In response to growing discussions of a possible Republican impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden’s alleged involvement in influence peddling, the White House has assembled a team of legal experts, legislative aides, and communication staff, as reported by NBC News.
Talks of the House initiating an impeachment inquiry have gained traction, particularly after various committee investigations uncovered potential misconduct by then-Vice President Biden related to his son Hunter Biden’s foreign business dealings.
The White House’s war room, comprising as many as two dozen lawyers, has been in the works for several months within the White House counsel’s office, according to NBC News.
The President’s aides and allies are gearing up for a robust response, characterizing any potential impeachment inquiry as a partisan sham without concrete evidence. “Comparing this to past impeachments isn’t apples to apples or even apples to oranges; it’s apples to elephants,” remarked a White House aide. “Never in modern history has an impeachment been based on no evidence whatsoever.”
Throughout the August recess, White House aides have diligently studied Republican statements and honed their messaging strategy while also forming a response team, a source informed NBC News.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California indicated on Sunday that the likelihood of an impeachment inquiry into Biden was increasing, describing it as “a natural step forward” as Congress concludes its summer recess, and House Republicans aim to expand their investigative authority.
In an attempt to make Republicans pay a political price for their actions, Biden’s team has examined the 1998 impeachment of President Bill Clinton to gain insights into mounting an effective defense.
The White House’s war room includes individuals like defense attorney Richard Sauber and Russ Anello, the former staff director of the House Oversight Committee. Additionally, communications expert and presidential campaign veteran Ian Sams and Sharon Yang, the former communications director for the pro-Biden group Building Back Together, will serve as the team’s public face.
Incoming White House counsel Ed Siskel, previously associated with the Obama-era White House counsel’s office, is set to join the team.
Beyond countering Republican actions, the war room aims to enable other administration officials to focus on governance without becoming mired in the details of ongoing investigations, as per a White House aide’s statement to NBC News.
