House Republicans Consider 3rd Impeachment Push Amid Government Shutdown Threat

House Republicans Eye Potential Impeachments

House Republicans are currently exploring the possibility of initiating three separate impeachment proceedings. Republican Representative Matt Rosendale has taken the first step by filing articles against Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. This move comes at a critical juncture as Congress nears a potential government shutdown in less than two weeks.

Government Shutdown Looms as Republicans Push Ahead

House Republicans are determined to move forward with the threat of a partial government shutdown, fueled by conservative concerns over Speaker Mike Johnson's negotiating skills. Simultaneously, the party is also grappling with two other potential impeachment pushes.

Representative Matt Rosendale from Montana has initiated the process for a potential impeachment of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, making him the third Biden administration official to face the prospect of impeachment. Rosendale's articles cite the incident involving a suspected Chinese spy balloon that flew over a significant portion of the United States last year, rather than Austin's unexpected hospitalization, which has sparked a political firestorm. The Pentagon has maintained its policy of not commenting on proposed legislation.

On another front, Republicans are deliberating whether Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas should face impeachment due to the record number of migrants crossing the southern border.

According to sources, this might not be the end of the impeachment saga. Representative James Comer, who chairs the influential House Oversight Committee, has suggested the impeachment of Attorney General Merrick Garland if Garland fails to bring charges against Hunter Biden and if the House holds the president's son in contempt. Comer believes that Biden should be held in contempt for defying a subpoena to testify before his panel. Biden, on the other hand, has expressed his willingness to testify only in a public hearing, which is not what Republicans have offered.

To sum it up, we have one president and three different Cabinet officials who could potentially face impeachment. The sheer number of impeachment proceedings has raised concerns about whether the House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Representative Jim Jordan, can handle the workload. Although historically the Judiciary Committee has led impeachment inquiries, there is no constitutional requirement for such a step.

Congress Faces Busy Start to the Year

The beginning of the year has proven to be a hectic period for Congress, as lawmakers also have important work to complete.

There are two impending deadlines to avoid partial government shutdowns in the coming weeks. The first potential shutdown is scheduled for January 19, affecting approximately 20% of the federal government. Speaker Mike Johnson devised a two-track plan to divide a full government shutdown into smaller segments shortly after assuming the speakership.

To address this, Johnson has made progress by reaching an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on a federal spending package worth over $1.5 trillion for the remainder of the fiscal year. This agreement serves as the crucial first step towards passing the necessary spending bills to avert a shutdown.

However, conservatives within the party have expressed dissatisfaction with this plan. Representative Chip Roy from Texas has even suggested removing Johnson from power, while Representative Warren Davidson from Ohio criticized the speaker's lack of strategy, claiming that he is simply surrendering.

Johnson has defended the agreement, highlighting the limitations imposed by his party's slim majority. He explained that with only a one-seat advantage, they must operate within the realm of reality, considering that they only control one half of one-third of the federal government.

These remarks from the top Republican serve as a reminder of why the current impeachment push is unlikely to succeed. Apart from the potential impeachment of Mayorkas, centrist Republicans have expressed reservations about the other impeachment efforts. Conservatives will not be able to impeach anyone without the support of their colleagues.

Furthermore, even if an official were to be impeached, some Senate Republicans have previously voiced concerns about the increasing frequency of impeachment proceedings.

In conclusion, House Republicans are actively exploring the possibility of multiple impeachment proceedings while simultaneously facing the threat of a partial government shutdown. The dynamics within the party and the broader political landscape suggest that the likelihood of successful impeachments remains uncertain.—————————————————————————————————————————————
By: bgriffiths@insider.com (Brent D. Griffiths)
Title: House Republicans Consider 3rd Impeachment Push Amid Government Shutdown Threat
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/house-republicans-impeachment-government-shutdown-congress-biden-mayorkas-austin-2024-1
Published Date: Wed, 10 Jan 2024 17:25:23 +0000