|
What exactly are House Democrats doing on impeachment?
It’s Tuesday, the traditional day for elections and for our pause-and-consider newsletter on politics and policy. We think of it as a mini-magazine in your Inbox.
AN OFFICIAL IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY -- OR NOT?
By Lisa Desjardins, @LisaDNews
Correspondent
Today’s House Judiciary Committee hearing with former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski marked a new step for Democrats investigating President Donald Trump: It was the first under new committee rules related to a possible impeachment trial.
But it also highlighted a question lingering over their probe. When it comes to impeachment, what phase are Democrats in, exactly? It’s not just semantics -- the answer has real legal implications.
Here is a look at some of the confusing terminology, along with an attempt to clear up where things stand.
What are House Democrats doing right now?
Democrats are investigating the president on a wide variety of fronts, from aspects of the Mueller report and potential obstruction of justice, to his financial dealings, including his taxes and possible emoluments related to the Trump International Hotel in Washington, to his handling of security clearances at the White House and the treatment of migrant children at the southern border.
How would impeachment fit in?
The Constitution defines impeachable offenses as “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” It does not specify what those offenses might be, which means it is entirely up to each Congress to decide. In theory, any of these investigations could lead to impeachment.
What is House Judiciary doing exactly?
The House Judiciary Committee is seen by Democrats as having jurisdiction over presidential impeachment, and thus is the most likely committee to start any impeachment proceedings. The panel has said that many of its hearings are part of an “impeachment investigation.”
So is that a “formal impeachment inquiry?”
This is the key question. Democratic leaders argue that their impeachment investigation -- or probe, or inquiry -- has begun. Because *they* are defining their investigation that way. But Republicans are pushing back with all their might, pointing out that during the Nixon and Clinton impeachment inquiries, the entire House voted to give the House Judiciary Committee the power to begin a formal impeachment inquiry. Until then, Republicans argue, it’s just a discussion or series of hearings without any special legal meaning.
Why do Democrats want this to be seen as an “impeachment investigation” or “inquiry”?
“Impeachment” carries a heavy legal weight, a unique power for Congress. In the Watergate era, the existence of an ongoing, formal impeachment inquiry is one reason courts ruled that Congress should be able to see usually secret grand jury information. Remind you of anything? Democrats still want to see all of the Mueller report, including underlying investigative materials, and they have argued to the courts that their “impeachment investigation” should compel that.
So where does this leave us?
Democrats are still having an internal party debate about how quickly to move toward potential articles of impeachment. It seems increasingly likely they will do so in coming months, but they do not yet have enough votes in the House of Representatives to pass articles of impeachment. For that, they need 218 votes.
In the meantime, Democrats are investigating many aspects of Trump’s past and present, and the debate continues over the ultimate significance of these hearings.
WHO’S SPORTING TRUMP’S MEDALS OF FREEDOM
By Alexandra D’Elia, @Alex_DElia11
Politics production assistant
Who receives the Medal of Freedom -- the country’s highest civilian honor -- is often a reflection of the president’s values. And President Donald Trump’s choices suggest he is quite the sports fan.
Trump awarded his 12th Medal of Freedom yesterday to former Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera -- his seventh to an athlete.
The Medal of Freedom was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1963 to honor civilians who have “made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” according to the White House website.
The president is the sole selector of Medal of Freedom recipients, and so far, more than half of Trump’s honorees have been athletes. In addition to Rivera, he has honored football players Alan Page (also a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice) and Roger Staubach, baseball player Babe Ruth (posthumously), golfer (and friend) Tiger Woods, and basketball players Bob Cousy and Jerry West. He’s also pledged one to auto-racing titan Roger Penske.
According to researchers who study the politics of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, only 4 percent of the total number of medals were awarded to athletes before 2018.
Trump has also honored Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, economist Arthur Laffer, and American-Israeli philanthropist (and Trump supporter) Dr. Miriam Adelson, as well as giving posthumous medals to Elvis Presley and Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Former President Barack Obama awarded a record number of Medals of Freedom -- a total of 115. Only 12 of his honorees were athletes, including tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King, San Francisco baseball legend Willie Mays, and sports broadcaster Vin Scully.
Although a notable sports fan, only nine of former President George W. Bush’s 82 honorees were athletes, including boxer Muhammed Ali and golfer Arnold Palmer. Tennis player Arthur Ashe was the sole athlete out of 88 honorees to receive a Medal of Freedom (posthumously) from former President Bill Clinton.
At this stage of his presidency, Trump has so far issued the fewest Medals of Freedom since President Richard Nixon; Trump’s first ceremony was held 22 months after he took office. Uniquely, Trump likes to hold individual medal ceremonies. All five Medal of Freedom ceremonies of 2019 have been to dedicated a single honoree.
FIVE OVERLOOKED POLITICAL STORIES FROM THE PAST WEEK
By Alexandra D’Elia, @Alex_DElia11
Politics production assistant
Andrew Yang said he would give 10 people $1,000 each month. Is that legal? -- Sept. 12. The presidential candidate announced at last week’s primary debate that he would offer $1,000 per month to 10 supporters of his campaign. Why it matters: The stunt allowed Yang to highlight universal basic income, his main campaign issue, from the debate stage, but raises questions about campaign finance rules. -- The New York Times
Record number of female directors lead Iowa caucus campaigns -- Sept. 12. Several candidates -- male and female -- have hired women to lead their campaign operations in this critical, first-to-caucus state. Why it matters: Presidential candidates are hoping women in campaign leadership can help energize women voters. -- Des Moines Register
NASCAR shocks gun industry as it appears to block some firearm ads -- Sept. 13. In a “gradual shift” in its position on guns, the company has begun rejecting certain gun-related ads. Why it matters: The move surprised some gun enthusiasts who said there is overlap between NASCAR fans and gun owners. -- CNN
‘My AR is ready for you,’ Texas Republican lawmaker tells Beto O’Rourke over mandatory buybacks -- Sept. 13. Republican state representative Briscoe Cain responded to the presidential candidate’s call for mandatory buybacks of assault weapons with the tweet: “My AR is ready for you Robert Francis.” Why it matters: The O’Rourke campaign reported the tweet to the FBI as a threat. -- The Washington Post
Florida governor seeks delay in landmark voting rights case -- Sept. 11. In Florida, the legal and political battle over a recently passed amendment that restores voting rights to felons continues. Why it matters: Florida is a key swing state and any votes, including from former felons, could be a deciding factor in 2020 elections. -- POLITICO
#POLITICSTRIVIA
By Kate Grumke, @KGrumke
Politics producer
On this day in 1996, Oprah Winfrey launched her wildly influential book club. Although it was never an official book club selection, Oprah did recommend a book by a 2020 presidential candidate on her website. She said, "I have never been more moved by a book than I am by this one."
Our question: Which presidential candidate was she talking about? And for a bonus point, which book was she referencing?
Send your answers to [email protected] or tweet using #PoliticsTrivia. The first correct answers will earn a shout-out next week.
Last week, we asked: On this day in 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court ordered the admission of a black student into this university. What was the school?
Answer: University of Mississippi.
Congratulations to our winner: Jackie Austin! And our sincere thanks for your patience with our email issues the previous two weeks. We are sorry to tell you, the best newsletter subscribers in the business, that we could not determine winners for the past two weeks because of this technical glitch. We have solved the problem going forward.
Thank you all for reading and watching. We’ll drop into your Inbox next week.
|
