GOP-driven CR tomorrow, with several GOP members opposing it as of now.
Both chambers and the president need to agree on the same measure. Follow The Hill’s live blog for updates.
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DeSantis on Trump’s attacks: ‘Step on stage and do it to my face’
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) reiterated his call for former President Trump to show up to debates on Thursday in a Fox News interview, after repeatedly criticizing Trump for being absent from the second GOP debate Wednesday night and calling for a one-on-one debate with the GOP frontrunner.
New Biden ad touts compromise
The Biden reelection campaignreleased an ad Thursday touting compromise and bipartisanship, featuring shots of the president with late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), former President Ronald Reagan and former Republican secretaries of state.
Inside the virtual F-16 training program in Ukraine
The Hill’s Laura Kelly reports on the simulator program Ukrainian pilots are using to get acquainted with F-16 jets ahead of their upcoming trainings abroad.
PUNDIT CORNER
“Will a discharge petition end the GOP majority?” — Adam Brandon, president of FreedomWorks. (Read here)
“Immigration dominated the GOP debate, but it’s not the political winner Republicans think” — Maria Cardona, Democratic strategist, a principal at Dewey Square Group and CNN/CNN Español political commentator. (Read here)
⏲️ COUNTDOWN
2 days until the government funding deadline.
41 days until the next GOP debate.
🗓 ON TAP TOMORROW
The California Republican Party‘s fall convention begins, with former President Trump as the lunch speaker and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the dinner speaker.
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