Posted on 07/25/2014 5:47:40 PM PDT by mandaladon
Top White House political adviser David Simas refused again Friday to honor a congressional subpoena, prompting Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to vote to rebuke the administration.
The Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted 19-14 to reject the White House’s claim that Simas has absolute immunity from a subpoena from Congress.
Republicans said they were standing up for the principle that no one is above the law, and Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa quoted a long list of Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California, who have backed Congress’ right to subpoena top administration officials.
Democrats, led by ranking member Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, said they strongly disagree with the White House’s claim of absolute immunity but also strongly disagree with Issa’s push to press the issue, warning it could hurt the institution if they take a case to court.
The White House informed Issa at 7:30 a.m. Friday that Simas would not appear, Issa said. The absence was “not excused,” the California Republican added.
White House Counsel W. Neil Eggleston asked Issa to withdraw the subpoena to discuss his late Thursday offer for Simas to give a deposition instead of subpoenaed testimony.
Issa refused to do so.
“We have an absolute right and obligation” to investigate the new White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, he said.
“This was intended to be a short, and I hope it will be, oversight of a relatively small but in the past controversial office, consistent with our requirement to do oversight even without a predicate of wrongdoing,” he said.
Issa said oversight of the previously troubled political office will help American people be more comfortable and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used properly.
(Excerpt) Read more at 3.blogs.rollcall.com ...
The jail in the Capitol building was closed pursuant to the bankruptcy of 1933 when "the President" was named as the executor of said bankruptcy.
I don’t have 3 guesses .. I think one of them is because he’s black.
And .. that fact makes me very angry. Why is a person allowed to get away with being on a committee when he is part of the investigation; JUST BECAUSE OF HIS SKIN COLOR .. AND I DON’T GIVE A DAMN WHAT HIS COLOR IS .. THAT IS NOT EVEN THE POINT. THE POINT IS HE IS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION BECAUSE OF HIS ARROGANT EMAIL TO THE IRS.
HE’S PRIVILEDGED TO SIT ON THE COMMITTEE AFTER HE TRIED TO DENY PEOPLE THEIR FREE SPEECH .. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!
Good!
The WHOLE INSTITUTION NEEDS REPLACED!
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