Why McCarthy launched an impeachment inquiry without a vote — and why he can
by Emily Brooks, Mychael Schnell and Rebecca Beitsch - 09/12/23 9:04 PM ET
Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) moved to launch an official impeachment inquiry into President Biden on Tuesday — without a vote on the House floor.
It’s perfectly legal and constitutional for McCarthy to start an inquiry without a vote. But it’s a significant reversal for the GOP Speaker, who just 11 days ago said he would not open an official probe without a floor vote.
It also leaves him open to cries of hypocrisy: McCarthy criticized former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) for kicking off an impeachment inquiry of former President Trump in the same manner in 2019. Pelosi announced an inquiry on Sept. 24, but the House did not vote on the matter until Oct. 31.
Asked Tuesday about whether he was being hypocritical, McCarthy referred back to Pelosi: “I’m not, because she changed the precedent.”
“I warned her not to do it that way in the process. And that’s what she did, that’s what we did,” McCarthy said.
There are advantages to the strategy for McCarthy.
more
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4201155-why-mccarthy-launched-an-impeachment-inquiry-without-a-vote-and-why-he-can/
