The inquiry

The impeachment inquiry that never impeached

Bank subpoenas, depositions, a $27 million headline and no articles of impeachment

The US Capitol’s west front, photographed in 1997; an architectural view rather than a photograph of the Biden inquiry.
Architect of the Capitol; derivative edit by O.J. · Source & image context ↗

RECORD / AT A GLANCE

Partly true

The inquiry documented that the Bidens made millions trading on the family name and that Joe met some of Hunter’s partners. It did not find a payment to Joe for an official act, and its biggest single tip, the Smirnov bribery claim, turned out to be invented.

THE EVENTS / THE INVESTIGATION / THE STORY

The chronology.

READ THE FILE

Evidence & assessment.

Open an article for its evidence, labeled AI assessment and numbered sources. Read the complete static edition ↗

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS FILE

The claims, rated.

3 claims people make about this file, each rated documented, partly true, disputed, unproven or false. Think a rating is wrong? Use Dispute or Support, or join the Discussion.

PARTLY TRUE The impeachment inquiry

“The inquiry proved Biden sold his office.”

The majority said he “participated in a conspiracy to monetize his office.” It showed money and access, not a paid official act.

Who says it: House Republicans.

The evidence in this file ↗ · On the full claims board ↗

All 126 rated claims ↗

OPEN THE RECORD

Sources & limits.

Numbered citations in each article identify the relevant sources. These records have different purposes and evidentiary weight.

  1. House Republican impeachment inquiry report, August 19, 2024 ↗

    Original majority investigators’ argument; conclusions about a conspiracy are attributed, not adopted as judicial findings.

  2. House Oversight Democratic counter-memorandum, August 19, 2024 ↗

    Original minority argument and transcript citations. Its “exonerates” headline is a partisan conclusion, not an acquittal after a trial.

  3. Devon Archer interview, July 31, 2023 ↗

    Primary transcript, especially pages 24–36, 101–108 and 124–126. Archer describes his recollections and understanding; distinguish what he heard directly from what he inferred.

  4. Axios: Republican impeachment report, August 19, 2024 ↗

    Independent contemporaneous account of the report and its evidentiary limits; read with both original party reports.

  5. House Ways and Means, Oversight and Judiciary chairmen, 5 June 2024: criminal referrals of Hunter and James Biden ↗

    Alleges false statements to Congress by both men.

  6. United States v. Alexander Smirnov: indictment, February 2024 ↗

    Original indictment sets out alleged fabrication and chronology; an indictment alone is an accusation. Later plea, sentence and appellate disposition are separately identified.

  7. AP: House authorizes Biden impeachment inquiry, December 13, 2023 ↗

    Contemporaneous wire report; authorization of an inquiry is not the passage of articles of impeachment.

  8. Hunter Biden deposition, February 28, 2024 ↗

    Primary congressional transcript; Hunter’s explanations and denials are attributed testimony, not independent findings. Relevant pages include 21–34, 81–84, 104–106, 116–118 and 145–146. Questions can contain contested premises.

← The Biden Family hub: the story, the full timeline and every file

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