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Republicans in the House of Representatives have taken a significant step towards the impeachment of Joe Biden by voting to formally authorize a congressional investigation into him. This move has historically led to impeachment in three out of four cases in the past, and it could be difficult to prevent this from happening again. The House's action grants more power to the investigating committees to subpoena documents and testimony, which the Biden White House may now be compelled to comply with. This vote paves the way for House Republicans, despite their narrow majority, to support impeachment in the future. If centrist Republicans in districts won by Biden decide to take the political hit for initiating the investigation, they may feel it's best to see it through until the end. However, even if the House impeaches Biden, the matter would then move to the Senate, where a two-thirds majority is required to convict and remove the president. This is a high bar that has never been reached in US history. Some Republicans have expressed concerns that this vote signals a diminishing of the impeachment process. There are worries that impeachment is being used as a political weapon instead of reserving it for the most serious offenses. While there is currently no direct evidence linking Biden to his son's actions, a formal impeachment investigation could still be damaging to his presidential standing, especially during an election campaign. There is no telling what unexpected turns this inquiry may take, as sweeping powers can sometimes uncover surprising results. Republicans may also use the impeachment proceedings to divert attention from Donald Trump's own legal battles. Additionally, there is talk of timing the impeachment process to coincide with Trump's federal trial in March, distracting from the charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Overall, the political climate in the coming year may become even more divisive and toxic due to these developments.