Matt Gaetz Trashes Biden Impeachment Inquiry, Calls It ‘Failure Theater’ in Speech Assailing McCarthy

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) mocked Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-OH) assertion that House Republicans have accomplished much in the way of oversight this year, characterizing their efforts as “failure theater” in a speech shortly before the House vote on whether to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

Jordan, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, defended McCarthy on the grounds that the GOP had engaged in robust oversight of the executive branch under his leadership.

“Because of our oversight, we know that parents were targeted by the Department of Justice. Because of our oversight, we know that 51 former intel officials misled the country weeks before the most important election we have. And because of our oversight, the Disinformation Governance Board at the Department of Homeland Security is gone,” declared Jordan. “Because of our oversight, the memo attacking pro-life Catholics has been rescinded. Because of our oversight, unannounced visits to Americans’ home by the Internal Revenue Service has stopped. That happened under Speaker McCarthy.”

But Gaetz was having none of that, prompting him to even take a jab at the impeachment inquiry McCarthy opened up into President Joe Biden last month.

“It is difficult,” argued Gaetz, “to champion oversight when House Republicans haven’t even sent a subpoena to Hunter Biden. So it’s hard to make the argument that oversight is the reason to continue when it sort of looks like failure theater.”

The inquiry is centered around discovering the extent to which President Biden was aware of and potentially benefitted from Hunter Biden’s international business dealings, which critics have characterized as being based around influence-peddling.

McCarthy has argued that the House GOP’s previous investigations into the Bidens painted “a picture of a culture of corruption.”

“These are allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption, and they warrant further investigation by the House of Representatives,” he said at the time.

Gaetz called the inquiry a “baby step following weeks of pressure from House conservatives” after McCarthy announced its commencement.