Posted on 10/08/2019 6:06:46 PM PDT by beebuster2000
They have to vote to open an official inquiry and then give a committee judicial authority to investigate. They have done neither.
But due process is cast in the stone of the constitution and so Trump can take them to court for constitutional reasons. So they can make the rules for the House, and the Senate can make rules for the senate too. But skipping things like the right to cross examine a witness or holding hearings in secrecy will not fly when it gets to court.
The raw courage shown by Trump on this is monumental. And in the face of a fraudulent “poll” claiming 30% of Republicans support an “inquiry.” Remember when that pussy clown Bush caved to special prosecutors over the silly Plame nonsense and Federal prosecutors firings? He let the Democrats roll right over him. Trump is telling them “F YOU!” THE Lord be with you, Mr. President!
An interesting thing is that this denial of due process, refusal to allow ranking members of the minority party the right to equal subpoena power and access to the investigative process, denial of counsel and the like are the things that got Hillary fired from the NIxon impeachment legal counsel staff in the 70s by the lead counsel.
Right now, Nancy Pelosi is running the House as if the Republicans will never be in charge of it again. Anything precedence she sets and gets away with, can be used again in the future. Like Harry Reid changing the Judicial rules to simple Majority for Federal Judges and Justices he wanted. Harry never got the chance to change the rules back before the next election, and now Trump and the GOP Senate are filling seats.
That's true, but the "they" is the House of Representatives, as stated in the Constitution. It's not Nancy, the Speaker, nor is it committee chairmen, it's the entire House. That can only happen with votes. The exact words from the constitution on impeachment are: “The House of Representatives shall chuse (sic) their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.”
The House can vote rules in that deny the republicans or Trump any access or defense in concocting the articles of impeachment. Likewise the Senate will make up its rules for the trial. While McConnell should be fair, he could also put rules in place that pretty much deny Trump any defense. It's not a trial as we think of it, just a political show trial. John Roberts will preside at the trial to make it appear to be fair...that's the only reason the Chief Justice is brought in...just eyecandy.
The first vote authorizes the inquiry and drafting of articles of impeachment. The second approves or disapproves the drafted articles, which triggers the Senate trial if any are approved.
Oh - and the first vote also makes the investigation more even-handed, where the minority party has subpoena power, the President has the right to see all evidence and introduce evidence, and the proceedings are required to be above board. As it is now, the “investigation” is a star chamber hunt for witches.
Interesting
To be accurate, the chief counsel decided to not hire her for the Judiciary Committee permanent staff, to not recommend her due to dishonesty, and since she failed her attempt at the bar, she was out of chances in DC. The chief counsel at the time of Willie’s impeachment and before regarded her very poorly.
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