On the Radar
Formalizing the Impeachment Inquiry
House Democrats on Tuesday introduced a resolution that would formalize procedures for the impeachment inquiry targeting President Donald Trump that’s expected to receive a vote on the House floor before the end of the week.
The resolution (H.Res. 660) was introduced by House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA) and outlines a process for six House committees (Intelligence, Judiciary, Oversight, Foreign Affairs, Ways & Means, and Financial Services) to continue their impeachment inquiry. Some highlights of the resolution:
- The House Intelligence Committee is authorized to hold public hearings, call witnesses, issue subpoenas, and release deposition transcripts after any classified information is redacted.
- The House Judiciary Committee will conduct proceedings of its own and will be responsible for producing any recommendations, resolutions, or articles of impeachment it deems necessary.
- Minority members of the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees will be able to request witness testimony or the production of documents via subpoena, but will require the concurrence of the committee chairman.
- The Judiciary Committee will be responsible for creating procedures to allow the participation of the president and his legal counsel.
Do you support this bill to outline the House's impeachment inquiry process?
Top Ukraine Expert Reported Concerns About Trump-Zelensky Call
The National Security Council's top Ukraine expert, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, testified before the House Tuesday. Vindman, an Iraq War veteran, is the first impeachment witness who listened, firsthand, to the July 25 phone call between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
“I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the U.S. government’s support of Ukraine,” Vindman said in his opening statement.
“I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained.”
Vindman was awarded a Purple Heart for his service in Iraq. He was born in Ukraine and immigrated to the U.S. when he was 3.
Trump took to Twitter early Tuesday to disparage Vindman, who’s served in the president’s National Security Council post since 2018.
"Supposedly, according to the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call “concerned” today’s Never Trumper witness. Was he on the same call that I was? Can’t be possible! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt!"
Are you concerned about the Trump-Zelensky phone call?
|