On Thursday the House Judiciary Committee passed a resolution that defines the rules the Judiciary Committee will use for future hearings as those hearings relate to their investigation into whether or not the committee will recommend articles of impeachment to the full House, regarding President Donald Trump.
In his opening statement Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) explained that the resolution is a necessary step in their investigations into “corruption, obstruction, and abuse of power,” regarding President Trump behavior as detailed in the Mueller Report.
Nadler did state that their investigation will go beyond the four corners of the Mueller Report.
Nadler went on to explain that there should be no doubt that the committee is engaged, “in an investigation that will allow us to determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment with respect to President Trump. Some call this process an impeachment inquiry. Some call it an impeachment investigation. There is no legal difference between these terms, and I no longer care to argue about the nomenclature.”
Top ranking member Doug Collins (R-GA) in his opening statement disagreed with Nadler’s characterization of the hearing and the resolution, saying that “The difference between formal impeachment proceedings and what we’re doing today is a world apart no matter what the chairman just said.” Collins added that they were not “in an impeachment inquiry.”
Under the resolution Nadler, or “the Chairman,” can designate a full committee or a subcommittee hearing as being an impeachment hearing.
It allows committee staff as designated by the “Chair and Ranking Member” to question any witness that testifies during the impeachment hearing for an additional hour after the committee members have concluded their questions.
It also allows the President’s lawyers to respond in writing “to information and testimony presented to the committee in open session.”
CNN explains that the news rules established by the committee could be on display as early as next week when former Campaign Manager for President Trump, Corey Lewandowski is schedule to testify.
The committee subpoenaed Lewandowski as well as former White House aides Rick Dearborn, and Rob Porter, all three are scheduled to testify on Tuesday.
At this time it is unclear if they will be present to testify or if the White House will direct at least Dearborn and Porter, against testifying citing blanket immunity against having to testify.
Lewandowski was never formally a member of the White House Administration.
The video is the full hearing cued to start with the opening of the hearing.
4 Trackbacks / Pingbacks
Comments are closed.