Apparently yielding to pressure from the GOP, House Democrats have introduced a resolution to formalize their impeachment inquiry and adopt rules to govern the proceedings. The resolution comes after sustained complaints by congressional Republicans and the White House that the inquiry hasn’t followed past precedent and violates the president’s due process rights.
But, illustrating the balancing act involved as the 2020 election cycle gets started, Democrats have adamantly denied that the document is an “impeachment resolution,” perhaps out of concern for how that label would play in more moderate swing districts.
The resolution directs the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, Judiciary, and Ways and Means Committees to “continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump.”
Republicans, however, have countered that there is no “existing” impeachment inquiry because the House has not voted to open one as it did during the Clinton and Nixon impeachments — and Tuesday’s resolution does not explicitly open the probe, either.
“The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats’ impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorization by a House vote,” the White House said in a statement. “It continues this scam by allowing Chairman Schiff, who repeatedly lies to the American people, to hold a new round of hearings, still without any due process for the President.”
The White House statement continued, “The White House is barred from participating at all, until after Chairman Schiff conducts two rounds of one-sided hearings to generate a biased report for the Judiciary Committee. Even then, the White House’s rights remain undefined, unclear, and uncertain – because those rules still haven’t been written. This resolution does nothing to change the fundamental fact that House Democrats refuse to provide basic due process rights to the Administration.”
What Does the Resolution D0 for Republicans?
The Democrats’ resolution specifies that ranking Republicans in the minority on the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees (Reps. Doug Collins and Devin Nunes, respectively) will have the authority, with the concurrence of committee chairs in the majority, to subpoena witnesses and compel their testimony — a major demand that the White House and top Republicans had made in recent weeks.
If the chair does not consent, the minority can appeal to the full committee. It is common in other proceedings for committee chairs to essentially have veto authority over subpoenas sought by ranking minority members.
The resolution further directs the Intelligence Committee, in consultation with the other committees, to prepare a report on its findings to the Judiciary Committee, which would actually write any “Articles of Impeachment.” In response to GOP complaints about Democrats’ selective leaks of opening statements and depositions, the document also authorizes the public release of testimony transcripts, with only sensitive or classified information being redacted.
And, the resolution permits Republicans to submit written demands for testimony and other evidence, to cross-examine witnesses, and raise objections.
There is no timeline given for the impeachment inquiry to conclude. The House Rules Committee, which is the gateway for most measures in the House, will meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET to prepare the resolution for the House floor, including by adding additional procedures. The full House will debate and vote on the measure Thursday morning, with a vote expected by midday.
I say tar and feather the three liars Pelosi, Shiff and Shummer and send them out on a rail,
and the ones that are backing them drag them out with them. They have not done anything for the American people its all about what they get as far as money or status. Wake up people what has the dumcratics done for you, President Trump is for America and the American people
The House Democrats with Schiff in charge, wants to ram their unconstitutional impeachment charade down the throats of the Republicans and American people. We will not stand for this! Looks like the Republican-marjority Senate will have to stop this. We pray they do! If not our democratic justice system will suffer greatly along with the American people who hate this nonsense.
Just more WASTE of time and taxpayer dollars to try to overthrow a DULY-ELECTED POTUS all because their “crooked queen” HITLERY got “shown the door” by the American People that did NOT want another crooked democommunist infesting OR Oval office (like the last FRAUDULENT “occupant”.) This “COUP” is an ACT OF TREASON, as President Trump has done NOTHING wrong, and these TRAITORS are searching for a crime that never happened, OR like LYING shifty shiff-head “inventing” one, to try and convince the American people, by his LIES there WAS one. These TRAITORS need to be hauled out of their “secret room” and perp-walked by the TV cameras to a CELL nearby to await their trials and punishment for TREASON.
Give me a break!!! What a scam, Schiff, you are such a loser!!! You too Pelosi
If you think the members of the Communist party will dissolve their Kangaroo court you are as delusional as those who voted for and repeatedly vote for people who block them from ever improving their lives and whose only goal is to enslave the vast majority as in 99% or even more so 1% or as little as .01% can live like royalty.
https://www.theglobalist.com/tag/adam-schiff/
Pelosi belongs to the Comminist Party USA and this whole thing is Communism vs Freedom. Dictators of the Communist Party do not believe in our Constitution and are trying to overthrow our government.
The Dems did NOT “cave” — they just put their plan in writing. We’ll see where this goes…
THIS should be the BEGINNING of the END for the DEMOCRAT influence. There is NO excuse for using THIS means to UNDO the 2016 election. May the Democrats who voted for it (ESPECIALLY Adam Schiff & Nancy Pelosi) be led away in HANDCUFFS to a jail cell after they are convicted of SEDITION. Team Trump and his allies 2020 – KAGA (Keep America Great again).
OLD WITCH AT 80 YRS OLD IS COMPLETELY OUT OF HER MIND AND IS NO LONGER CAPABLE TO BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE. SHE & ALL OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE “COMMUNIST SYSTEM FAKE IMPEACHMENT” MUST BE TERMINATED IMMEDIATELY, TOGETHER WITH HER EVIL, CRIMINAL CORRUPT, #1 WORLDS LIAR AND LEAKER, DRAMA QUEEN SCHIFF.
THE DEMORAT PARTY HATE AMERICA AND ALL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. THEY ARE A TOTAL DISGUSTING AND DISGRACE TO AMERICA AND THE ENTIRE WORLD.
Stop this insane impeachment from this weak woman that has nothing but hate in her heart! All the other cronies are nothing but followers! When they can’t get their way the devils horns come out!!!!!
AND IT’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE !!! THE DERANGED AND DEPLORABLE DEMOCRATS ARE THE ONLY ONE’S THAT WILL BE GETTING IMPEACHED AND IMPRISONED !!!
Democtratic Voters, I hope you watching what a sham your representatives are making of your country, its constitution, and your vote for them to go to Washington and do the business of the people after you elected them to win in your respective districts. They have done nothing for three years but obstruct and ignore doing what is right for our country. Time to yes hold your noses if you must, but do the right thing and vote for whomever opposes them. They no longer represent you and have not done so for at the very least the past three years!!!! VOTE THE THUGS OUT OF OFFICE NEXT YEAR!!!!!
Dems didn’t cave to anyone
The Dems caved by ever starting this BS. It will kill any chances they have of having a candidate in the WH. If they do it will be because they scammed their way in.