Several key witnesses in the House’s impeachment inquiry will be the fist to appear in public hearings next week.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1260565
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1260565
“The move toward public hearings, rather than the behind-closed-doors testimonies that have so far taken place in sealed rooms, marks a new phase in the impeachment inquiry.”
"Phasers on STUN"
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"…as well as further a conspiracy theory of the 2016 election that he believed would be beneficial to his re-election campaign,” he added.
It is frustrating a glaring motive for Trump’s desire to impugn the IC finding of Russian election meddling is ignored. Absolving Russia of election meddling, or at least casting enough doubt over it, puts him in a position to lift sanctions on Russia with minimal political blowback. I think he cares more about what the deliverables are for lifting those sanctions than he does about how much it would elevate his election prospects.
He DESPERATELY wants to please Putin and lift the sanctions. Why is that not talked about in the context of his Ukraine election meddling conspiracy ravings?
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Cue the Republican meltdown, we’ll hear all kinds of awful things about these three witnesses during the next week, none of which will be true. It’s going to be really powerful to watch Taylor and Yovanovich testify, watch the Democrats ask probing questions, and watch the Republicans sink into nonsense as they try to deflect and save Trump. I have a feeling that this will become a turning point, once people see the Republican sideshow compared to the seriousness of the evidence they will have a clear choice on how tho think about what happened.
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The timing doesn’t leave much opportunity for the full House to vote on Jordan’s transfer to the IC. It’d be a shame if he missed those public testimonies next week. If I could only find that tiny violin I like to play on such occasions!
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Will Genius Gym Jordan be the lead rethug by then?
Asking for myself.
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I read an analogy when it was announced Jordan was being moved to the Intel committee. It’s going to be like a visit to the zoo, standing before the monkey cage and watching him fling poo.
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Well, like all good 6 year olds, all the Trumpsters will find that entertaining.
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Because the Intel Committee is a select committee, it is up to the Speaker to appoint or remove any member.
No full vote of the House is required, IIRC.
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Ah, thanks! I do not know that. I think I read somewhere a full House vote was necessary. Well, I’m sure the Speaker’s schedule is already quite full.
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Republicans will also be screaming all week, "Where’s Volker? His is the only “definitive account,” as Gym Jordan put it.
Then Schiff will bring Volker in the following week and be, like, “OK Boomer.”
ETA: And when are the Republicans going to be able to call McGahn, Mulvaney, Pompeo, and Giuliani?
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Public testimony, sounds likes the holiday season is upon us.
Just sitting here, humming “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire”.
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Infrastructure week?
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almost certainly not. Nunes, despite his profound conflict of interest, is not going anywhere. and when it comes to idiotic GOP thuggery, nobody puts Moo-by in the corner.
and apropos of nothing… but maybe Schiff should put empty chairs with name plates for Eisenberg and Ellis, and explain that despite their being massively involved in the cover-up of Trump’s extortion scheme, they refused to talk to the committee – but they have empty chairs because their silence speaks volumes.
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hey, since I’m the one who kept posting the actual house rules (and got TPM to fix their article) how about a h/t! 
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So the Speaker tells the minority party the members of their caucus that will comprise their representation on select committees?
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Appointment by the Speaker is necessary, but it appears to be a formality in practice.
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formally, under the rules, yes.
traditionally, the Speakers have deferred to the minority leaders when choosing members of the minority party for inclusion on these committee.
But AFAIK, there has never been an instance where the membership of the Intelligence committee was revised mid-session for reasons other than a House seat becoming vacant (or perhaps disciplinary actions taken by the House as a whole). So Pelosi would be perfectly within her rights to refuse to change the committee membership.
And this is especially true given Jordan’s participation of the “storming” of the SCIF – an unambiguous demonstration of contempt for security protocols that have no place on the intel committee.
ETA:
The other thing is, Jordan would have to give up his seat on Oversight (where he is ranking member – so that is unlikely) or Judiciary (which will be holding hearings on all proposed articles of Impeachment) in order to join the Intel committee. So which one would he give up?
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Just as soon as we pass a law that makes crime legal.
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