The claim: Joe Biden has been impeached
A June 21 Instagram video shows Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert speaking on television.
“Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) presents articles of impeachment against President Biden on House,” reads the chyron newspaper.
Text above and below the video reads, “Biden is impeached!!! Finally! High felony charges.”
The post garnered over 90,000 likes in three weeks. The same user also shared an identical video on Instagram a day earlier.
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Our opinion: False
Although Boebert filed articles of impeachment against President Joe Biden, he was not impeached. The resolution was referred to House committees. Impeachment requires a majority vote of the House. Conviction requires a two-thirds vote of the Senate.
Biden has not been impeached, the impeachment process has just begun
As the Forbes chyron puts it, Boebert filed articles of impeachment against Biden on June 13 for his actions “involving immigration and the southern border.”
This, however, is only the first step in the impeachment process.
The House passed a resolution on June 22 referring Boebert’s articles to the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees on a majority vote.
Fact check: Supreme Court didn’t, can’t decide to impeach Nancy Pelosi
Committees decide whether or not to submit articles of impeachment to a vote of the House. A simple majority of the House would have to approve the continuation of the articles of impeachment, according to the House of Representatives website.
Articles of impeachment would be sent to the Senate, and the Senate would act as a court to “consider evidence, hear witnesses, and vote to acquit or convict the impeached official,” according to the Senate website. A two-thirds vote of the Senate is required for a conviction, and the penalty for conviction is impeachment.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
The claim has also been debunked by The Associated Press and PolitiFact.
Our fact-checking sources:
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Congress.gov, June 13, H.Res.503 — Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States, is impeached for felonies and misdemeanors.
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Congress.gov, June 21, H.Res.529 – Relating to the resolution (H. Res. 503) impeaching Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States, for high felonies and misdemeanors.
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C-SPAN, June 22, House Session, Part 2
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United States House of Representatives, accessed July 13, Impeachment
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US Senate, accessed July 13, About Impeachment
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Forbes Breaking News (YouTube), June 20, BREAKING NEWS: Lauren Boebert presents articles of impeachment against Biden on the floor of the house
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: No, President Joe Biden has not been impeached | Fact check