In a recent report from POLITICO, it has been revealed that Speaker Mike Johnson is raising conservative hopes for the impeachment of President Joe Biden. Many conservatives, who had concerns about their drive to impeach Biden going nowhere under Kevin McCarthy, now see a glimmer of hope with Johnson at the helm.

Johnson, a Louisiana conservative and a longstanding member of the committee overseeing impeachment inquiries, has embraced the unproven allegations that Biden used his positions of power to benefit his family's business deals. However, as speaker, Johnson faces a more complex calculation as he must also protect GOP members in battleground districts who fear an impeachment vote could harm their re-election prospects.

Centrist and conservative GOP members are eagerly waiting to see how Johnson will navigate the path of impeachment, with the House majority at risk. Nevertheless, some of the most vocal proponents of impeachment within the Republican Party already view Johnson as a natural ally.

"I think Mike Johnson is more than happy to move forward, and will move forward, and the only question is the timeline," said Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee, a member of the House Freedom Caucus.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who has authored resolutions to remove Biden and has been vocal in pushing for action, expressed her belief that Johnson will be supportive of the impeachment efforts.

The right flank of the GOP highlights two factors that work in Johnson's favor: his conservative credentials and his position on the Judiciary Committee, where he was involved in the front lines of the two impeachments of former President Donald Trump. While Johnson hasn't explicitly expressed his support for impeaching Biden, his recent statements advocating for an impeachment inquiry signal that he believes the threshold for voting on Biden's removal has been met.

However, operating as speaker presents a more intricate challenge compared to being a regular member of Congress. There is a time crunch, with the top priority for Republicans being to fund the government and avoid a potential shutdown by the November 17 deadline. Additionally, there are several other pressing issues such as defense policy legislation, expiring surveillance authority, and the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization.

Furthermore, Johnson must also consider the potential political blowback on battleground members. Given the time constraints, impeachment discussions are likely to stretch into 2024, which could have significant repercussions on the 2022 midterm elections. Some centrist Republicans have warned the speaker against moving forward with impeachment unless there is clear evidence, citing the need to ensure any actions taken by the party are supported by facts and the law.

While some lawmakers support the investigations led by the Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan and Oversight Chair James Comer, they are not yet ready to fully endorse impeachment. The general sentiment is that moving forward with impeachment requires solid evidence or a "smoking gun."

Conservative Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado acknowledges that Johnson cannot halt the impeachment inquiry altogether but hopes that Johnson will approach the process more cautiously compared to McCarthy.

The focus on potentially impeaching Biden is not the only matter on the table. Rep. Greene has raised the question of going after top administration officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland. Johnson has previously expressed support for impeaching Mayorkas.

The GOP has been engaged in a months-long investigation into President Biden, his son Hunter Biden, and other family members in an attempt to substantiate claims of corruption and influence peddling. While Republicans have found evidence of Hunter Biden leveraging his father's name, they have struggled to establish a direct connection between Joe Biden's official actions and the business dealings of his family members.

The impeachment inquiry into Biden was initially launched by McCarthy in mid-September, viewed as a political move to salvage McCarthy's speakership. However, many conservative Republicans regarded it as a futile effort. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida even threatened to trigger an ouster push at the time.

Despite being cautious about boxing in Speaker Johnson at the beginning of his tenure, conservative members now see him as a more reliable partner. They believe that once Johnson takes a position on impeachment, he will stick to it.

Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina, another member of the Judiciary Committee, expressed confidence in Johnson's straightforward approach, remarking that Johnson is honest and believes in the cause.

As the impeachment debate unfolds within the Republican Party, the role of Speaker Johnson will be closely watched, as his decisions will have far-reaching implications for the party's future and the fate of President Joe Biden.