Republicans at odds over impeachment inquiry against President Biden and Speaker battle
In a recent development, Republicans are engaged in a heated debate regarding the impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden and the battle over who will lead the House as Speaker. A video obtained by NBC News reveals that Rep. Matt Gaetz and fellow Freedom Caucus member Rep. Matt Rosendale denounced the impeachment inquiry as a political stunt during an invitation-only fundraiser held over Zoom. Gaetz expressed his skepticism, stating, I don’t believe that we are endeavoring upon a legitimate impeachment of Joe Biden. He compared the effort to a never-ending war that would result in a bloody draw.
These remarks come just days before Gaetz and Rosendale plotted to oust current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a move that could potentially cause further divisions within the Republican caucus. As the House searches for a replacement speaker, Gaetz, Rosendale, and the group of Republicans who ousted McCarthy still hold considerable leverage. It remains to be seen if they will exploit this leverage to extract concessions from the future speaker, such as influencing the House’s approach to issues like impeachment. Notably, one of the leading figures in the impeachment effort, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, is also a contender for the Speaker’s position.
During the fundraiser, Rosendale echoed Gaetz’s criticism of the impeachment inquiry, comparing it to the federal indictment of President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden. He argued that both cases involved attempts to divert attention from more serious crimes committed by Hunter Biden. Gaetz added, I just don’t get the sense that it’s for the sake of impeachment. I think it’s for the sake of having another bad thing to say about Joe Biden.
While most Republicans have united behind the impeachment inquiry, some have expressed reservations. Despite Rep. James Comer‘s statement that the probe uncovered substantial evidence of President Biden leveraging his position for his family’s gain, Gaetz suggested that the lack of a subpoena directed at Hunter Biden undermines the seriousness of the inquiry.
The video of the fundraiser, billed as an exclusive briefing on federal funding, was taken just as Congress was approaching a potential government shutdown. Gaetz and his allies were strongly opposing McCarthy’s leadership and preparing to launch their bid to remove him as Speaker. Rosendale voted alongside Gaetz and six other Republicans in favor of ousting McCarthy.
As attention intensifies on the speakership battle and conservative loyalties come into focus, Gaetz’s and Rosendale’s remarks will undoubtedly face scrutiny. The race for the Speaker’s position includes contenders such as Jim Jordan and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise. The vacancy could potentially lead to a prolonged conflict between conservative factions within the party.
Gaetz, who triggered the vote that led to McCarthy’s ousting, is also facing backlash from fellow Republicans. Some have called for his expulsion from the Republican Conference. However, Jordan expressed his refusal to support such a move in an interview.
The video of the fundraiser also featured other notable remarks. Caroline Wren, a Republican fundraiser involved in organizing Trump’s rally on January 6, 2021, discussed advising a wealthy donor to leverage a campaign donation to pressure a Gaetz ally. Additionally, Rosendale expressed his hope for a large Republican majority in the House after the 2022 midterms, suggesting that the current narrow majority has given him and Gaetz additional leverage.
The remarks by Gaetz and Rosendale add fuel to the ongoing debate within the Republican Party regarding the impeachment inquiry against President Biden and the battle over who will become the next House Speaker. As tensions rise, conservative loyalties and the future direction of the party remain uncertain.
