House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) declared on Monday that four White House staffers’ refusal to appear for their scheduled hearings that day will only serve as more evidence of President Donald Trump’s attempt to obstruct justice.
Robert Blair, who serves as White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney’s top adviser, and top Office of Management and Budget official Brian McCormack both skipped their depositions in the House impeachment investigation.
“This will be further evidence of an effort by the administration to obstruct the lawful and constitutional duties of Congress,” Schiff told reporters.
The Democratic lawmaker noted reports that National Security lawyers Michael Ellis and John Eisenberg also plan to defy subpoenas and ditch their scheduled depositions later on Monday.
“This will only go further add to the body of evidence on a potential obstruction of Congress charge against the President,” he said.
Watch Schiff below:
Schiff says WH staffers' refusal to show up for their hearings today is "further evidence" of the Trump administration's obstruction. pic.twitter.com/KWG9raNSjq
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) November 4, 2019
All Schiff has to do is find someone with power who cares.
McConnell and the rest of his GOP believe they have already secured permanent Republican hegemony.
We are all eagerly waiting for the courts – which McConnell has spend 3 years furiously packing with Federalist foot soldiers – to side with Schiff.
What are they hiding? What are they hiding?? What. Are. They. Hiding???
Given the calendar, I’d say they’re hiding christmas presents!
While it’s good to use these no shows to support an obstruction of justice impeachment claim, Schiff and Pelosi need to do two more things:
Subpoena all no show witnesses; and
Find all witnesses who ignored subpoenas to be in contempt of Congress. This will allow our next AG to prosecute these criminals. The only way to deal with thugs is to prosecute and jail them.
Step 1 is already done. Step 2 will likely happen once the House is back in Session (They’re out this week, despite the fact that people are still around and working).