Speaker Mike Johnson says he 'hasn't had time to do a deep dive in the evidence' when asked about possible Joe Biden impeachment vote as Republican push stalls after six months

Six months into the Joe Biden impeachment inquiry, Speaker Mike Johnson said he has not had time to 'do a deep dive into the evidence' to determine if Republicans should vote to formally impeach the president. 

Johnson told reporters during a news conference at the annual House GOP retreat at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia that he has been too 'busy' to dive into the evidence.

'To be very frank with you, very honest and transparent, because I've been so busy with all my other responsibilities, I have not been able to take the time to do the deep dive in the evidence,' he disclosed. 

'Yet what has been uncovered has been alarming,' the speaker added. 

With only a two-seat majority, House Republicans would need near-unanimous support to vote to impeach the president.

'To be very frank with you, very honest and transparent, because I've been so busy with all my other responsibilities, I have not been able to take the time to do the deep dive in the evidence,' Johnson disclosed

But without impeaching the president Republicans would fall short on one of their biggest priorities this Congress right in the middle of election season

Johnson told reporters during a news conference at the annual House GOP retreat at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia that he has been too 'busy' to dive into the evidence

But without impeaching the president Republicans would fall short on one of their biggest priorities this Congress right in the middle of election season. 

They already voted to impeach Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas by just one vote, but that was before ousted New York Rep. George Santos' seat was filled by a Democrat, Rep. Tom Suozzi. 

Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., recently gave himself an exit strategy: criminal referrals, recommending prosecution to the Justice Department. 

This week Republicans hauled in ex-special counsel Robert Hur to testify and he revealed Biden had 'willfully retained' classified documents but he did not believe a jury would find the evidence to convict the president, a 'well-meaning','elderly' and 'forgetful' man. 

GOP impeachment investigators have garnered testimony to suggest Hunter was sought after for his last name and Joe was seemingly more aware of his business deals than he'd let on, but so far Democrats boast - and even some Republicans have started to admit - there's been no 'smoking gun' to prove evidence of a crime.  

It comes just as Hunter Biden shot down GOP attempts to bring him back to Capitol Hill for a public hearing after giving closed-door testimony. 

Last week, House Republicans invited Hunter and several of his ex-business partners to testify at the same impeachment hearing setting up a public spectacle.

Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., sent out invites to Hunter's ex-associates Devon Archer, Tony Bobulinski and Jason Galanis - who is currently incarcerated in Alabama. They have all essentially turned on Hunter and it's unlikely they'd appear together. 

Abbe Lowell, Hunter's attorney, wrote to Chairman James Comer Wednesday, saying the invitation is 'not a serious oversight proceeding.' 

'It is your attempt to resuscitate your Conference's moribund inquiry with a made-for-right-wing-media, circus act,' he added.

Hunter also has a court hearing in California the next day, but the scheduling conflict is the 'least of the issues,' says Lowell.   

Hunter and Bobulinski have beef after his ex-partner came forward with allegations that Joe was involved in their deal with Chinese company CEFC in 2017.

He also admitted putting his father Joe on speakerphone and inviting him to lunches many times over the years with business associates and 'friends,' but insisted he was not involved in his shady dealings with the Chinese, Ukrainians and others. 

'I'm surprised my dad hasn't called me right now, and if he did, I would put him on speakerphone to say hi to you and to Congressman Raskin and everybody else in the room. It is nothing nefarious literally,' Hunter said. 

Meanwhile, Bobulinski unequivocally claimed Hunter profited off his last name and Joe was involved. 

In 2020, Bobulinski publicized a May 2017 email detailing a proposed equity split for a Chinese investment - the 10 percent for the 'big guy' note - and first claimed the 'big guy' was Joe. 

He also told impeachment investigators that 'it is also not a coincidence' that CEFC used the Biden family's 'weakest link' Hunter to funnel in tens of millions of dollars. 

But Hunter disputed last week that his father is the 'big guy' referenced and slammed Bobulinski for spewing lies about his family.

'It did not involve my dad,' he stated. 

'I think that it was pie in the sky. Like 'Joe Biden's out of the office. Maybe we'll be able to get him involved,' Hunter testified.

Republicans already voted to impeach Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas by just one vote, but that was before ousted New York Rep. George Santos ' seat was filled by a Democrat , Rep. Tom Suozzi

Last week, House Republicans invited Hunter and several of his ex-business partners to testify at the same impeachment hearing setting up a public spectacle

'I want to be crystal clear: from my direct personal experience and what I have subsequently come to learn, it is clear to me that Joe Biden was 'the Brand' being sold by the Biden family,' Bobulinski said in opening remarks.

He continued to say Joe was 'more than a participant' in his family's business, but rather 'an enabler, despite being buffered by a complex scheme to maintain plausible deniability.'

'The Biden family business was Joe Biden, period,' he said. In addition, he detailed how Chinese energy company CEFC 'successfully sought to infiltrate and compromise' the Obama-Biden White House.

Bobulinski also previously suggested that he testify publicly before Congress along with Hunter, Jim Biden and Joe Biden.  

Galanis, who is currently in Alabama prison, told Republican impeachment investigators that the 'Biden lift' was why he did business with the first son, claiming it helped close deals they believed would make them billions. 

The ''Biden lift' that we talked about was access. Access meant to us at the time, being in the business of acquiring other businesses, to persuade third-parties to do business with us,' Galanis explained in transcripts made public on Monday.