House Democrats are preparing to hold a formal vote to move forward in the impeachment inquiry of President Trump this week, per a letter released from Nancy Pelosi on Monday
In a dear colleague letter released on Monday, Nancy Pelosi wrote that, “This week, we will bring a resolution to the Floor that affirms the ongoing, existing investigation that is currently being conducted by our committees as part of this impeachment inquiry, including all requests for documents, subpoenas for records and testimony, and any other investigative steps previously taken or to be taken as part of this investigation.”
“This resolution establishes the procedure for hearings that are open to the American people, authorizes the disclosure of deposition transcripts, outlines procedures to transfer evidence to the Judiciary Committee as it considers potential articles of impeachment, and sets forth due process rights for the President and his Counsel,” Pelosi wrote referring to Republican lawmakers out-cry over the secrecy of the proceedings.
Pelosi also writes that the Trump administration is conducting an “unprecedented cover-up,” and that they “withhold key documents from multiple federal agencies, prevent critical witnesses from cooperating, and defy duly authorized subpoenas.” By finally conducting a vote, House Democrats are aiming at forcing the hands of those that previously have refused to cooperate in the past.
By making the resolution to make the proceedings public, it is likely that the door is open for a full media circus around the proceedings. Also the transparency of the public to hear direct testimonies, rather than transcripts, will allow for people to make their own conclusions over the matter.
