All four Republicans who represent Iowa in the U.S. House voted on December 13 to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The chamber’s 221 to 212 vote fell entirely along party lines.

House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote in a December 12 op-ed that the vote will allow the House Oversight, Judiciary, and Ways and Means committees to “continue investigating the role of the president in promoting the alleged influence-peddling schemes of his family and associates […].” He said the formal inquiry “puts us in the strongest legal position to gather the evidence” as the House seeks to enforce subpoenas.

Critics have noted that while focusing on business activities of the president’s son Hunter Biden, House Republicans have yet to uncover evidence of any criminal activity involving Joe Biden, and are using unsubstantiated or false claims to justify their inquiry. Democrats have charged that Republicans are pursuing impeachment at the behest of former President Donald Trump.

None of Iowa’s House members spoke during the floor debate, but three released public comments following the vote.

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) did not publish any statement about impeachment on her official website or social media feeds. But she posted a video on her political account on the platform X (formerly Twitter), saying in part, “We just voted and I was proud to support our impeachment inquiry into President Biden, which I think is the next necessary step in the methodical process that we have undergone as Republicans.” Staff for Miller-Meeks did not respond to Bleeding Heartland’s message seeking further comment.

Representative Ashley Hinson (IA-02) did not acknowledge the impeachment vote on her official website or social media feeds. Staff did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) published the following statement on X and on his official Facebook page.

Regardless of party, there is no reason to run away from the truth. This investigation will provide facts to the American people so that each person can decide for themselves whether the conduct rises to the level of impeachment.

This investigation is already ongoing, and the White House has refused to comply with requests for information from the House of Representatives. By voting to formally continue this inquiry, I remain impartial on the outcome of the investigation, but we must ensure Congress has the power needed to effectively conduct oversight of the Executive Branch in a way that compels transparency from the White House. My hope is that this investigation will deliver the answers the American people deserve in a clear, nonpartisan, and unbiased way.

Comments released by Representative Randy Feenstra (IA-04) suggested he is already convinced the president is guilty of some wrongdoing, and expects the investigation to uncover proof. Feenstra posted on X,

The American people deserve accountability from their elected officials.

That’s why I voted to advance a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden.

We’re now one step closer to uncovering his connection to his son’s sweetheart deal w/ the IRS & foreign business dealings.

The Des Moines Register published a longer statement, received from Feenstra’s office.

The American people deserve accountability and transparency from their elected officials — and the president is no exception. While Republicans have upheld our constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the executive branch, President Biden has been uncooperative and evasive. That’s why I voted to advance a formal impeachment inquiry into President Biden and his questionable conduct. We are now one step closer to uncovering his connection to his son’s sweetheart deal with the IRS and involvement in his foreign business dealings.”

At this writing, neither of Iowa’s U.S. senators has commented on the vote to open a Biden impeachment inquiry. Speaking to several Iowa reporters about the informal House investigations in late September, Senator Chuck Grassley said,

These three committees are doing oversight of a lot of things about the Biden financial business dealings, and knowing—I can’t say that Joe Biden is guilty of anything, but there’s a lot of questions out there that need to be answered. And Congressional oversight so far has issued some subpoenas or sent letters for information. Not getting answers to those […]

This ought to force the executive branch to give us the documents we need, and then we’ll get those documents and make some determination of whether or not the president ought to be impeached. And quite frankly, I hope it doesn’t lead to impeachment. But I do hope that it clarifies the extent to which the president may have benefited financially from these arrangements.

Feenstra is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and is the only Iowan currently serving on one of the committees that will conduct the impeachment inquiry.

Top image: From left, House Ways and Means Committee chair Jason Smith, Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan, and Oversight Committee chair James Comer at a December 13 press conference following the House vote to open an impeachment inquiry. Screenshot from C-SPAN video.