I’m not really sure how this slipped by me, but a couple of days ago the White House informed Nancy Pelosi that they had no intention at all of complying with any subpoenasissued by any House committee unless and until the the House voted on an impeachment inquiry.
The letter probably didn’t look like this, but it could’ve...
Pelosi is claiming that it is an impeachment inquiry just because they are calling it so, I don’t think that will fly if challenged in court because absent an impeachment inquiry the document demands being made are a clear violation of the Constitution and to say that any House demand can be construed as an impeachment inquiry means separation of powers has just ceased to exist.
Anyway, Lindsey Graham was on Fox yesterday to discuss this.
1. He agrees that without a floor vote on impeachment he’s not going to treat it as impeachment.
2. Wants Fox “or somebody” to put all Republicans on the record as to whether they think the phone call to Ukraine President Zelensky is impeachable. Graham says it’s “ridiculous.”
3. The Biden’s need to be investigated over Ukraine and China payoffs.
4. He compared this brouhaha with the trickle of complaints against Kavanaugh. “This is Kavanaugh all over again.”
5. Schiff is a witness in any impeachment proceeding because of his early contact with the “whistleblower.”
2. Wants Fox “or somebody” to put all Republicans on the record as to whether they think the phone call to Ukraine President Zelensky is impeachable. Graham says it’s “ridiculous.”
3. The Biden’s need to be investigated over Ukraine and China payoffs.
4. He compared this brouhaha with the trickle of complaints against Kavanaugh. “This is Kavanaugh all over again.”
5. Schiff is a witness in any impeachment proceeding because of his early contact with the “whistleblower.”
And this:
Well, here is what’s going to happen.If the whistle-blower’s allegations are turned into an impeachment article, it’s imperative that the whistle-blower be interviewed in public, under oath and cross-examined. Nobody in America goes to jail or has anything done to them without confronting their accuser.So here is what I’m going to insist upon, that the whistle-blower, one or two, whatever, they come forward, under oath, testify, so the public can judge their credibility.If that doesn’t happen in the House, I will make sure it happens in the Senate.
What this means is that the Senate is not going to share documents, etc., with the House absent a vote. It means Adam Schiff’s actions will be scrutinized by the Senate in the case of impeachment. It means that none of the whistleblowers will be able to remain anonymous.
On the whole, I think the stake have been raised substantially for Pelosi. Let’s see what happens next.