Biden team braces for countering expected GOP impeachment inquiry

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: NBC News
2 Sep 2023 13:42

Sources to NBC News reveal that the Biden administration is readying a large response team solely for the purpose of countering a GOP impeachment attempt.

US President Joe Biden speaks on the anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, United States, on August 16, 2023. (AFP)

The White House has established a huge response team comprised of approximately two dozen lawyers, legislative aides, and communication experts to counter an expected Republican impeachment inquiry targeting President Joe Biden, NBC News reported, citing a White House insider familiar with the matter.

This strategic initiative, developed over several months within the White House counsel's office, is a response to Republican-led House investigations. Biden's aides and supporters are preparing to mount a strong and robust defense against any impeachment inquiry, portraying it as a partisan endeavor devoid of evidence.

The White House aide highlighted the importance of this situation, stating, "Comparing this to past impeachments isn’t apples to apples or even apples to oranges; it’s apples to elephants. Never in modern history has an impeachment been based on no evidence whatsoever."

Preparations for a potential impeachment began early in the year when the new US House majority was established. Speaker Kevin McCarthy's calls for an impeachment inquiry are but a "natural step forward," as White House personnel have dedicated the August recess to research Republican statements and fine-tune their messaging and response strategies.

GOP targets 'corrupt' Biden family

House Republicans have indicated that their inquiry would focus on criminal activity by President Biden's son, Hunter Biden, in his foreign business dealings. It would also explore accusations of Joe Biden being involved in bribery, corruption, or power abuse to benefit his son during his term as Barack Obama's Vice President. Some House Republicans do admit that those leading the charge against Biden lack concrete evidence of his wrongdoing.

Despite this, McCarthy maintains that there is a "culture of corruption" within Biden's family. He argued that an impeachment inquiry would provide Congress with the necessary authority to obtain information on Hunter's alleged criminal activities.

McCarthy clarified that the documents he is seeking encompass bank and credit card statements.

He emphasized the importance of these records in clarifying the movement of money and potential sources of external funding. However, he lamented the resistance encountered in obtaining these documents.

Republicans have been persistently asserting the existence of a pay-to-play scheme involving President Joe Biden during his tenure as Vice President under the Obama administration. They allege that Hunter Biden exploited his father's position to secure financial advantages.

McCarthy's discussions on the impeachment inquiry highlight Joe Biden's alleged involvement in his son's business dealings.

Who's on Biden's response team?

Biden's team has drawn inspiration from the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton as a blueprint for mounting an effective defense and holding the GOP accountable for "overreaching".

The White House's response unit includes individuals such as Richard Sauber, defense attorney, Russ Anello, former staff director of the House Oversight Committee, Ian Sams, a communications operative and presidential campaign veteran known for going against Republicans on social media, and Sharon Yang, a former communications director of the pro-Biden group Building Back Together. Incoming White House counsel Ed Siskel, experienced in dealing with GOP investigations, is expected to join the team soon, according to NBC News.

The structure of the Biden team's "war room" is designed to separate impeachment and other Republican-led investigations from the broader White House operations, allowing other administration officials to focus on their tasks.

Biden officials also believe that they are better positioned to win the battle of public opinion. They point out that both Clinton and former President Donald Trump saw boosts in approval ratings during their respective impeachment proceedings.