In a strategic maneuver, House Republicans voted on Thursday to refer an impeachment resolution against President Biden to the House Judiciary and Homeland Security Committees. This decision effectively circumvents an attempt by Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) to force an immediate impeachment vote.
The resolution, which passed with a 219-208 vote along party lines, addresses the ongoing border crisis. Boebert's initial privileged resolution, introduced earlier this week, aimed to bypass the standard committee process, a move that drew criticism from within the Republican party, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who deemed it "flippant."
Following negotiations between Boebert and McCarthy, a compromise was reached, allowing the impeachment question to be formally considered by the relevant committees. This agreement highlights the ongoing tension within the House GOP between leadership and a faction of hardline members who have leveraged McCarthy's slim majority to influence the legislative agenda.
Boebert described the compromise as "historic," emphasizing that this marks the first time in 24 years that a Republican-led House is pursuing impeachment proceedings against a sitting president through established institutional channels. She cited the border crisis, the influx of illegal immigration, and the escalating fentanyl crisis as justifications for impeachment.
Democrats have condemned the move, accusing Republicans of politicizing the impeachment process. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) expressed concern over what she perceived as a debasement of the House's constitutional duty. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), ranking member of the Rules Committee, criticized the Republicans' prioritization of impeachment over legislative solutions to immigration challenges.
