Rep. Banks says GOP will probe Biden if party secures House

Rep. Jim Banks vowed Sunday that Republicans would probe the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal and scandal-scarred first son Hunter Biden in the event that they win management of the Home — after the GOP suffered a Senate setback Saturday.

“Oversight is a major operate of the Congress. And for the previous few years, there was no oversight of the Biden agenda and the Biden administration,” Banks (R-Ind.) instructed host Shannon Bream on “Fox Information Sunday.”

“In order that must be a focus of each single committee within the Congress, particularly in the home underneath Republican management.”

Whereas the Democrats held onto energy within the Senate with Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Mastos’ win in Nevada, management of the Home remains to be up within the air.  

Banks, a veteran of Afghanistan, stated “nobody has ever been held accountable” for the haphazard elimination of US troops from the war-torn nation final August.

“There’s by no means been an investigation into the pullout of Afghanistan that price the lives of 13 of our heroes,” stated Banks, who’s amongst various Republicans jockeying for Home majority whip in the event that they management the chamber. 

“That implies that the Congress didn’t do their job in offering that kind of oversight. Oversight of the origins of COVID, the lockdowns, the closure of faculties on the end result of that. We’ve by no means had congressional oversight into any of these actions by the Biden administration,” he stated.

However Bream identified the lackluster efficiency of Republicans in final Tuesday’s midterm elections, when expectations had them making large features in Congress.

She requested Banks about Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), in a Wall Road Journal column, warning GOP members of the Home that they threat turning off voters in 2024 in the event that they spend extra time investigating than legislating. 

“I imply, Republicans, various them, have been clear they’re enthusiastic about issues like investigating Hunter Biden, the FBI, COVID, the withdrawal of Afghanistan. The place do you see your agenda going?” she requested the congressman.

“It’s only a truth of the duty of the Congress to supply oversight. I imagine that the American folks, not simply these on the best, they count on Congress to step as much as the plate and supply that kind of accountability. It’s desperately wanted, particularly, once more, if 80% of American persons are saying America is on the improper observe, they count on the Congress to carry the administration accountable for that and their actions,” Banks replied.

“And that’s what we’re going to do. Even in a slim Republican majority, we’ll nonetheless have the gavels of every of the committees and oversight is a major operate​,” he stated. ​

Banks additionally stated he helps Home Republican ​chief Rep. Kevin McCarthy turning into speaker if the GOP finally wins management of the chamber.

McCarthy’s management has come underneath intense criticism in gentle of the Republicans disappointing exhibiting within the elections, and a few members of the influential Home Freedom Caucus ​have been reluctant to get into McCarthy’s nook. 

“Chief McCarthy raised probably the most cash that any chief’s ever raised within the historical past of our occasion earlier than, $500 million. He did his half to place us able to win the bulk, and we’re going to do this – once more a disappointing slim majority,” Banks stated. 

“But when we do what we are saying we’re going to do and if we’re critical and we push the daring agenda that our convention is unified round, I imagine we’ll develop this majority within the 2024 election,” he continued. ​