Political clock plays significant factor in Speaker Pelosis intra-party dilemma
WASHINGTON D.C. (Texas Insider Report) Democrats kicked off their Mueller Investigation investigation in the U.S. House of Representatives this week with a Monday committee hearing that attempted to draw parallels between former President Richard Nixons 1974 resignation and current President Donald Trump.
While theyre not quite ready to call it impeachment just yet House Democrats appear to be taking their first steps toward such proceedings with a series of hearings this week on special counsel Robert Muellers recently concluded report.
But as the partys most liberal members in the House and many of its presidential candidatescontinue to call for impeachment hearings against President Trump and while many view this weeks hearings as a precursor to such proceedings House Democrat leaders say the weeks focus is not explicitly about impeachment.
The goal Democrat leaders say is to create a television-friendly way of repackaging the now concluded Mueller Report.
Led by Chairman Jerrold Nadler (at right D-NY) the House Judiciary Committees first witness on Monday was John Dean who was convicted and served time for his role as White House Counsel during Nixons Watergate scandal. Dean has gained fame in recent years for his books and criticism of Republican presidents.
On Tuesday the House planned a vote to hold Attorney General William Barr and former Trump White House Counsel Don McGahn in contempt of Congress and were scheduled to authorize a lawsuit asking judges to play referee in the battles over access to information the Trump White House has resisted turning over.
On Wednesday the House Intelligence Committee has scheduled a public hearing to begin reviewing the results of Mr. Muellers work as it relates to counterintelligence and Russias effort to meddle in the 2016 Presidential Election.
The intelligence panel usually does its work behind closed doors but Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) said he believes the public needs to see the details of Muellers findings.
Our committees goal will be to explain to the American people the serious counterintelligence concerns raised by the Mueller Report examine the depth and breadth of the unethical and unpatriotic conduct it describes and produce prescriptive remedies to ensure that this never happens again" Schiff said.
Mr. Schiffs committee will hear from former FBI and National Security officials.
But if Democrats follow the House of Representatives rules the nastiness should limited said the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee Cong. Doug Collins.
The Georgia Republican said hes let things slide in recent weeks but made clear those days are over.
In a letter to Chairman Nadler Mr. Collins pointed out that House Rules prohibit impugning a presidents ethics motives integrity patriotism or loyalty. While those rules can be relaxed due to the nature of accusation if and when the House is pursuing impeachment Mr. Collins argued that until Democrats begin actual impeachment proceedings their anti-Trump sentiments arent allowed.
Collins also objected to the title of Mondays House Judiciary Committee hearing Lessons from the Mueller Report: Presidential Obstruction and Other Crimes" saying it crossed the line.
And during debate on the House floor earlier this week concerning an immigration bill Mr. Collins asked the chair to admonish lawmakers who accused President Trump of racist behavior or xenophobic threats.
Congressman Pete Aguilar the Democrat presiding in the speakers chair for the debate warned members to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the president" but would not deem their remarks out of bounds.
The political clock is playing a significant factor in whether House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her Democrats colleagues launch impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump anytime soon.
