Updated 1:56 p.m. | An agitated Speaker John A. Boehner charged the White House with concocting impeachment talk for political gain Tuesday.  

“We have no plans to impeach the president. We have no future plans. It’s all a scam started by Democrats in the White House,” the Ohio Republican insisted after a GOP conference meeting. Last week, top White House aides said they take the potential for impeachment seriously. Press Secretary Josh Earnest even dismissed Boehner’s own disavowals of impeachment , noting that the speaker also had said repeatedly that Republicans wouldn’t shut down the government over Obamacare.  

Indeed, many conservatives think impeachment is a loser, and in the meantime Democrats are reporting a financial windfall in fundraising off of the talk. But it’s not accurate to say the impeachment talk started with the White House; many conservative pundits have been talking impeachment for quite some time, and former GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin turbocharged the chatter with a missive demanding impeachment in the wake of the border crisis.  

Asked Tuesday about Boehner’s remarks, Earnest said the speaker should talk to members of his own conference who have talked about impeachment, naming Reps. Steve King of Iowa, Ted Yoho of Florida, Kerry Bentivolio of Michigan, Blake Farenthold of Texas, Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania and Steve Stockman of Texas.  

Earnest also said the White House remains very disappointed that the House is moving forward with a lawsuit against the president “for doing his job.”  

House Republicans plan to sue the president for delaying the employer mandate without Congress.  

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