Schiff says McCarthy making impeachment risk to guard his speakership

Rep. Adam Schiff accused House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Sunday of threatening to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden merely to fulfill the “craziest” House Republicans.

“But what concerns me is, I think McCarthy may open an impeachment inquiry because he thinks it will lead off the steam with the craziest in this conference,” the California Democrat, who earlier this yr was stripped from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee over previous feedback about Russian election interference, mentioned on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki.”

“But by doing it he is going to set a train in motion that he may not be able to stop. And, of course, McCarthy isn’t thinking ahead. He’s thinking how I keep my speakership for another day, maybe another week,” Mr. Schiff says.

The GOP Conference’s most conservative members, together with these within the House Freedom Caucus, have lobbied Mr. McCarthy to open an impeachment inquiry over alleged international affect peddling by way of enterprise offers with Mr. Biden’s son, Hunter, when he was vice chairman.

Republicans have additionally mentioned doubtlessly impeaching Biden officers, most frequently Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Democrats, and even some Republicans, have chastised Mr. McCarthy for leaning into the impeachment speak, calling such an inquiry unwarranted.

Mr. Schiff served as an impeachment supervisor in former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment trial.