GOP’s impeachment dilemma: ‘Have you met Joe Biden?’

Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) has a succinct response when asked about impeaching President Obama: “Have you met Joe Biden?”

Gowdy was asked on Fox News Thursday night about the possibility of impeachment, if Obama acts without Congress on immigration. 

“Have you met Joe Biden, is my response to that,” Gowdy replied. “So, no. Nobody’s discussing impeachment except pundits and commentators. First of all, impeachment is a punishment; it’s not a remedy. Second of all, the only people who want us to talk about impeachment are the president’s allies.”

Referring to the idea of impeachment as bait, Gowdy said, “I’m not going to take it because I’ve met Joe Biden.”

Gowdy is strongly opposed to Obama’s expected executive action giving legal status to millions of people who entered the United States illegally.

He pointed to the confirmation process of Obama’s attorney general nominee, Loretta Lynch, as a place where Republicans could fight, suggesting the GOP could use Obama’s decision against her.

He said Republican lawmakers should ask Lynch pointed questions about the legality of Obama’s actions. 

“Specifically with this new attorney general, ask U.S. Attorney Lynch, ‘What are the limits of prosecutorial discretion? What laws does he actually have to enforce?’ ” Gowdy said. 

While Republican leaders have dismissed talk of impeachment, at least one member, Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), is open to it. He said this week that impeachment “would be a consideration,” if Obama moves ahead on executive action.