Posted on 12/10/2019 2:05:54 PM PST by jazusamo
Top Republicans in the House are vowing to use every procedural tool available to them to strong-arm Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee and get them to hold a minority hearing on impeachment.
In a letter led by House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), sent to Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday, the conservative members noted Republicans had previously requested a minority hearing be held before articles of impeachment were introduced. The group argued that while Democrats did not comply with their requested timeline, under current rules they are entitled to a hearing.
“During the open hearing on December 4, 2019, Congressman Sensenbrenner, on behalf of all of the Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee, presented you with a request for a minority hearing in compliance with Clause 2(1)(1) of Rule XI. To date, you have ignored the request and failed to respond to repeated questioning on the matter,” they wrote.
The lawmakers went on to allege the Democrats’ probe has been conducted at an “unprecedented speed,” adding that while they do not control the panel’s schedule, they feel the minority hearing should be held before the articles are voted on in the committee in coming days.
“The House rules do not afford you the ability to deny this request. Though scheduling is left to your discretion, when considering the unprecedented speed at which the majority is moving towards impeaching a duly elected president, a delay under these circumstances is tantamount to a denial of our right to a minority hearing,” they continued.
“Until our procedural rights as Members of the United States House of Representatives are respected, we will avail ourselves of every parliamentary tool available to us in committees and the House floor in order to highlight your inaction,” it reads.
In addition to Biggs, 71 GOP lawmakers including House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (R-Wyo,) signed onto the letter.
Republicans have been highly critical of the impeachment process since it kicked off early this fall calling it a "sham" and a process that has been shrouded in secrecy. Democrats have adamantly defended it, arguing they have pursued a thorough and fair probe into potential corruption.
“The Democrats haven't thrown out the rule book, they lit it on fire, and you know danced around it. There is no mechanism for us to be able to put on our case given Adam Schiff's veto of our witnesses and Jerry Nadler's rejection of our entitled evidentiary hearing,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) told The Hill. “This would be like a criminal trial where the prosecution put on their case, and the defense wasn't allowed to admit evidence, unless the prosecution agreed to it.”
The House Judiciary Committee could hold a markup on the two articles of impeachment unveiled on Tuesday as soon as Wednesday evening, with some projecting a floor vote before Christmas.
Nadler declined to comment on whether the minority hearing will take place.
I’d bet it would be more convincing and fair than any hearings held by House Judicial and Intel Coms up to now.
Can you put it to music? How about Jethro Tull:
Article 1: I really don’t mind if you sit this one out. My words are a whisper, in deafness a shout. I may make you feel, but I can’t make you think. Because you’re a poopy head. Now I need a drink.
Article 2: And your wise men don’t know how it is to feeeeeel that Trump is a poopy head for real.
“threatens procedural measures”
Can we even fathom the level of excitement this creates with elected Republicans? They get to flex for their constituents, while not having to defend President Trump, but only the process. This is right up their ally. They get to cite obscure rules and esoteric legal principles, and crow about tradition and the Constitution. The Democrats have played right into their hands. An utterly boring event is about to get even worse.
Push back is an end in and of itself.
I agree. The Democrats biggest problem with whole show is that their base really isn’t interested. That’s an even bigger problem than the whole thing being based on lies. Their base doesn’t care about that. Bogging it down in procedure and sniping just makes their base even less interested.
the Democrats would not be doing what they are doing, if their was a genuine MSM to call them out.
however, given the FakeNewsMSM colluded with the Dems & the Deep State in Spygate & Coupgate, they must all continue down this road or risk the narrative turning to their own, real criminal behaviour.
how the Dems won the House in the mid-term elections is another matter requiring investigation.
Nadless to GOP: “Drop Dead!”
#orangemanbadass!
Junk politics...Hey, I like that....Junk politics!..F*ck the junk politics!
Man, if Trump quoted that at a rally the media would freak. Hope he does
“The problem with the GOP is a lack of good candidates.”
So true. In my district, the GOP has given up. The only candidates they can prevail upon to run, are completely unsuitable (like the clown they had running for US House rep last time, whose claim to fame was a knowledge of race horses - and my district has absolutely nothing to do with race horses).
Sometimes they cannot even find someone to run - and the Dem candidates run unopposed.
Well at this point, vote or no vote, won’t change the outcome. However, it will definitely make a big statement and would resonate throughout the country. Even CNN would certainly cover it.
That’s what the Left has done. They have made politics so toxic, that the good people don’t want to get involved, since generally, they have good careers in the private sector, why give that up to take all the crap that goes with running for political office.
That’s why I respect Trump, he didn’t have to do this. He has it all, but he genuinely fears what will happen to this country, and he’s willing to take those arrows to do something about it.
It appears that the House GOP has almost erased the Boehner/Ryan stains.
Of course, which is why the GOP should just ahead and hold their hearing. What can the Rats do about it? They’re already committing anarchy.
I pray that’s so, at least we have some in the GOP fighting back now.
I think they can and should at the very least expel
Adam Schiff from the House if he is reelected along with
firing all of his staff. Schiff especially can be removed
for his conduct while chairman of the intelligence committee.
Others that should be kicked out:
The Republicans should stop their phony baloney whining and stand up for themselves. The Rats would be constantly disrupting the proceedings at this point.
It’s time for a little civil disobedience and a lot of backbone.
Yep. Impeaching Nixon opened the floodgates.
” The House rules do not afford you the ability to deny this request. “
” We don’ need no stinkin’ rules. “
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.