WASHINGTON: Republicans leading an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden detailed foreign payments to members of his family in their first hearing on Thursday , but did not provide evidence that the Democratic president had personally benefited.
Democrats and several independent witnesses said there was no proof that Biden had received any of those payments, or otherwise engaged in improper behavior while he served as vice president between 2009 and 2017. The White House has denied wrongdoing and dismissed the probe as politically motivated.
Trump, who was impeached twice during his four years in office, and some of his hardline Republican allies have for months called for a Biden impeachment. Another law professor, Michael Gerhardt of the University of North Carolina, said he had not heard credible evidence to justify the probe and warned the panel that it was being driven by partisan concerns.
At the centre of the investigation are allegations that Biden, as vice president, pressured Ukraine to fire a top prosecutor to shield Burisma, a company for which Hunter Biden was on the board of directors. House Republicans have said they plan to seek personal and business bank records for Hunter Biden and James Biden, the president's brother.