House Judiciary Committee approves rules for impeachment investigation News
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House Judiciary Committee approves rules for impeachment investigation

The US House Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved a “Resolution for Investigative Procedures” into the potential impeachment of President Donald Trump. The investigation is looking into “alleged obstruction of justice, public corruption, and other abuses of power by President Trump, his associates, and members of his Administration.”

Specifically, the resolution cites instances of Trump attempting to thwart the Mueller Investigation and subsequent subpoenas issued by the Committee as reason for the action.

The procedures for the investigation into whether to recommend articles of impeachment include increased time for questioning of witnesses, “executive session” secrecy of documents, and that Trump’s counsel may respond in writing to any information or testimony presented in open session.

Chairman Jerry Nadler stated, “We have a constitutional, historical, and moral obligation to fully investigate these matters.” Nadler asserted that the decision on whether to recommend articles of impeachment “cannot be based on our feelings about President Trump. … It must be a decision based on the evidence before us, and the evidence that keeps coming in.”

The vote to approve the resolution came in along party lines. Republicans criticize the move as meaningless and only permits the Committee to use procedures that were already available to it.

Nadler stated, “The conduct under investigation poses a threat to our democracy. We have an obligation to respond to this threat. And we are doing so.”