In a significant development, US House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that Republicans are closing in on holding a formal vote to initiate an impeachment inquiry into former Vice President Joe Biden. After months of investigating Biden and his son Hunter's business dealings, Republicans are hopeful of uncovering any improprieties that could serve as the basis for impeachment.

The White House has been resisting GOP attempts to obtain information, citing a 2020 opinion from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel. According to the opinion, a full House vote is required before a House committee can compel the production of documents or interviews. Republicans have faced criticism from some of their own party members who have expressed doubts about the sufficiency of evidence to justify an impeachment inquiry.

Johnson, alongside GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, expressed confidence that there are enough votes to authorize an inquiry and believes it to be a "necessary step" in obtaining crucial information from the White House. Both Johnson and Stefanik emphasized their role as the "rule-of-law team" and pledged to conduct the process methodically.

While the Republican investigation has led to several misleading claims, it has yet to yield any substantial evidence. In a September hearing, expert witnesses called by the Republicans expressed doubts over the adequacy of evidence for impeachment.

Hunter Biden, implicated in the business dealings under scrutiny, has offered to testify publicly before the committees investigating the matter. The possibility of Hunter's testimony could add further complexity and potentially shed light on the intricacies of the investigation.

As the debate surrounding the impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden intensifies, Republicans continue their pursuit of evidence to support their claims. The upcoming formal vote and the potential testimony of Hunter Biden are expected to inject new dynamics into the already heated political landscape.