House Judiciary Committee Passes Resolution on Impeachment Inquiry Rules

The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved a resolution which defines the scope of a potential impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

The party-line 24-17 vote occurred after two hours of debate between Democrats and Republicans about the so-called inquiry’s parameters.

House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-NY) tried to clear up any misconceptions as the committee approved guidelines for impeachment hearings on President Trump. Some of Nadler’s fellow Democrats — including House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) — have stumbled over how to explain what they’re doing.

Newsom Investigates After Reports of Anti-Trump Social Media Censorship (Where Was He When Twitter Banned Trump?) Then the Embarrassing Truth Hit

Calm amid chaos: Noem defies calls to resign, touts border victory as shutdowns, storms, and riots swirl

This Senate Democrat wants voter ID for his campaign events — but not federal elections

Ellen DeGeneres Comes Crawling Back to US After Fleeing Post-Trump Victory, Buys $27 Million California Mansion

Virginia Democrat gives profanity-laced response to Cruz’s criticism of the state’s redistricting push

Trump Admin Discovers ‘Staggering’ Billions Stolen in Suspected California Small Business Fraud

Two teens arrested after 15-year-old shot near Washington DC’s Union Station

Bishop Ronald Hicks replaces Dolan as Archbishop of New York with installation at St Patrick’s

Trump Announces ‘Clues’ Found in Nancy Guthrie Disappearance: ‘We Could Have Some Answers’

Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill JD Vance was in possession of child sexual abuse materials: DOJ

‘Superhuman’ Boy, 13, Swims 4 Hours in Frigid Water then Runs Over a Mile to Rescue His Mother, Sister, and Brother Lost at Sea

Fact Check: Did Trump Post a ‘Racist Video’ of the Obamas?

Trump says nuclear talks in Oman were ‘very good,’ claims Iran wants a deal ‘very badly’

DeSantis celebrates end of ‘witch hunt’ after Trump DOJ reportedly drops Hope Florida Foundation complaint

Trump vows to ‘unleash’ commercial fishing off New England, reversing Obama-era Atlantic restrictions

“Some call this process an impeachment inquiry. Some call it an impeachment investigation. There is no legal difference between these terms, and I no longer care to argue about the nomenclature,” Nadler said as he opened the meeting. “But let me clear up any remaining doubt: The conduct under investigation poses a threat to our democracy. We have an obligation to respond to this threat. And we are doing so.”

Republicans disagree with Nadler and they argue that the House has never voted to open an official inquiry. Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), the top Republican on the committee, said the committee “has become a giant Instagram filter … it’s put in there to look like something, but it’s really not.”

Collins said Democrats are trying to have it both ways.

“My colleagues know very well they don’t have the votes to authorize impeachment proceedings on the House floor, but they want to impeach the president anyway,” Collins said. “So, they are pretending to initiate impeachment.”

Impeachment has divided Democrats who control the House. Democrats on Nadler’s committee, including some of the most liberal members of the House, have been eager to move forward with the process. But moderates, mostly first-term lawmakers who handed their party the majority in the 2018 election, are concerned about the committee’s drumbeat on impeachment and the attention that comes with that continued action.