Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-9) today castigated the announcement by the House Speaker directing House Republicans to open an impeachment inquiry based on no evidence against President Joe Biden.

“Today the United States is hurtling toward a total government shutdown and a farcical impeachment process because the Speaker does not have the spine or guts to do his job,” said Pascrell. “Under our Constitution, impeachment is a sacred process, reserved for the most serious cases. Republicans have turned it into one more crude political shiv. There is no evidence – zero – that would merit proceeding with impeachment. But, once again, we see that Republican degradation of our institutions is without limit.

“Nearly every House Republican voted to keep Donald Trump in office after he sought to attack Congress itself and violently overthrow American democracy,” added the Paterson-based congressman. “Now they want to impeach Joe Biden on nothing but cold vengeance. This is all happening because the House Republican leader will not to stand up to his extremist colleagues on any issue, imperiling the very foundations of America to keep a title. House Republicans are unfit to govern America and do not give a damn about the American people.”

From CNN, by way of context:

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced Tuesday he is calling on his committees to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, even as they have yet to prove allegations he directly profited off his son’s foreign business deals.

The move comes amid increasing pressure from his right flank to move ahead with the inquiry, including some on his far right who have threatened to oust McCarthy from his speakership if he does not move swiftly enough on such an investigation. McCarthy is also trying to secure votes as part of negotiations to keep the government funded beyond the September 30 deadline to avert a shutdown.

“These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption,” the California Republican said in remarks outside his office on Capitol Hill. “They warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives. That’s why today I am directing our House (committees) to open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.”