Lawler: 'Facts And Evidence' Will Determine Impeachment Next Steps

WASHINGTON, DC — While Republicans in Congress are proceeding with an impeachment of President Joe Biden, one GOP congressman says he's not so sure.

With no vote to launch the inquiry, the impeachment probe is being done without the usual formal House-passed ground rules, the AP reported.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham and other senators said they urged the House chairmen to solidify the process by holding a House vote to move forward with the inquiry, the AP reported.

“I think they’d be better off having a vote. It does give it more legitimacy,” Graham of South Carolina said.

"Impeachment should not be, and must never be, political in nature or a tit-for-tat revenge game, and should only be used if the facts and evidence warrant it," Rep. Mike Lawler (R-17) said in a statement Tuesday. "As of today, the House has not met the high bar of impeachment."

However, he said, "For months, House committees have been investigating alleged corruption involving the Biden family. Thus far, the investigations have uncovered credible evidence, including the use of shell companies to hide payments of over $20 million from foreign agents and whistleblower testimony from IRS and DOJ officials, alleging undue political influence and interference."

GOP-led congressional inquiries of presidential son Hunter Biden’s records to date have not shown any foreign payment to his father, Joe Biden, or any other evidence of wrongdoing, The Associated Press reported.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy launched the inquiry on Tuesday, after weeks of urging by former President Donald Trump, the AP reported.

President Biden late Wednesday brushed off the impeachment inquiry, saying the way he sees it, they launched the investigation against him because they want to shut down the federal government, the AP reported.

The Republicans said they want to see if there's a link between the elder Biden and his son's business dealings in Ukraine. Trump was impeached over attempts to coerce Ukraine into providing damaging narratives about Biden in 2020.

McCarthy's decision to launch the impeachment inquiry appears to have done little to appease conservative lawmakers he needs to win over for his more immediate task: persuading the GOP majority to pass the federal spending bills needed to avoid a government shutdown in just over two weeks, the AP reported.

Hard-right Republicans still want McCarthy to slash federal spending below the levels he and Biden agreed to as part of a budget deal earlier this year. And that stand risks a federal shutdown if they don't fund the government by Sept. 30, when current money runs out.

A massive House Republican bill to fund the Defense Department and related military affairs was scheduled for a vote Wednesday, but it was shelved amid a clash over spending levels, the AP reported.

Two moderate Republicans representing Hudson Valley districts that Biden won in 2020 over Trump and who are most at risk in next year's election generally were supportive of McCarthy’s decision to launch the impeachment probe, the AP reported.

Lawler said his priority is the facts.

"Today’s announcement by Speaker McCarthy is a continuation of the investigations that are currently open and ongoing," he said. "As I have said repeatedly, the facts and evidence will determine what, if any, next steps are to be taken."

“I didn’t come here to impeach anybody, but the responsibility of Congress is to provide the appropriate checks and balances and that next step is now moving forward in a broader inquiry,” said Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-19) in The Hill. “There clearly are questions of impropriety, and we want to be sure that we’re getting answers, and I think the American people deserve that as well.”

After Molinaro’s comments, Sandy Oxford, New York Working Families Party State Officer, released a statement:

"We’re extremely disappointed by Rep. Molinaro’s support for Kevin McCarthy’s sham inquiry. Molinaro continues to line up behind McCarthy and far-right Republicans every chance he gets. As a member of the Agriculture Committee, Molinaro should be focused on delivering a Farm Bill that protects SNAP benefits, but he's instead preoccupied with cozying up to the Speaker by lending credibility to his latest political stunt."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.