Posted on 10/29/2019 10:39:19 AM PDT by Liz
House Democratic leaders are walking back a planned vote Thursday that would officially endorse impeachment proceedings and say that the resolution would merely address the process of holding public hearings on the matter.
“This is not an impeachment resolution,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters Tuesday morning. “I don’t know what an impeachment resolution is.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters Monday that the planned vote was “not an impeachment resolution.”
Earlier in the day, Pelosi announced the House would vote on a resolution that “affirms the ongoing, existing investigation,” and “establishes the procedure for hearings that are open to the American people, authorizes the disclosure of deposition transcripts, outlines procedures to transfer evidence to the Judiciary Committee as it considers potential articles of impeachment, and sets forth due process rights for the president and his Counsel.”
Pelosi characterized the vote as one that would put to rest accusations by President Trump and the GOP that the impeachment proceedings are not legitimate because they were not sanctioned by an official House vote.
“We are taking this step to eliminate any doubt as to whether the Trump Administration may withhold documents, prevent witness testimony, disregard duly authorized subpoenas, or continue obstructing the House of Representative,” Pelosi said Monday.
But Democrats are suddenly wary of calling it an official vote to open an impeachment hearing and aren’t even promising a vote on Thursday.
Hoyer said the resolution “addresses moving from the investigatory phase to the hearing phase,” of the impeachment proceedings, entering the public phase. Hoyer, who controls the floor schedule, would not fully commit to holding the vote on Thursday. “We are going to have to consider whether or not it is ready to go on Thursday,” Hoyer said. The resolution will be drafted and advanced Wednesday by the House Rules Committee, whose Democrats operate as an essential arm of the speaker.
Hoyer described the resolution as one that would establish a process for ending the closed-door investigatory phase of the impeachment proceeding, which has so far involved depositions taken in a secure room in the basement of the U.S. Capitol.
The House Intelligence Committee has been running the proceedings since late September, and lawmakers from Foreign Affairs and Oversight and Government Reform have been invited to attend and ask questions. The resolution expected Thursday would “address the process,” of ending the closed-door depositions “into a phase when we have public hearings.”
Hoyer added, “That is what this is: No more, no less.” The resolution is expected to provide the Intelligence panel with sole authority to conduct the public hearings, which departs from precedent.
Past presidential impeachment hearings involving both judges and presidents have always been conducted by the House Judiciary Committee.
The resolution is expected to provide minority Republicans with an opportunity to call witnesses and for Trump to defend himself against Democrats who accuse him of abusing power and obstructing Congress.
Hoyer said he didn’t know when public hearings would begin.“We still want to do this expeditiously, but we are not bound by any time deadline, Hoyer said.
OR they don’t know if they have the votes or not.
Nancy “Chickenshit” Pelosi.
At some point, this all has to end up back in the Judiciary Committee, and they know Nadler will let it evolve into another Committee Circus
That’s why she left it to Schitt to do the dirty work
I’ve always said - Pelosi is evil and corrupt.
But not stupid.
She has been a House Rat for many many years. She knows what will and will not happen.
I'm all for it......AS LONG AS .....one of the Dem Darlings of Diversity gets to announce it.
Add I do mean ratshita.
This is the, “We want to have our cake and eat it too” vote.
In other words, at this point they’re not sure what they’re gonna do.
Libtard laundering pipeline exposed.
Damn right they will walk it back.
Let’s find that 1.6 billion sent to Iran in unmarked everything Obola sent.
First stop Cyprus.
Yeah, cause after this past weekend, it’s pretty hard to smear the president.
All the accusations against him look pretty hollow.
Unexpected.
I wouldnt be surprised if Ruthie gave up the ghost after hearing this news.
I mean, how long can the poor dear last? What with cancer eating away every part of her body.
They aren’t finished stacking the deck, er I mean writing their rules. Gotta make them up as they go.
“Resist by any means necessary” equals “the ends justify the means” The rule of law and democracy fail as a result.
Time to send Steve Cohen and the rest of the demonrats a bucket of KFC.
exactly! and this time republicans should have transcripts of the prior testimony to work with.
Pelosi to Hoyer: “Next time, bring flowers”
Didn’t think old Steny Hoyer was still alive.
Put up or shut up, Napa Nan !
I suspect she will cite the Cali fires “near her district”, and have to rush “home” and delay the vote. Again.
Right now all hell should break loose.....maybe Hillary will jump into the race (cackle).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.