In a contentious move, the Republican-led US House of Representatives is set to vote on a resolution today, formalizing an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Republicans argue that this resolution will grant them greater powers to gather evidence and enforce legal demands.

The inquiry, initiated by ex-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in September, centers around allegations of bribery and corruption during Biden's tenure as vice-president. However, the committees leading the investigation are yet to produce any concrete evidence, and President Biden vehemently denies any wrongdoing.

During a lively debate over the impeachment resolution on Wednesday, Democrats expressed frustration, dismissing the effort as "an extreme political stunt." Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin emphasized that the focus should be on the facts rather than engaging in a "whodunit" scenario.

Leading the debate, Republican Tom Cole stated that Republicans had no choice but to bring the vote, describing it as a "sad day for myself, the institution, and the American people." He accused the White House of "stonewalling" the impeachment inquiry.

Committee chairman James Comer has specifically alleged that Biden's relatives, particularly his son Hunter, sold access to the vice-president and engaged in influence-peddling using the "Biden brand." He further claimed that the president had relationships with his son's business partners. President Biden has consistently maintained that he never discussed business matters with his son or his associates and that Hunter made no money from unethical overseas ventures.

The White House has responded to the impeachment inquiry by pushing back on the claim that it is refusing cooperation and criticizing it as an abuse of power by House Republicans. It highlighted that the focus should be on the American family, rather than solely on the president's family.

Hunter Biden's involvement in various business dealings has long been viewed by Republicans as a potential political liability for his father. If Republicans are able to establish a connection between Hunter's actions and the president, it could potentially damage Joe Biden's standing with American voters.

A formal impeachment investigation, leading to a House vote and a subsequent Senate trial, could present a significant obstacle for President Biden, particularly during an election year.

The resolution to formalize the Republican-led impeachment inquiry is set for a vote today. Meanwhile, Hunter Biden has refused to provide evidence behind closed doors to a panel on Capitol Hill. Standing by his father, he has defied a subpoena and declined to appear for a deposition.

It remains to be seen how this impeachment inquiry will proceed and what impact it may have on President Biden and his administration in the coming months.