House Oversight Chair Rep. James Comer is vowing the ouster of Kevin McCarthy won’t impact his impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
“We’re gonna continue to read emails, text messages, put together timelines, try to get people to come in,” Comer (R-Ky.) told reporters late Tuesday. “We’re gonna keep working like we’ve been working and continuing to follow the money.”
Asked if he believed the committee could legally continue its work without an elected speaker, Comer replied: “I think we can.”
That’s not to say House Republicans are entirely on the same page. Ways and Means Chair Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said in a statement that McCarthy’s exit “will stall and setback efforts to hold President Biden accountable for his involvement in his family’s business dealings.”
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), the leader of the push for McCarthy’s ouster, hammered the impeachment inquiry in floor remarks ahead of the vote: “It’s hard to make the argument that oversight is the reason to continue when it sort of looks like failure theater.”
