House of Democrats lose faith in Mueller probe, launch their own investigation
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler on Monday announced an investigation into President Trump’s campaign, businesses, transition and administration, a probe that would lay the groundwork for Democrats to appease their leftist base to pursue impeachment proceedings against the Trump.
The Judiciary Committee on Monday sent letters to 81 people and entities, a group which included White House, the Justice Department, senior campaign officials, Trump Organization officials and the President’s sons.
Nadler has said it’s too soon to be discussing impeachment.
“We do not now have the evidence all sorted out and everything to do an impeachment,” Nadler said in an interview on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “Before you impeach somebody, you have to persuade the American public that it ought to happen.”
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They are seeking documents and communications on issues that include FBI Director James Comey’s firing, possible pardons offered to Trump officials, Trump’s finances and foreign governments, “catch-and-kill” payments involving the National Enquirer’s parent company and Trump, Trump campaign contacts with Russians and WikiLeaks and communications between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Nadler said that it was “very clear” the President had obstructed justice.
“It’s very clear — 1,100 times he referred to the Mueller investigation as a witch hunt, he tried to — he fired — he tried to protect (former national security adviser Michael) Flynn from being investigated by the FBI,” Nadler said. “He fired (former FBI Director James) Comey in order to stop the Russian thing, as he told NBC News. … He’s intimidated witnesses, in public.”
“We don’t even know what the Mueller report says, but Democrats are already hedging their bets” Georgia Rep. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said in a statement. “After recklessly prejudging the president for obstruction, Chairman Nadler is pursuing evidence to back up his conclusion because, as he admits, ‘we don’t have the facts yet.'”
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders echoed that criticism in a statement Monday night.
“Today, Chairman Nadler opened up a disgraceful and abusive investigation into tired, false allegations already investigated by the Special Counsel and committees in both Chambers of Congress,” Sanders said. “Chairman Nadler and his fellow Democrats have embarked on this fishing expedition because they are terrified that their two-year false narrative of ‘Russia collusion’ is crumbling. Their intimidation and abuse of American citizens is shameful.”
She added, “Democrats are harassing the President to distract from their radical agenda of making America a socialist country, killing babies after they’re born, and pushing a ‘green new deal’ that would destroy jobs and bankrupt America. The American people deserve a Congress that works with the President to address serious issues like immigration, healthcare, and infrastructure. The Democrats are more interested in pathetic political games and catering to a radical, leftist base than on producing results for our citizens. The Democrats are not after the truth, they are after the President.”
Asked about the request on Monday, Trump told reporters, “I cooperate all the time with everybody.”
“You know the beautiful thing: no collusion,” Trump said during a photo opportunity with the champion North Dakota State Bison football team. “It is all a hoax. You’re going to learn about that as you grow older. It’s a political hoax. There’s no collusion.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters at an event in Fort Worth, Texas, that “to do anything less would be delinquent in our duties.”
“I think what they’re doing is exercising their constitutional responsibility for oversight,” said Pelosi.
