Not sure what’s the benefit of cutting Whitaker any slack? Other than trying to avoid being called it a “partisan investigation”, that it will be anyways.
Pelosi, replace the wimp NOW… you have got to ask yourself who has info on Nadler… AMI???
Cave? Why is the ranking republican egging on the chairman?
Yep.
No subpoena Friday. But as Scarlett reminds us, tomorrow is another day. So is Monday.
Completely disagree that this is a “full cave“. The word “tomorrow“ is conspicuous. Nothing in this letter suggests that Whitaker can’t be subpoenaed on Monday or any subsequent day.s
He’s giving Whitaker a chance to come clean on his own, and Nadler will have the standing to hammer him later if he does not. It’ll take away leverage from Whitaker.
Collins is spinning like the hack that he is.
I don’t understand why a subpoena would make a difference if the guy is going to show up anyway. In fact, it makes Nadler look reasonable, which gives him a chit to use at a later date.
Or…I’m wrong.
Nice that TPM is using the rethuglican spin in it’s headlines.
No, maybe not so nice.
Maybe fucking stupid.
For the Cavers, please follow the hearing, I thnk Nadler appears OK…
He’s playing a little slap and tickle with Whitaker.
Nadler had to give the assurance so that Whitaker would testify today. Whitaker testifying today is politically bad for the Republicans. So Nadler did cave.
What Nadler should do is issue the subpoena anyway right in front of the witness during the hearing and get him to invoke executive privilege or face contempt. That is what he should do. He won’t because he gave his word. But Whitaker and the Republicans are acting in bad faith so he should return it. His responsibility is to the American people to get the facts and questions answered … his responsibility is not to the witness who has no good faith reason for refusing to answer OR properly invoke executive privilege.
Did Nadler get what he was going after? It appears so. Whitaker will testify, no? Getting one’s desired result is not “caving “. Did he promise never to subpoena him? Again I think not.
Nadler was very clear that he wouldn’t drop a subpoena today. BUT, every instance that Whitaker attempts to use executive privilege, it will be noted and he will be back to testify on each of those, voluntarily or by subpoena. It’s the long game of setting the stage for a judge to rule on. While instant gratification is a desire, nailing bullethead in an airtight case is ultimate goal.
Pffft!
Mr. Whitaker, you have heard of the Bear Jew?
Because sometimes you do your job like a professional, not reacting to the crazy spin and bs coming your way. It seems completely appropriate (ignoring the whining, kicking and screaming) to first give a person a chance to cooperate before you swing the subpoena hammer. Things have gotten so bad we are now surprised when things are done the right way.
Nadler could issue the subpoena mid-hearing after Whitaker refused to answer question AND refuses to formally invoke executive privilege. That way put Whitaker in the hot seat as he’d be forced to answer the question OR invoke executive privilege OR be held in contempt and arrested by Sergeant at Arms for the House. That was what Whitaker was afraid of and so he refused to come if Nadler didn’t promise he would not do this. So Nadler promised.
What Nadler should do now is go back on that promise as it was extracted by someone acting in bad faith. This would dramatically up the confrontation but if he did it the court case would start TOMORROW.
I do think it was a cave by Nadler if he doesn’t break his promise and do the above. But I’m tired of this stupid dance by people acting in bad faith and don’t think people willing to act in good faith have any responsibility whatsoever to let them go on with their stupid bad faith dance.