House Republicans are using their remaining weeks before the election to focus on a series of investigations targeting Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
Axios reported that these probes aim to scrutinize Harris' role in immigration policy and examine Walz's connections to China, alongside allegations of fraudulent activity in Minnesota.
With President Biden withdrawing from the race, Republicans have shifted their focus to Harris and Walz as key figures in the Democratic ticket.
The investigations are part of a broader Republican effort to challenge the Democratic leadership as the 2024 election approaches.
For two years, the GOP's primary target had been President Biden, but his decision to exit the race in July led Republicans to pivot their attention. However, some within the party have expressed concern that an aggressive focus on oversight could backfire politically.
There are currently at least four active House committee investigations centered on Harris and Walz. House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer has launched investigations into both Harris' involvement in immigration policy and Walz's alleged connections to China. These issues have become focal points for Republicans seeking to draw attention to the Democratic ticket’s vulnerabilities.
Meanwhile, Rep. Jim Banks has also opened an investigation into claims that Walz may have misstated his military service record. Additionally, House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx has subpoenaed Walz for documents related to a $250 million fraud scheme involving a Minnesota-based nonprofit, further intensifying scrutiny of the governor.
In recent weeks, Republicans have increasingly used the "Biden-Harris" label in committee hearings, signaling a strategic shift in how they frame their criticisms of the administration.
The House Veterans Affairs Committee, for instance, is holding a hearing on "VA Leadership Under the Biden-Harris Administration," while the House Judiciary Committee is addressing the so-called "Biden-Harris border crisis."
This branding extends to other areas, with the House Energy and Commerce Committee set to hold a hearing on the "Biden-Harris energy agenda."
Before Biden’s withdrawal, hearings were more commonly titled simply after the "Biden administration." Examples include a joint hearing held on July 23 about the administration's response to COVID-19 and a Judiciary Committee hearing on June 26. The increased focus on Harris reflects her elevated role as the Democratic nominee for president.
As Republicans intensify their investigations, Harris' campaign has pushed back. Mia Ehrenberg, a spokesperson for the vice president’s campaign, dismissed the probes, characterizing them as politically motivated attacks orchestrated by Republicans aligned with Donald Trump.
"Donald Trump and his extreme MAGA allies in the House are launching pathetic, false attacks on the vice president and Gov. Walz because they cannot win on their own records," Ehrenberg said.
Her remarks echo a broader narrative from Democrats that the GOP's investigations are part of a larger strategy to undermine Harris and Walz ahead of the election.
In another escalation, Rep. Andy Ogles introduced articles of impeachment against Harris following Biden's decision to withdraw from the race.
Ogles’ impeachment measure is likely to come up for a vote in September, even though it lacks formal backing from GOP leadership. This move underscores the intensity of Republican opposition to Harris as she leads the Democratic ticket.
The potential impeachment vote adds a new layer of political drama as Republicans seek to capitalize on their oversight investigations. However, some in the GOP worry that the focus on Harris and Walz may distract from other key issues as the election draws near.
Despite the aggressive push by House Republicans, some members of the party have raised concerns about the potential political consequences of their oversight strategy. Several Republicans fear that focusing too heavily on Harris and Walz in the final stretch before the election could alienate voters and damage the GOP’s electoral prospects.
Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat, criticized Republicans for what he sees as their alignment with Trump’s political agenda. "Republicans are just making themselves a complete adjunct to the Donald Trump campaign," Raskin said, arguing that the GOP’s investigations are more about serving Trump’s interests than addressing substantive policy issues.
Walz, who serves as Harris’ running mate, is facing investigations beyond the allegations of his ties to China.
The probe led by Rep. Banks into Walz’s military service record has raised questions about whether the governor accurately represented his service. Furthermore, the subpoena from Rep. Foxx relating to the $250 million fraud scheme adds another dimension to the scrutiny surrounding his tenure as Minnesota’s governor.
These investigations have thrust Walz into the national spotlight, adding pressure as he campaigns alongside Harris for the presidency.
With only a few weeks left before the election, the GOP-led investigations are expected to continue dominating headlines. The probes, combined with potential impeachment proceedings, are shaping up to be a central part of the Republican strategy as they seek to challenge the Democratic ticket in November.
However, with concerns mounting within the Republican ranks about the potential fallout from these efforts, the ultimate impact on the election remains to be seen. Both Harris and Walz will likely continue to face scrutiny as they push forward in their bid for the White House.
