Apparently just a few minutes ago, according to Breitbart, Nancy Pelosi rejected President Trump's demand for a full House vote on whether to authorize an impeachment inquiry. Of course, Trump had put her in a box--she couldn't accede to his demand, but now she's hardened into an unreasonable position. Smart move by Trump, IMO. Trump has said he won't cooperate with House subpoenas until an inquiry is authorized by the House--which makes him look pretty reasonable.
Also, there's a CNN report out claiming to reveal the details of a Trump phone conversation with China's Xi. The report is phrased to suggest that Trump may have hinted that a Chinese investigation of the Bidens could be somehow tied to trade talks. But we already know how little relation to reality the Ukraine "leaks" were. The conversation was said to have been kept on a "highly secure server."
Pure speculation here, but I wonder whether the story of a CIA officer detailed to the White House may be a cover story. That the leaker may be in the WH still and feeding stories to the CIA for use against Trump. Or maybe the leaker was until recently in the WH.
AFAIK, the House hasn't issued any subpoenas as yet. They've sent some letters asking for voluntary cooperation to provide some information. Request denied is the perfunctory WH response. While the House committees have subpoena power, those can/will be contested in court, ISTM.
ReplyDeleteI think Trump's approach here is if there's no House vote on impeachment, it's not a legitimate inquiry, and any subpoena would be quashed by the courts. IANAL, so other views may be more authoritative.
Thanks for the correction.
DeleteYes, Trump is staking out the position for use in court, and it is entirely reasonable. Executive privilege will prevail without a fully authorized impeachment inquiry, and Pelosi nor her committee chaimen can claim to have the power of the House to do so- only a floor vote can give that power.
Delete"But I will harden Pharaoh's heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt."
ReplyDeleteExodus 7:3
Not comparing Trump to Moses, but ...
Tom S.
The House Democrats want to search for dirt in grand-jury testimony, in tax records, in White House papers and anywhere else they might find dirt. They want to find dirt about Donald Trump and about any of his relatives, associates and supporters.
ReplyDeleteThe House Democrats imagine that if "an impeachment inquiry" is declared, then they have the holy right to search for dirt anywhere about anyone.
The House Democrats imagine even further that valid grounds for their "impeachment inquiry" is provided by an anonymous "whistle-blower" who has no first-hand knowledge about the supposed impeachable offense and whose statements have been contradicted by documents that were released after he wrote his statements.
Even further, the House Democrats imagine that their "impeachment inquiry" can be declared by one person, Nancy Pelosi.
Even further, the House Democrats imagine that Pelosi's declaration should compel everyone to submit slavishly and immediately to all their demands for records and testimony, so that their search through all existing documents about all existing people can be completed by Thanksgiving.
Unfortunately for the House Democrats, though, their demands for documents will be refused, and then they will have to complain to the courts, and then their demands will become mired in the courts for months, until the issue is decided by the US Supreme Court, probably well into the year 2021.
Agreed, Mike. I think Barr will see to all that.
DeleteI thought Rashida Tlaib was going to send the Sergeant at Arms or the D.C. Police to round them up and lock them in her basement until they comply. This is going to be entertaining!
DeleteOh, man! GOP needs to make sure the American people see that woman as much as possible!
DeleteWell, it was good yesterday to see the President is finally reading my tweets. Ok, not really, but I did tweet out 4 days ago (bit.ly/2AIChNF):
ReplyDelete“Repubs should make clear they're not cooperating with anything until House Rs get same investigative powers as Ds. Period. Get a vote of 218 for formal inquiry that gives both sides equal powers & privileges. Until then, nothing.”
Anyway, now that I’ve got his attention (haha), here’s some more sage advice for POTUS:
1. Stick to the demand for a full House vote & equal, bipartisan powers & privileges in any further proceedings.
2. Make the case (@climateaudit has this nailed) that WB is not a WB under the rules and so hasn’t earned WB protections. Therefore his identify must be revealed & he must submit to questioning and answer all questions, including who all his sources are of course.
3. Be clear that any lack of cooperation by Democratic side, including by witnesses that Republicans call, will force Republicans to cease cooperating, as well.
I’ll spare everyone the pain of going on, but it sure does seem it’s totally within the White House’s power (as long as the whole Republican Party gets on board) to show the public these proceeding are pure kangaroo court simply by demanding equal treatment, which Dems know they can’t give without everything blowing up in their faces.
Well, there’s my two cents anyway.