If you were wondering when the House Judiciary Committee would formally begin its impeachment inquiry into possible high crimes and misdemeanors committed by President Donald Trump, a new court filing suggests that the process could start as soon as Congress returns from recess after Labor Day.
The filing was to expedite a lawsuit which would enforce a subpoena against former White House counsel Don McGahn, Salon reports:
“In the new court filings, counsels for the lawmakers claim that the panel’s investigation has been severely delayed and diminished as a result of the White House’s stonewalling and refusal to comply with document requests related to committee’s oversight efforts.”
But it was the language used by Judiciary Committee chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) that caught the eye of legal experts.
Specifically, the filing reads:
“The committee’s work here is not only time-sensitive. It is also time-intensive — particularly given the thorough consideration required in determining whether to recommend articles of impeachment — and, critically, time-limited.”
McGahn’s testimony is of special importance because he has insider knowledge regarding at least ten instances of potential obstruction of justice by President Trump that were laid out in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s report. Included in those ten is one in which Trump told McGahn to fire Mueller in the summer of 2017 because the president said the special counsel had “conflicts of interest.” In response, McGahn refused, saying he would “rather resign than trigger what he regarded as a potential Saturday Night Massacre.”
At the moment, the White House has told McGahn he cannot testify, citing executive privilege, and an attorney for McGahn says his client won’t appear before Congress unless a judge orders him to.
A majority of House Democrats now say they support the beginning of a formal impeachment inquiry to decide if Trump should be impeached.
Over the next few days, we can expect a ruling on the McGahn subpoena, and once that’s been ordered, the impeachment of Donald Trump can begin.
The Mueller report was only the beginning. Now comes the full investigation and airing of all the crimes Trump has committed since taking office. Even if the Senate doesn’t vote to impeach Trump, a full recitation of his many illegal actions will do great damage to him as the 2020 election draws closer.