Seven months into their impeachment inquiry of the president, GOP leaders now insist they don't measure success by whether or not they actually hold a vote to impeach Joe Biden. But they still won't rule it out.
Instead of an impeachment vote, House Republicans voted to refer Hunter and James Biden, not Joe, to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal prosecution, where the Biden DOJ inevitably ignored their suggestion.
Now, Oversight Chairman James Comer insists he wasn't gunning for an impeachment vote - he always thought the inquiry would end in referrals.
'I've been saying for almost a year that this would end with criminal referral,' he told DailyMail.com in an interview.
He said the impeachment inquiry was former Speaker Kevin McCarthy's idea.
Oversight Chairman James Comer insists he wasn't gunning for an impeachment vote - he always thought the inquiry would end in referrals
'The impeachment inquiry was a phase that McCarthy came up with to try to help us have greater standing in court. It really had nothing to do with with impeachment,' Comer went on.
Over the past half a year the Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees have sought evidence to tie Joe Biden to Hunter Biden's shady business dealings.
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held a full House vote to authorize the inquiry to give Republicans a better standing in court when the Biden team withheld documents they'd subpoena. But Republicans privately worried that opening an impeachment inquiry without ever impeaching the president could look like exoneration.
'The Senate was never going to convict Joe Biden,' the Oversight chairman admitted.
'So our objective was was twofold. One, to get the truth to the American people, and I think we've done that. And number two, is to prevent this from happening in the future, which is what we're focused on now. Influence peddling is a gray area in the government.'
He pointed to the White House ethics bill he recently introduced with Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, Calif.
Over the past half a year the Oversight, Judiciary and Ways and Means Committees have sought evidence to tie Joe Biden to Hunter Biden 's shady business dealings
After Capitol Hill testimony from Hunter, James and dozens of their former business associates, Republicans put on display how Hunter and James profited off of their last name and introduced Biden to their business partner
The bill, which would bolster disclosure requirements for foreign income for the president and his family members, lost the support of Democrats after the White House reportedly made phone calls urging them to drop their backing - but Comer insisted it would pass the House and Senate this Congress.
Still, Comer refused to rule out impeaching the president. 'Look, we may still impeach Joe Biden, I think we should. But you know, it's getting so late in the game.'
Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan told DailyMail.com they were only working to 'get the facts out there' - and it would be up to leadership to decide on whether or not to hold a vote.
'I think the case is compelling. But whether we move forward with actual articles, that would be a decision for the entire House of Representatives,' he said.
As for what's next: 'I think we're working on putting together all the facts and we're going to get some some point we're going to present that to the entire Congress, and we'll see what see what Congress does.'
After Capitol Hill testimony from Hunter, James and dozens of their former business associates, Republicans put on display how Hunter and James profited off of their last name and introduced Biden to their business partners, and pressured Ukraine to fire a prosecutor who happened to be investigating a company where Hunter Biden sat on the board - Burisma.
The elder Biden said he did so because the prosecutor was corrupt, not because it had anything to do with his son.
But Republicans did not find cut-and-dry proof of Joe Biden peddling influence to line his own pockets.
They said the Biden family took in $20 million in foreign business deals but much of that went to Hunter and James or their business partners.
Comer still holds out hope that his probe will lead to further legal headaches for the Biden family.
He answers in the affirmative when asked if he believes the DOJ would take up the criminal referrals if Donald Trump wins the November election.
