The House of Representatives will file a petition to access the grand jury materials collected during the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller, House Judiciary Committee chair Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) announced on Friday.
The filing will go to D.C. chief judge Beryl Howell this afternoon, Nadler said.
Nadler framed the move as a significant step in the prelude toward a potential impeachment inquiry into President Trump. During a press conference announcing the petition, Nadler suggested the panel is reviewing whether to open an impeachment inquiry.
“Because Department of Justice policies will not allow prosecution of a sitting president, the United States House of Representatives is the only institution of the federal government that can now hold President Trump accountable for these actions,” Nadler intoned.
President Trump’s Justice Department has denied the House access to the underlying grand jury material from the Mueller report. After Ken Starr’s report, Congress received the information within weeks.
During Watergate, the House Judiciary Committee applied to the chief judge at the time, who authorized the release of material from the Watergate grand jury, which had been empaneled by special prosecutor Leon Jaworski. In that case, the House Judiciary Committee had already opened an impeachment inquiry into President Richard Nixon.
Grand jury material is strictly protected under federal law from disclosure in order to protect the reputations of witnesses, uncharged third-parties, and the integrity of investigative proceedings.
But federal courts can permit disclosure of the material in limited circumstances.
Nadler said that his Committee had a responsibility to ensure accountability in the executive branch.
“We take that responsibility seriously, no one can be above the law, even President Trump,” he said.
Nadler was flanked by nine members of Congress at the Friday press conference announcing the move. All members present, except for Nadler, have called for the House to open an impeachment inquiry.
Recent reporting from the Hill has also suggested that Nadler supports opening such an inquiry, but has held his tongue amid opposition to impeachment from Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
“We will proceed when we have what we need to proceed,” Pelosi said at a Friday press conference before Nadler spoke, in response to a question about impeachment. “Not one day sooner.”
Which is exactly why she is deliberately and strategically slow-walking everything. She hopes never to proceed. Here is the Mueller Report Timeline to-date:
March 23: Mueller Report Issued
March 25: Nadler writes letter requesting report by April 2
March 29: Barr refuses to release un-redacted report
March 29: Nadler says April 2 still stands
April 2: Barr refuses to release un-redacted report
April 3: The House Judiciary Committee votes to authorize subpoena for report
April 3: Barr refuses to release un-redacted report
April 18: Nadler issues subpoena for report to be delivered May 1
April 29: Nadler targets May 15 for Mueller to testify
May 1: Barr refuses to release un-redacted report and misses subpoena deadline
May 3: Nadler sends a “counter-offer” letter with May 6 deadline
May 6: Barr refuses to release un-redacted report
May 6: House Judiciary Committee schedules vote to hold Barr in contempt on May 8
May 6: Barr refuses to release un-redacted report; DOJ Invites Nadler To “Negotiation”
May 7: Trump and Barr declare Report covered by Executive Privilege
May 8: House Judiciary votes to hold Attorney General Barr in contempt
May 9: Pelosi refuses to schedule full House vote on Contempt motion
May 9: Barr Jokes About ‘Record’ Contempt Vote in speech at DOJ
May 10: Nadler says Mueller will not appear on May 15
May 11: Nadler sends an “offer to compromise” letter to Barr
May 15: Barr jokes with Pelosi: ‘Did you bring your handcuffs?’
May 17: Nadler delays Muller testimony until June
May 22: Still no House vote scheduled on Contempt motion
May 23: Nadler says Muller wants to testify “privately”
May 28: Mueller resigns. Pelosi still has not scheduled vote on Barr Contempt Motion
May 31: Nadler said that he still wants Mueller to testify
June 3: House vote Scheduled June 11 for on Barr Contempt Motion
June 4: Hoyer reports Nadler is talking to Mueller
June 4: Barr requests to re-open Mueller Report talks if Contempt Motion vote is stayed
June 6: Nadler says could issue a subpoena to Mueller within two weeks
June 10: Barr refuses to release un-redacted report; Nadler agrees to see what Barr deems “most important”
June 11: The House authorizes the Judiciary Committee to “initiate civil litigation”
June 25: Mueller agrees to testify in public on July 17.
July 12: Congress still has not seen un-redacted Muller Report
July 12: Mueller testimony delayed by at least a week.
July 23: 4 months since Mueller Report was released
July 24: Mueller testifies. Congress still has not seen un-redacted Muller Report
July 26: Nadler announces House Judiciary is filing for Grand Jury info from Mueller Report
[“Because Department of Justice policies will not allow prosecution of a sitting president, the United States House of Representatives is the only institution of the federal government that can now hold President Trump accountable for these actions,” Nadler intoned.]
“Intoned” it is.
And it’s the right word. That’s why he said “The United States House of Representatives” instead of “The House”.
I’ve been pretty grumpy about TPM reporting lately, but this is a really nice piece. It should be the lead on the banner instead of the Pelosi-AOC drivel.
I’m
so
tired
of
this
snail’s
pace
…
Nevertheless, they get the job done.