The legal battle over former White House counsel Don McGahn’s congressional testimony will last through at least the end of October, Politico reported, citing a new schedule issued by Judge Ketanji Brown Tuesday.
As part of the House Judiciary Committee’s inquiry into whether to recommend articles of impeachment against President Trump, House Democrats are suing to compel McGahn to cooperate with their subpoena for testimony. The federal judge’s new timetable will put the panel in a bit of a time crunch, given there are only 16 days that Congress is still in session after Oct. 31. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) has previously said he wants his committee to decide whether to recommend impeachment before the December recess begins.
McGahn was a crucial witness in the obstruction of justice portion of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe. House Democrats sued after McGahn refused to comply with their subpoena, following President Trump’s directive that he and other top aides have complete immunity from cooperating with congressional subpoenas.
Just last week, House Democrats asked that the consideration of their lawsuit be expedited.
So not only is there slow-walking from the House, now the Justice system is slow walking this? How hard of a decision is this? It’s a subpoena. If the justice system drags its feet on whether the subpoena is legit or legal or warranted or whatever, then there’s no hope of this really ever getting off the ground.
As I recall, this judge has typically been on the side of getting to the facts and not obstructing, so why the slow walk here? And what about all the other subpoenas that have been issued and flagrantly ignored?
I hope they reveal the excuses for this because the next time I get a subpoena, I’m going to invoke these excuses and see how long I last. You know darned well none of us could get away with this nonsense.
. [The federal judge’s new timetable will put the panel in a bit of a time crunch, given there are only 16 days that Congress is still in session after Oct. 31. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) has previously said he wants his committee to decide whether to recommend impeachment before the December recess begins].
(1) Necessity is the Mother of Invention.
(2) Most grown-ups can tell stalling and obfuscation
(3) As Trump devolves, some of this will be a moot point next year
(4) Moscow Mitch (AKA Mitchie Moscow) should be looked at intently, for his actions in the Summer of 2016. Does “Executive Privilege” apply to HIM, too?
Congress could stay in session to do its job, but probably not.
They have made it abundantly clear that they have no intention of challenging Trump and the GOP.
Pelosi’s slow-waking strategy to avoid impeachment continues to be executed perfectly.
She is the master of strategy, after all.
The only way Moscow Mitch could be reached prior to the election is by the Senate. Two-thirds vote to remove him. What odds would you put to that? The House can’t touch him. How do you suggest they tie him to the impeachment inquiry? Not gonna happen.
ETA: Nadler’s “deadline” is BS. The process will run into the new year, and the closer to the election the more effect on voters.