Although Republicans wouldn't have the ability to impeach Biden while they are still in the House minority, and any GOP instigated impeachment case would fail if the Senate changed hands in midterms, constituent pressure could convince more reluctant members to support an increase in the partys messaging against Biden. McCarthy, who supported former President Donald Trump's call for withdrawal troops from Afghanistan, has already promised a day to reckoning, including hearings and investigations into Bidens handling the U.S. pullout.
McCarthy will need to have a near-unified conservative support if the House flips next year in order for him to hold the microphone. Not surprisingly, even though the California Republican is trying to keep his eyes on the safe evacuation of Americans from Afghanistan, the majority of the pro-impeachment energy comes from his right flank.
Multiple sources who were present at the meeting said that members of the House Freedom Caucus debated whether they would endorse calling for Biden's impeachment. One source claimed that some were not prepared to commit to impeaching Biden. According to another Freedom Caucus member present at the meeting, almost all members agreed that it was not possible at this time. He spoke candidly about it under anonymity.
According to a GOP lawmaker, Freedom Caucus members had been preparing to call for resignations or impeachment last Wednesday, but they were also realistic about the Democratic line-up of succession. Privately, some Republicans claim that they have brought up the ascension to Vice President Kamala Harir to their constituents in order not be behind impeachment.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris addresses a press conference in Hanoi, Vietnam before she departs Vietnam for the United States. This was her first official trip to Asia. It took place on August 26, 2021. Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP
The group plans a Tuesday press conference to ask Speaker Nancy Pelosi for Congress to return to session early to vote on a GOP resolution supporting impeachment of Secretary of States Antony Blinken. Also, GOP resolutions calling to resign General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
McCarthy had already called for Pelosi's return to session before Tuesday's U.S. withdrawal. He wrote to GOP members on Sunday that Republicans would attempt to force action from the House by filing a discharge petition. This bill would allow the House to highlight problems with the U.S. withdraw.
Officials from the United States said Monday night that scores of Americans were still in Afghanistan despite the Taliban taking full control.
Alabama Rep. Mike Rogers is the top Republican on House Armed Services Committee. He stated Monday that the party has 50 NDAA Amendments on Afghanistan. These amendments are aimed at equipment that might have been left behind, and the closing of Bagram Airbase before the withdrawal.
Alex Brandon/AP Photo
For some, this may not be enough.
McCarthy's conference reflected a school belief that Democrats opened the doors to politically motivated impeachment attempts by going after Trump. This strengthened the case for appeasing a conservative base seeking the same against Biden.
Other GOP lawmakers are keen to recall their condemnation of Democrats who impeached Trump twice, the first for his contacts with Ukraine on a party line vote and the second for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol Attack, which was joined by 10 House Republicans.
A senior House Republican spoke candidly under anonymity to say that he would support impeachment if the situation in Afghanistan worsens, as many members of the party have warned. McCarthy's party is at risk of being openly hypocritical if it rushes to this endgame, this Republican stated.
Some will do it for the show, to prove to their base that they are doing something. The great tragedy is that this is exactly what happened when Democrats used impeachment to their advantage last time," the senior GOP lawmaker said. If we don't get the majority now, the Republican base will demand it. Everyone will be in real trouble."
McCarthy might still be influenced by the growing conservative interest for impeachment. However, McCarthy is getting a reprieve while Freedom Caucus members debate whether to support an impeachment call.
Some conservatives are concerned that attempts to mobilize House Republicans in this way would fail if Marjorie Taylor Greene (R.Ga.), becomes the main face of an impeachment-Biden push. Greene's resolutions calling for Biden to be impeached have been rejected by the GOP conference. Some colleagues are concerned that her controversial reputation will discourage other Freedom Caucus members from joining.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia, speaks at a news conference following a visit to the Holocaust Museum outside the U.S. Capitol. This was on June 14, 2021. | Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Other conservative House members have focused their anger on military and diplomatic officials like Blinken. Others in the GOP warn against making Afghanistan a political football, and instead want to address the dangers on the ground.
Republicans want accountability for this. We don't necessarily want to impeach anyone; we want accountability, stated Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R.Ga.).
Rep. Don Bacon (R. Neb.) said, "It's still too early." His district is less red than some of his coworkers. "Also when I think of impeachment you will see its high crimes, misdemeanors. I see gross incompetence, weakness. We'll have to learn how to get around that.
Republicans are currently focusing their messaging on Afghanistan, with McCarthy encouraging members to schedule in-district meetings with local veterans and to take their criticism to local media.
McCarthy has been holding press conferences to criticize the Biden administration's messy withdrawal. The GOP leader sometimes contradicted himself in messaging. He said Friday to reporters that the U.S. should never negotiate with or recognize Taliban. This despite the fact that he supported negotiations with the militant group through former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
It is also trying to overcome the most significant hurdle in keeping Afghanistan alive during the midterms, the 15-month period between now and next election. The party started its oversight engines prior to it even winning the majority. On a conference call last Wednesday, Reps. Michael McCaul and Devin Nunes (both from Texas) informed colleagues that they had already submitted document preservation requests.
McCaul, the House Foreign Affairs Committee's top Republican, stated that Blinken would be testifying before the committee. "And I want those documents preserved, whether it be Chairman Meeks or myself, or me as chairman with subpoena powers."
