End the Biden impeachment bid, White House urges Johnson in letter

[March 16, 2024]  By Jeff Mason
 
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The White House counsel's office urged the Republican leader in the House of Representatives on Friday to end an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden after months of investigation turned up no evidence that the president had done anything wrong. 

US President Joe Biden shakes hands with Speaker of the House Mike Johnson before Biden delivered his third State of the Union address in the House Chamber of the US Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, 07 March 2024. SHAWN THEW/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, White House counsel Edward Siskel outlined testimony from the president's family members, their associates, and other witnesses that showed the "opposite of what House Republicans have claimed" regarding Biden improperly profiting from family members' business activities.

He also noted reporting that showed Republican lawmakers themselves saying the inquiry was falling apart and had not found impeachable offences or particular crimes.

The House voted in December to formally authorize the inquiry even in the absence of evidence of wrongdoing by the president. Republicans allege Biden improperly traded access while he served as vice president in President Barack Obama's administration. Biden denies the allegations.

"I write to you today because it is clear the House Republican impeachment is over," Siskel wrote. "The House Majority ought to work with the President on our economy, national security, and other important priorities on behalf of the American people, not continue to waste time on political stunts like this."

A spokesperson for Johnson accused Biden of lying and said it was not up to the White House to decide what happened with the inquiry. "The White House does not get to decide how impeachment gets resolved, that is for Congress to decide,” Raj Shah said in an email.

The White House letter reflects exasperation with House Republicans over what Biden officials view as a political stunt as the Democratic president seeks re-election this year in a race against Republican former President Donald Trump.

"For over a year, House Republicans have been investigating President Biden in an effort to find something — anything — to hurt the President politically," Siskel wrote. "Instead, the investigation has continually turned up evidence that, in fact, the President did nothing wrong."

The timing of the letter also suggests the White House sees vulnerability for Johnson, whose majority in the chamber will slip to 218-213 next week when Congressman Ken Buck, a Republican who has criticized the impeachment inquiry, exits office early.

The president and Johnson were set to meet later on Friday at a reception on Capitol Hill.

(Reporting by Jeff MasonEditing by Alistair Bell and Bill Berkrot)

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