House Republicans, led by Representative James R. Comer of Kentucky, have taken their impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden to the next level by issuing subpoenas to members of the Biden family. The subpoenas demand that Hunter Biden and James Biden, the president's son and brother, appear for depositions before the House Oversight Committee. The Republicans are investigating allegations of corruption and influence peddling in the Biden family's business dealings, particularly with overseas clients. They claim to have uncovered evidence that paints a troubling picture of the Bidens profiting from their connections. However, they have yet to provide concrete proof to support their claims.

The subpoenas also target Rob Walker, a former business associate of the Bidens. The Republicans are demanding that Walker appear for a deposition as well. In addition, letters were sent to Sara Biden, James Biden's wife; Hallie Biden, the widow of Beau Biden, the president's late son; Elizabeth Secundy, Hallie Biden's sister; Melissa Cohen, Hunter Biden's wife; and Tony Bobulinski, a former associate of Hunter Biden's who has accused the Bidens of wrongdoing. The Republicans are seeking transcribed interviews with these individuals.

The Biden administration and the Biden family's personal lawyers have dismissed the subpoenas and the impeachment inquiry as a politically motivated smear campaign. They argue that the Republicans are using their power in Congress to tarnish the president's reputation and damage his chances of re-election in 2024. White House spokesman Ian Sams criticized the Republicans for pursuing a "wild goose chase" instead of focusing on their legislative responsibilities.

This latest development in the impeachment inquiry comes after Comer previously issued subpoenas for the bank records of James and Hunter Biden, as well as their associates. The Republicans obtained over 14,000 pages of documents through these subpoenas. Among the documents were copies of two checks showing payments from James Biden and his wife, Sara Biden, to President Biden, totaling $240,000. Comer presented one of the checks as new evidence that the Bidens had "laundered China money." However, James Biden's lawyer, Paul J. Fishman, called the allegation "preposterous and highly misleading," explaining that the checks were to reimburse Joe Biden for personal loans made to his brother before he held public office.

The impeachment inquiry has divided Republicans, with some urging for stronger action against Biden and others expressing skepticism about the allegations. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy initially resisted launching the inquiry due to lack of support from mainstream Republicans. However, the new Speaker, Mike Johnson, has taken a more active role in supporting the investigation. Johnson has previously referred to the Bidens as "hopelessly corrupt" and accused them of various abuses of power. He has called for due process and following the law in the impeachment inquiry.

Republicans have been investigating the Biden family since January, alleging a pattern of influence peddling dating back to Joe Biden's time as vice president under Barack Obama. Comer claims that the committee has gathered significant evidence showing how Joe Biden benefited from his family's business dealings and abused his power. However, there has been no concrete evidence to prove that Joe Biden, in his current or previous office, engaged in any wrongdoing or accepted bribes.

The impeachment inquiry is a high-stakes endeavor, as it could potentially lead to Republicans bringing impeachment charges against President Biden. The U.S. Constitution defines "high crimes and misdemeanors" as grounds for impeachment. The Republicans hope that by bringing in members of the Biden family and their associates for questioning, they will be able to gather more evidence to support their case. However, Democrats argue that the inquiry is politically motivated and lacks a solid basis. The battle between the two parties over the impeachment inquiry is likely to intensify in the coming months.