Chuck Edwards: not clear support on Biden impeachment, far-right sheriff whom he praised

A Western North Carolina congressman who sits on the committee that had been investigating President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, did not give full-throated support when asked about an impeachment inquiry, though said there was credible evidence of potentially illegal business dealings by the "Biden family."

Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards also in Sept. 14 statements to the Citizen Times, eased away from earlier praise of the founder of the far-right "Constitutional Sheriffs" group who once proposed using women and children as human shields in a notorious stand-off against federal agents.

Asked whether he supported the impeachment inquiry launched this week by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a move made with no vote and despite no significant evidence against President Joe Biden, Edwards did not answer directly, but said he was "deeply concerned by the credible evidence of improper and potentially illegal activities uncovered regarding the Biden family’s business dealings with foreign entities."

Edwards, who sits on the Oversight Committee also noted allegations the Justice Department was obstructing investigations.

Over the yearslong probe, federal prosecutors have not indicated Joe Biden is connected. And so far, Republicans have unearthed no definitive evidence of wrongdoing by the elder Biden, who spoke often to his son as vice president and did stop by a business dinner with his son’s associates.

Still, right-wing members of the House have pushed for impeachment. About half of Americans, meanwhile, have little or no confidence that the Justice Department is handling its investigation into Hunter Biden in a fair and nonpartisan way, according to polling done before the Sept. 12 inquiry launch.

One in 3 Americans are highly concerned about whether Joe Biden may have committed wrongdoing related to his son’s business dealings, the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll said. But the political divide is stark. Some 66% of Republicans — and just 7% of Democrats ― are very or extremely concerned about whether Joe Biden committed wrongdoing

"I’ve been active in the recent investigations into this troubling situation and fully support all efforts to uphold the Constitution, bring transparency to the American people and hold President Biden accountable for any wrongdoing that is proven," Edwards said.

'Constitutional Sheriffs'

Edwards faced criticism for his praise of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association founder, who held a Sept. 9 training session in Murphy, the far western Cherokee County. An Edwards staffer came to the event and read a letter from the congressman, saying former Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack was "inspirational," according to Blue Ridge Public Radio.

Mack advocates the idea that sheriffs need not enforce laws they believe are unconstitutional. The group he formed has railed against gun control laws, COVID-19 mask mandates and public health restrictions, as well as alleged election fraud.

More: Cherokee police who shot man at home say sheriff, other defendants negligent

In 2014, speaking about his participation in the armed standoff between Cliven Bundy and federal contractors over what the government said was Bundy's illegal grazing on public lands in Nevada, Mack said he thought government opponents should have put women and children in front.

"If they are going to start shooting, it’s going to be women that are going to be televised all across the world getting shot by these rogue federal officers," he said in a Fox News piece.

Katie Dean, chair of the Democratic organization covering Edwards' 11th District, called the association, "a radical, right-wing, fascist national group," saying they had no business in public office.

"We do not welcome their seditionist ideology here in our community," Dean said in a Sept. 12 statement.

Edwards two days later told the Citizen Times he knew Mack “only through his successful Supreme Court case focused on Second Amendment rights," referring to a 1997 split decision that said portions of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act were unconstitutional.

"Anyone who knows me knows I am a staunch defender of the Second Amendment and the rights it grants to law-abiding citizens," the congressman said. "I will defend the Second Amendment with all the zeal that members of the press apply when defending the First Amendment. When anyone attempts to erode the constitutional rights granted under the Second Amendment, I will be an unwavering defender of those rights to the end."

The Associated Press Contributed to this report.

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Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Rep. Edwards: not clear support on Biden impeachment, extreme sheriff