In a surprising turn of events, President Joe Biden has called on House Republicans to drop their impeachment inquiry following the Justice Department's criminal charges against Alexander Smirnov, a paid FBI informant. The charges allege that Smirnov lied about the Biden family accepting $10 million in bribes from a Ukrainian oligarch.

President Biden, 81, responded to the indictment against Smirnov with a confident smile, asserting that the charges were false and calling for the inquiry to be immediately dismissed. Despite testimonies, documents, and photos linking the President to his family's foreign business relationships during his vice presidency, Biden maintained his innocence, labeling the impeachment effort as "outrageous."

One particular focus of the impeachment inquiry is Hunter Biden's involvement with Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian energy company that paid him a salary of up to $1 million per year to serve on its board. This arrangement began when then-Vice President Joe Biden assumed control of US policy toward Ukraine in 2014, following an anti-Russian uprising.

Investigations have revealed evidence indicating frequent interactions between Joe Biden and his son Hunter's foreign associates from various ventures. These interactions allegedly resulted in significant financial gains for the Biden family during and immediately after Joe Biden's vice presidency. The President, however, has repeatedly claimed that he never discussed business with Hunter or his brother James Biden, denying any involvement with their foreign business associates.

In December, Joe Biden further distanced himself from the allegations, stating that he did not interact with any of their foreign business associates. However, testimony from witnesses connected to Biden family ventures, including former associates Devon Archer, Rob Walker, and Tony Bobulinski, contradicts these claims. Walker, in a deposition to House investigators, revealed that Joe Biden joined a meeting with CEFC China Energy chairman Ye Jianming shortly after leaving office. This meeting allegedly occurred before the Biden family received a substantial transfer of funds from the Chinese state-linked firm in 2017, as compensation for earlier work.

Bobulinski's recent testimony supports claims of Joe Biden's involvement, as he stated that he had spoken to the President twice that same month about the business deal. Additionally, leaked emails and text messages suggest that Biden was actively involved in his son's foreign business dealings.

The impeachment inquiry has also investigated allegations of a possible cover-up by the Justice Department to protect Joe and Hunter Biden in a criminal investigation involving tax fraud and potential foreign lobbying offenses. These claims originated from two IRS agents who had worked on the case.

As the inquiry continues to unfold, House Republicans will need to consider President Biden's calls for its dismissal in light of the recent indictment against Alexander Smirnov. The President's staunch denial of any wrongdoing, along with the evidence unearthed by investigators, sets the stage for a contentious debate over the future of the impeachment inquiry. Only time will tell how this situation develops and whether it will impact the Biden administration's ability to govern and carry out its agenda.