Then US Vice President Joe Biden wipes away tears after Barack Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom during a tribute to Biden at the White House in Washington, DC, United States, on January 12, 2017. (AFP)

Former President Barack Obama finds himself at the center of a growing controversy surrounding his former Vice President and current President, Joe Biden.

The scandal dates back to a remark Obama made last year at a White House event when he jokingly referred to President Biden as "Vice President Biden," a comment that was interpreted by many as a reminder of who held the upper hand in their relationship. Behind this jest, however, were reports of Obama's private reservations about Biden's decision-making, The Hill reported.

The issue that has resurfaced involves the retrieval of over 5,000 emails from Joe Biden's time as vice president during the Obama administration. These emails, sought by various committees and private groups, reveal that Biden used an array of aliases in his correspondence.

Biden's wayward son

Under the Presidential Records Act, Barack Obama has a 30-day window to prevent the release of these emails, a move seen as an attempt to protect his former vice president amidst a burgeoning corruption scandal tied to the infamous Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son.

Recent revelations have shown that Joe Biden utilized multiple code names and aliases, including "Robin Ware," "Robert L. Peters," "JRB Ware," "Celtic," and "The Big Guy." Although the use of aliases in official emails is not unprecedented, these emails are believed to contain discussions related to official foreign travel plans and the appointment of associates of Hunter Biden to prominent positions. These details could shed light on Joe Biden's knowledge and involvement in various matters, contradicting his previous claims of ignorance to avoid scrutiny.

Congress, under the leadership of Republican Kevin McCarthy, is actively investigating transactions exceeding $20 million transferred to members of the Biden family from foreign sources through a complex web of shell companies and accounts.

The Washington Post has acknowledged that President Biden has provided misleading information concerning Hunter's business dealings. A recent confirmation by Devon Archer further discredits Joe Biden's denial of any knowledge of these affairs as "categorically false."

Hunter Biden's involvement in influence-peddling has become evident, and the clients involved appear to have received more than an "illusion of influence." For instance, when Ukrainian prosecutor general Viktor Shokin faced an anti-corruption investigation, Hunter Biden immediately took action, prompting Shokin's eventual dismissal at Joe Biden's request, The Hill reports.

Why are the emails still protected?

Efforts to obtain material from the Bidens and the administration regarding these past illicit dealings have faced resistance, as it has been revealed that the president communicated with his son through alias accounts.

This resistance led to the involvement of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which has delayed the release of the emails for over a year. At the current pace, their review may extend beyond the next election.

Both Joe Biden and Barack Obama have the power to expedite the release of these emails, which have been defended on the grounds of being trivial or personal while transparency could potentially lay to rest Republican allegations of his wrongdoings.

However, their continued reluctance to do so raises questions about what these emails may contain and why false names were used for communicating important information to third parties.

Given the mounting evidence of corruption and influence-peddling, the confrontation with NARA only strengthens the case for an impeachment inquiry. Such an inquiry does not presuppose impeachment but rather seeks to investigate whether the Bidens were selling the illusion or the reality of influence, The Hill explains.

By invoking its impeachment authority, Congress aims to force disclosures and uncover the truth behind the alleged corrupt practices.