Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas says Republicans would likely consider impeaching President Joe Biden, even if done for purely political purposes, should the party reclaim the House in the next election cycle.
The senator said there were “multiple grounds” upon which an impeachment process could be started but predicted the move would be motivated by Republican desires to enact revenge for what they saw as politicized impeachments of then-President Donald Trump.
“The Democrats weaponized impeachment,” Cruz said on the most recent edition of his podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz. “They used it for partisan purposes to go after Trump because they disagreed with him. One of the real disadvantages of doing that is the more you weaponize it and turn it into a partisan cudgel, you know what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”
Cruz does not support the move – in fact, he stated he would prefer to return to a system under which impeachments were exceedingly rare – but predicted Republicans would face intense pressure from their constituencies.
“If we take the House, which I said is overwhelmingly likely, then I think we will see serious investigations of the Biden administration,” he said. He later added, “I said at the time, when we have a Democratic president and a Republican House, you can expect an impeachment proceeding, that is not how impeachment is meant to work. But I think the Democrats crossed that line.”
There is merit to Cruz’s prediction. More outspoken Republicans have called for impeachment since before Biden even took office.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) attempted to have Biden impeached on his first day in office, alleging misdeeds in Ukraine. In August, she introduced doomed articles of impeachment surrounding the president’s handling of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Such actions would have a better chance of success with a Republican majority.
While Cruz indicated he could see numerous areas in which Biden would be vulnerable to impeachment proceedings, he said the strongest case against Biden might be made in the area of immigration, where Cruz said President Biden has flouted federal law.
“Probably the most compelling is the utter lawlessness of President Biden’s refusal to enforce the border,” Cruz said. “His decision to just defy federal immigration laws and allow 2 million people to come here unimpeded in direct contravention of his obligation under Article Two of the Constitution to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.”
Cruz did not offer specifics on other areas in which the president could be impeached.
“(Immigration) is probably the strongest grounds right now for impeachment but there may be others,” he said. “Because the Democrats decided this is just another tool in the partisan war chest, I think there is a real risk that this turnabout will be fair play.”
As of this writing, the White House has not responded to Cruz’ prediction.