Alaska Sen. Sullivan believes Biden impeachment probe is a ‘legitimate line of inquiry’

WASHINGTON — Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan is backing an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden ordered by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, according to a statement from his office.

House Republicans have been investigating the overseas business dealings of the president’s son, Hunter Biden, but have not produced evidence directly linking the president to financial wrongdoing. McCarthy said in a statement Tuesday that they have “uncovered serious and credible allegations into President Biden’s conduct.”

“Senator Sullivan believes it is a legitimate line of inquiry to address the two issues Speaker McCarthy raised: Where did the $20 million directed to Biden family members through various shell companies end up? Has the administration obstructed investigations into Biden family business dealings as alleged by IRS whistleblowers?” Sullivan spokesperson Ben Dietderich said in an emailed statement citing the specifics of the House GOP’s investigation.

Dietderich said Alaskans have called Sullivan’s office “wanting answers to these questions.”

“As the Senator has said many times before, the worst thing for our country is for Americans to believe that the Justice Department is providing two tiers of justice to Americans,” he said.

[Speaker McCarthy directs the House to open an impeachment inquiry into President Biden]

Sullivan condemned a federal criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump using similar language.

The White House dismissed the inquiry, saying that House Republicans after a nine-month investigation have “turned up no evidence of wrongdoing,” according to the Associated Press.

Alaska Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s office did not respond to a request for comment, but the senator told Reuters, “The bar for impeachment seems to get lower and lower every year.”

Other Senate Republicans, such as moderate Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, have expressed support for the inquiry, though Romney has been more cautious about impeachment itself.

Impeachment has a long way to go before reaching the Senate. The House would have to first vote to impeach Biden before the articles of impeachment advance to the upper chamber for a potential trial. In that situation, senators would act as jurors, and a conviction on an article of impeachment would require approval by a two-thirds majority.

Alaska Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola’s office did not have a comment on the House impeachment inquiry. Peltola has endorsed Biden for president in 2024.