Centrist House Republicans aren’t upset that Speaker Kevin McCarthy reversed himself on holding a vote to formally launch the GOP’s impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
Some are even relieved.
“I think it is better if he is doing this than making everyone take a vote on this. I am not sure a vote would have passed,” said one centrist Republican, who was granted anonymity to speak freely.
This centrist said that flagging GOP support for an inquiry vote was communicated to McCarthy — underscoring that some Republicans are leery that the party’s investigations have so far not yielded a direct link between the president and his son Hunter’s business dealings.
Another moderate Republican echoed that position, but dismissed the argument that an impeachment inquiry would land negatively with voters back home.
“I’m not [concerned]. The Bidens are a hot mess, and people see that,” said this centrist, who also spoke candidly on condition of anonymity.
Less than two weeks ago, McCarthy told Breitbart that he would hold a vote on launching an impeachment inquiry. On Tuesday after his announcement, a McCarthy spokesman confirmed no plans to hold a vote.
Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) said he assumes that his party’s centrists “are happy they don’t have to vote on” an impeachment inquiry, describing it as a “tough vote.” But he also recalled hearing his constituents push for one “every single day.”
As to McCarthy’s about-face, Armstrong said former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats created a bad precedent by launching an inquiry into then-President Donald Trump without a formal vote.
“Pelosi gave us the playbook. You can look at it as hypocrisy or say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” Armstrong added.
