Gov shutdown could impede GOP’s Hunter Biden probe: McCarthy

Avoiding a government shutdown in the fall is critical to keeping the GOP’s Hunter Biden investigations afloat, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) implied Sunday.

“If we shut down, all government shuts down. Investigation and everything else — it hurts the American public. But if we’re able to pass our appropriation bills, we’re in a stronger position to remove those Pelosi policies that are locked into law,” McCarthy said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”

McCarthy’s remarks followed a lengthy discussion about congressional Republicans’ findings on Hunter Biden, with host Maria Bartiromo asking if they will be able to “deepen” their probe into the first family while also “battling Democrats and the White House about funding government” by the September 30 deadline.

Republicans and Democrats — during the debt ceiling frenzy in May — agreed to work toward passing the traditional 12 annual appropriation bills to fund the government, rather than moving for a longterm continuing resolution, or temporary funding measure.

But McCarthy on Sunday contended Congress needs more time to pass the appropriation bills, and pushed for a stopgap measure to avoid a shutdown.

“I don’t believe we’ll have enough time to pass all the appropriation bills by September 30. So I would actually like to have a short term CR,” McCarthy stressed, referring to a continuing resolution.

McCarthy is under intense pressure from his conservative flank, namely the Freedom Caucus, to squeeze out more concessions from Democrats than what was won in the debt ceiling fight.

The Freedom Caucus has publicly opposed calls for a “clean” continuing resolution without strings attached.

President Biden signed the bipartisan debt ceiling compromise bill — Fiscal Responsibility Act — in early June to lift the nation’s borrowing authority and set caps on discretionary spending.

But Congress still needs to fund the government, or else there will be a shutdown during the next fiscal year, which starts in October.

Democrats have assailed attempts by conservative hardliners to wrangle additional concessions after the ones made during the debt limit battle.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) recently commended McCarthy for backing a stoppage measure to buy more time to pass the appropriations bills.

Should Congress have a continuing resolution in place, rather than the 12 appropriations bills, on or after Jan. 1, 2024, there will be an automatic 1% cut for fiscal year 2024, in keeping with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Over recent history, Congress has leaned on continuing resolutions in the form of omnibus bills to keep the government funded, so the return to the 12 appropriation bills was quite significant.

In addition to wading into the government shutdown fight, McCarthy, in the interview Sunday, also touted revelations about the Biden family’s overseas business dealings.

“We did not know of all these times the president lied to the American public,” McCarthy said. “I’ve had Democrats now tell me, they’re very concerned, because they back this president based upon what he told America. And with each turn, we find that was not true.”

McCarthy did not specify which Democrats raised concerns about the president.

He was also evasive about whether or not he plans to bring an impeachment inquiry against Biden when Congress returns from recess in September.

McCarthy has previously indicated that Republicans may bring forward an impeachment inquiry, which is different from initiating impeachment proceedings, but has not yet specified a timeline.

The White House has disputed claims that Biden misled the public and accused Republicans of running down the “conspiracy hole.”