Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

House Republicans launched a formal impeachment hearing Thursday against President Joe Biden, promising to “provide accountability” as they probe the family finances and lucrative business dealings of his son Hunter and make their case to the public, colleagues and a skeptical Senate.

The chairmen of the Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means committees used the opening hearing to review the constitutional and legal questions involved with impeachment. They are trying to show what they say are links to Biden's son Hunter’s overseas businesses, though key witnesses said they do not yet see hard evidence of impeachable offenses.

Rep. James Comer, R-Ky, the Oversight chairman, said the lawmakers have “a mountain of evidence” that will show that the elder Biden “abused his public office for his family's financial gain.”

Hours after the hearing wrapped, Comer issued subpoenas for additional banking records from the personal and business accounts of Hunter Biden and the president's brother, James Biden. He said the panel will continue to “follow the money and the evidence to provide accountability.”

It’s a high-stakes opening act for Republicans, taking place just before a potential federal government shutdown, as they begin a process that can lead to the ultimate penalty for a president, dismissal from office for what the Constitution describes as “high crimes and misdemeanors.”

The White House pushed back with statements throughout the hearing saying nothing can distract from the Republicans’ inability to govern as the shutdown loomed. Spokesperson Sharon Yang called the hearing a “baseless stunt” and said, “President Biden will always stay focused on the priorities of the American people — not these political games.”

The more than six-hour hearing came as House Republicans face scattered resistance to an impeachment inquiry from their own ranks and deep reluctance in the Senate from Republicans who worry about political ramifications and say Biden’s conviction and removal from office are unlikely.

As the hearing began, Democrats displayed a screen showing the days, hours and minutes left until the government shuts down as Congress struggles to fund the government before Saturday’s deadline.

“We’re 62 hours away from shutting down the government of the United States of America and Republicans are launching an impeachment drive, based on a long debunked and discredited lie,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel.

Raskin questioned the legitimacy of the hearing since the House has not voted to formally launch the impeachment inquiry. He said Republicans are rehashing five-year-old allegations raised by Donald Trump, who is Biden’s chief rival in 2024, during the former president's 2019 impeachment over Ukraine.

“They don’t have a shred of evidence against President Biden for an impeachable offense,” he said.

The hearing Thursday did not feature witnesses with information about the Bidens or Hunter Biden's business. Instead, the panel heard from outside experts in tax law, criminal investigations and constitutional legal theory.

A top Republican-called witness, Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor who is an expert in impeachment issues, said he believed the House had passed the threshold for an inquiry but the current evidence was not enough for charges.

“I do not believe that the current evidence would support articles of impeachment,” Turley said.

Democrats, who decry the investigation as a political ploy aimed at hurting Biden and helping Trump as he runs again for president, brought in Michael Gerhardt, a law professor who has also appeared as an expert in previous impeachment proceedings.

In detailing the reasons Republicans say they have to impeach Biden, Gerhardt concluded: “If that’s what exists, as a basis for this inquiry, it is not sufficient. I say that with all respect.”

Still, questions remain as Republicans dig into the Biden family finances and the overseas business dealings of Hunter Biden, who has acknowledged being a drug user during much of the time under scrutiny. The president's brother, James, was also involved in some work with Hunter.

Republicans have been investigating Hunter Biden for years, since his father was vice president. And while there have been questions raised about the ethics around the family’s international business, none of the evidence so far has proven that the president, in his current or previous office, abused his role, accepted bribes or both.

One former business partner of Hunter Biden has told House investigators the son was selling the “illusion of access” to his father.

Turley told the lawmakers the question remains, “Was the president involved?”

In the run-up to the hearing, Republicans unveiled a tranche of new documents and bank records that detail wire transfers from a Chinese businessman to Hunter Biden in 2019. Hunter Biden had listed his father’s address on the wire transfer form, which Republicans say provided a clear link to the president.

Abbe Lowell, an attorney for Hunter Biden, said the address on the wire transfer, which he says was a loan, was listed to the president's Delaware home because it was the address on Hunter Biden's driver's license and "his only permanent address at the time.”

“Once again Rep. Comer peddles lies to support a premise — some wrongdoing by Hunter Biden or his family — that evaporates in thin air the moment facts come out,” Lowell said in a statement.

House Republicans are also looking into the Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden's taxes and gun use that began in 2018. Two IRS whistleblowers came forward to Congress in the spring with claims that department officials thwarted their efforts to fully investigate Hunter Biden and that they faced retaliation when they pushed back.

The claims have since been disputed by the Department of Justice, the IRS and FBI agents who worked on the case.

“The Biden Justice Department protected the Biden family brand.” said Rep. Jason Smith, a Missouri Republican and Ways and Means chairman.

What Smith did not mention was that the discussions occurred during the Trump Justice Department and were likely in keeping with the agency’s practice of avoiding overt investigative steps concerning political candidates in the immediate run-up to an election.

But Republicans have pointed to a failed plea deal over the summer as proof that Hunter Biden received preferential treatment because of who his father was.

“They tried to put together this sweetheart deal,” said Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, the Judiciary chairman.

The impeachment inquiry hearing is taking place as the federal government is days away from what is likely to be a damaging government shutdown that would halt paychecks for millions of federal workers and the military and disrupt services for millions of Americans.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy announced the impeachment inquiry this month, egged on by Trump and with mounting pressure from his right flank to take action against Biden or risk being ousted from his leadership job.

Trump is the only president to be twice impeached, first over accusations he pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden and later over accusations that he incited the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. He was acquitted in both cases by the Senate.

The hearing Thursday is expected to be the first of many as House Republicans explore whether or not they will pursue articles of impeachment against the president.

It's unclear if McCarthy has support from his slim Republican majority to impeach Biden. If Biden was impeached, the charges would then be sent to the Senate for a trial.

- by Farnoush Amiri, Lisa Mascaro and Eric Tucker, AP

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It’s do-or-die time for the All Blacks, if they want to keep their Rugby World Cup hopes alive.

Despite bringing out a largely full-strength team, a loss to Italy would all but spell an end to their campaign.

Breakers captain Tom Abercrombie is set to make his 400th appearance for the Breakers.

Last year’s NBL runners-up are set to get their campaign underway this weekend, with the 36-year-old Abercrombie leading them out against the Cairns Taipans on Saturday.

Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.

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An Australian netball commentator reckons we need to change the rules and let New Zealand netballers play in teams across the ditch if they want to.

The hope is to try and help the Silver Ferns keep up with international-level netball, considering how the national team is doing - losing the first match of their Taini Jamison series to England’s development team.

Netball commentator Sue Gaudion joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.

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A British Airways pilot was sacked from his job after allegedly snorting cocaine before he was due to fly a plane back to London.

An air hostess raised the alarm after the pilot, Mike Beaton, texted her to brag about his night of partying.

UK correspondent says the air hostess clearly felt the need to alert authorities about possible risks to the passengers.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Luxon and Hipkins went head to head in their second leaders debate last night - who do you think won? Do you think debates convince any voters or are they for entertainment only?

Winston Peters is gaining momentum in the polls- will National need to rely on the extra boost from NZ First?

Protesters flooded Parliament grounds today to protest a bunch of Brian Tamaki affiliated issues. Police were geared up for a big event and closed loads of roads around the place and workers were told to stay home. The protest was a peaceful event - so did the police overreact?

E-scooters are here to stay after Waka Kotahi gave them the green light for 5 more years- is this a good idea?

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The Wellington protest has wrapped up peacefully.

Around 2000 people marched from Civic Square to Parliament today as part of Brian Tamaki's Freedom and Rights Coalition demonstration.

Police say 100 officers were on duty, with no reported issues.

Roads around Parliament had been shut off due to the protest, with office workers warned to work from home today.

Tamaki says the police and media overreacted.

"I always said that it was going to be peaceful and respectful to these people in Wellington's central business district- and it was."

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ASB's latest rural report warns New Zealand's farming community is set to keep having their resilience tested.

The report says farmers are in for another challenging 12-18 months, as commodity prices drop and China's economic downturn carries risks for several Kiwi rural sectors.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says New Zealand's dairy, lamb and forestry sectors have already taken a hit from China's economic decline.

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The uptick in strikes across the world has generated awareness about the impact of organised labour.

This week has been a big one for unions, after the Writers Guild of America reached a deal with entertainment studios to bring an end to the Hollywood writers' strike.

Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains why more workers are coming together to address concerns- and what that means for investors.

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Westpac has hiked their mortgage rates up again, joining Kiwibank and BNZ.

From tomorrow, Westpac is lifting its standard rates for its two-year and four-year mortgages to 7.59 percent and 7.19 per cent respectively, up 10 basis points.

The 18-month and five-year standard home loan rates have been bumped up 14bp to 7.69 percent and 6.99 percent respectively.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says the local markets are predicting future hikes to the OCR following last week's GDP result.

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A parliamentary committee is investigating the Australian Government's decision to block extra Qatar Airways flights.

The committee aims to compel Transport Minister Catherine King to give evidence, and chair Bridget McKenzie has threatened jail time if former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce doesn't appear.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it has emerged that Qantas lobbied hard to stop Qatar Airways from increasing their flights.

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