In a twist that could only happen in the whirlwind of American politics, a legal memo from the Trump administration’s own Department of Justice (DOJ) might be the wrench in the GOP’s machinery, aimed at impeaching President Joe Biden.
In the lead-up to the 2024 elections, Trump has been pressuring his loyal Republican army to go on the offensive against Biden, suggesting an impeachment inquiry. Heeding the call from the far-right factions of the GOP, Speaker Kevin McCarthy initiated an impeachment inquiry against the President. The allegations? Some vague claims that Biden might have engaged in some iffy business dealings alongside his son, Hunter Biden, while in the office of vice president.
But here’s where things get interesting: While McCarthy and his team have been all bluster, the public’s been handed zero solid evidence to support the claims against Biden. Plus, unlike previous impeachment sagas, McCarthy kicked off this inquiry without getting a full vote from the House chamber.
This brings us back to our golden memo. Written during Trump’s reign, this memo suggests that the executive branch can pretty much sidestep any requests from the House for documents or evidence unless there’s a full chamber vote backing it. To put it in simpler terms, Trump’s DOJ effectively created a ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ card, which Biden can now use against the GOP’s impeachment attempts.
Oh, the irony!
Written during the heat of Trump’s own impeachment trials in 2019, this memo was a defensive play to fend off obstruction charges against Trump. Now, the Biden administration could potentially use this very memo in two significant ways:
- Wave it in front of the GOP, refusing to cooperate until a full House vote comes through.
- Use it as a defense, should an impeachment trial actually kick off, explaining why they didn’t share the requested documents upfront.
The Biden camp hasn’t been silent, either. In a power move responding to McCarthy’s impeachment announcement, the administration dropped a detailed 14-page document. This paper tackles every single GOP claim against Biden and debunks them, one by one. In the words of this document, the Republican investigation seems to be “all politics and no evidence.”
In this high-stakes political drama, it’s oddly satisfying to watch the GOP stumble over a hurdle that was set by Trump’s own team. For young, politically savvy readers, it’s a poignant reminder of how past actions can have unexpected consequences in the future. Always expect the unexpected in the dynamic world of politics!
