House Republicans to Vote on Formal Authorization of Impeachment Inquiry into President Joe Biden

House Republicans are set to vote Wednesday to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The resolution is expected to go before the House Rules Committee on Tuesday, and if passed, would declare that any subpoenas issued after former Speaker Kevin McCarthy declared the impeachment inquiry on September 27th would carry the same legal weight as those issued after the vote.

The inquiry was initially proposed by McCarthy, but some members have since pushed for a formal vote to help the party better enforce its subpoenas for testimony, such as the one issued to depose Hunter Biden last month. Hunter Biden responded to the panel’s subpoena last week, but the GOP has yet to present any direct evidence of wrongdoing by the President.

If all members are present and Democrats vote no, House Republicans can only afford three defections in order for the resolution to pass. The vote is expected to be close, as Democrats have argued that the inquiry is a waste of time and resources.

The impeachment inquiry has been a source of contention between the two parties since its inception. While the vote this week will not determine the outcome of the inquiry, it will provide a clearer legal framework for the investigation going forward.