Pushed to the back pages by more pressing news, in particular Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attacks against Israel, allegations of corruption against President Joe Biden and his family have been relegated to the bottom of the news scroll. But it's still very much an issue for American voters, the latest I&I/TIPP Poll shows.
The I&I/TIPP Poll first broached this topic in July, when voters were asked what should be done if charges that Biden's family had taken more than $30 million in payments from overseas governments and corporations proved true. The poll then began tracking responses in August.
As the data show, little has changed since. If anything, views have congealed somewhat, as potentially damaging revelations continue to dribble out from ongoing congressional investigations into the Biden family's finances.
In this month's online national poll, taken Nov. 1-3 from among 1,400 registered voters, 65% agreed that if evidence showed Biden was taking bribes from foreign sources, he should either resign (26%) or be impeached (39%). That includes 49% of Democrats, 84% of Republicans, and 64% of independents.
Apart from impeachment or quitting, three other responses were offered: That Biden would be allowed to finish out his term, but not run again, which was supported by 15% of those responding. Or that Biden should be allowed to finish his term and run again in 2024, which found 10% support. And "not sure," 11% chose.
The poll has a margin of error of +/-2.7 percentage points.
As noted, responses have been consistent throughout. The combined "impeach/resign" option garnered 67% in August, when many of the charges of financial misconduct were still fresh. Since then, the combined response has remained at 65% for September, October and November, a strong statistical consensus.
Biden, of course, has yet to be found guilty of any crime, either in a court of law or through the impeachment process. Though evidence has piled up, it hasn't reached a tipping point as far as impeachment is concerned.
“We’ll just go where the evidence goes and we’re not there yet," Nebraska Republican Rep. Don Bacon told the Washington Post, summarizing newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson's current position on impeachment. Johnson took over the speaker position on Oct. 25, roughly three weeks after moderate California Rep. Kevin McCarthy was ousted
“Most of us are saying, look, we can’t even get a single Democratic vote on this right now. I think the voters will reject what they are seeing when it comes to Biden (policies) — but high crimes and misdemeanors? I don’t think we’ve seen that or enough data to really make a good case and I feel like (Johnson) really agreed with us on that," Bacon said.
Earlier this month, when asked during a press conference about possible articles of impeachment against Biden, Johnson was circumspect: "As we stand here today, I'm not predetermined that, but I do believe that very soon we are coming to a point of decision on it."
A major roadblock to impeachment is that not a single Democrat so far has said publicly that he or she would support such a dramatic move, despite putting former President Donald Trump through two impeachment proceedings.
Recent evidence uncovered by Congress and the media suggest trouble ahead for Biden.
The Senate's ongoing investigation, spearheaded by Iowa GOP Sen. Charles Grassley, found a "highly credible" source who reported that both Joe Biden and son Hunter took $5 million in bribes each from the Ukrainian energy giant Burisma. All told, the Senate probe suggested the amount of the influence-peddling could exceed $30 million to $40 million.
Perhaps worse: The investigation has unearthed evidence of what The Federalist called evidence of "the DOJ, FBI, and now the Biden administration’s cover-up of the scandal and their cover-up of the cover-up."
“I’ve obtained the names of 25 DOJ and FBI personnel to interview at a future date,” Grassley wrote in a letter in October to Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Last week, the House Oversight Committee sent out subpoenas to both Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's brother James and former business associate Rob Walker, along with a handful of other family members, including Sara Biden (James Biden's wife), Hallie Biden (Beau Biden's widow), Elizabeth Secundy (Hallie's sister), Melissa Cohen (Hunter's wife) and Tony Bobulinski (Hunter's former business partner).
Is it a fishing expedition, or does the committee have sufficient evidence and merely want to put people on the record for possible future legal action?
Recently, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer claims a check cashed by Joe Biden in 2017 shows unmistakably that he took "$40,000 in laundered China money" from brother James.
"Remember when Joe Biden told the American people that his son didn’t make money in China? Well, not only did he lie about his son Hunter making money in China, but it also turns out that $40,000 in laundered China money landed in Joe Biden’s bank account in the form of a personal check," Comer said. "And the Oversight Committee has it."
Biden "benefited from his family's shady deal" with the communist-tied Chinese energy company CEFC, according to Comer.
But the dealing goes well beyond a mere $40,000, which the White House claims was nothing more than James Biden paying back an earlier loan from Joe Biden.
Hunter Biden's WhatsApp account shows him strong-arming CEFC for $10 million on behalf of SinoHawk Holdings, a joint venture between Hunter Biden and others with CEFC. Biden's comments appear damning, not only because it seems to suggest influence-peddling, but also includes mention of Joe Biden.
"I am sitting here with my father, and we would like to understand why the commitment made has not been fulfilled," Hunter said in a message to Henry Zhao, director of Chinese asset management firm Harvest Fund Management. "And, Z, if I get a call or text from anyone involved in this other than you, Zhang or the chairman, I will make certain that between the man sitting next to me and every person he knows and my ability to forever hold a grudge that you will regret not following my direction."
Zhao's response? "CEFC is willing to cooperate with the family."
President Biden himself has been adamant in his denials: “My son has not made money in terms of this thing about, what are you talking about, China.”
But, as the New York Post pointed out, "The Big Guy (Joe Biden) was slated to take 10% of just one Chinese deal Hunter had with CCP linked energy company CEFC, and Joe met Tony Bobulinski twice in LA to vet him as CEO of the joint venture between the Bidens and China."
If the investigation confirms what looks like a classic political shakedown, it will be very bad news for President Biden and his family, both legally and politically. The scale of the money alone is alarming, but the revelation of possible influence-peddling, which could make President Biden susceptible to blackmail, poses a real national security risk.
This may be why nearly two-thirds of Americans, including almost half of all Democrats, now agree that Biden should either quit or be impeached if the allegations prove true. The evidence is growing that they are.
I&I/TIPP publishes timely, unique, and informative data each month on topics of public interest. TIPP’s reputation for polling excellence comes from being the most accurate pollster for the past five presidential elections.
Terry Jones is an editor of Issues & Insights. His four decades of journalism experience include serving as national issues editor, economics editor, and editorial page editor for Investor’s Business Daily.
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