U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood says there's evidence to support a Biden impeachment inquiry

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Ill., joined House Republicans in authorizing an impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday that fell along party lines.

The Peoria-area congressman, who represents the 16th District, said in a statement that he believed it was time for the House to take the "next steps" in the impeachment investigation of Biden.

He claimed that he and other members of the House Ways and Means Committee had found "significant wrongdoing" and "preferential treatment" by the Department of Justice and Internal Revenue Service in their handlings of the Biden family.

LaHood also says there are records that indicate the Biden family received laundered foreign money in what he called a "influence peddling scheme."

"The American people deserve to know the truth and formalizing the impeachment inquiry will help the committees of jurisdiction compel additional evidence and documents and put Congress in the best position to hold the Biden Administration accountable," LaHood said.

LaHood did not vote to impeach Donald Trump during either of his impeachment inquiries. Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives twice but was not convicted by the Senate either time.

At the time of Trump's second impeachment, LaHood defended his decision to not vote for impeachment by saying it would only "inflame and further divide our country."

"We should be using this time to bring our nation together, heal the partisan divisions, and move forward with a peaceful transfer of power," LaHood said in January 2021

LaHood also argued in 2021 that Congress had not received a full briefing on the events that occurred during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots in which a pro-Trump mass of people stormed the Capitol in an effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election and therefore could not support voting for an impeachment.

More: WTVP: Lesley Matuszak, other ex-employee appear to have approved 'improper' spending

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: LaHood alleges 'influence peddling' in Biden impeachment inquiry