Jerry Nadler Gives Trump Friday Deadline; Impeachment to Include Russia Collusion

House Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) wrote to President Donald Trump Friday, giving him until Friday, Dec. 6., to answer whether he and his lawyers would participate in the “impeachment inquiry.”

Nadler’s letter quotes the forthcoming report from the House Intelligence Committee, which will be written entirely by Democrats and which will recommend drafting articles of impeachment against the president. The report will state that there was “a months-long effort in which President Trump again sought foreign interference in our elections for his personal and political benefit at the expense of our national interest”; and that the president conducted “an unprecedented campaign of obstruction in an effort to prevent the Committees from obtaining documentary evidence and testimony.”

The word “again” suggests that the House Intelligence Committee will not limit its report to allegations that Trump invited Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 election, but will also state that Trump sought Russian interference in the 2016 election — even though Special Counsel Robert Mueller found there to be no evidence of such collusion.

Appeals court upholds order blocking IRS from sharing taxpayer data with ICE

Senator’s daughter wins Democratic nod in closely watched race to replace outgoing Dem incumbent

Data shows Amazon jet’s key braking systems did not deploy during deadly Miami crash: NTSB

Ex-Dem lobbyist for company that promoted addictive opioid clears key gubernatorial hurdle

Wife of top ex-Biden advisor easily advances to House showdown in November

Cold case takes grim turn after remains identified as runaway teen; homicide investigation underway

Establishment Dem defeats socialist challenger in crucial battleground Senate primary

Incumbent GOP governor rolls to primary victory after keeping Trump at a distance

New Hampshire Senate race set between John Sununu and Chris Pappas

Nancy Pelosi Disclosed a Multi-Million Dollar AI Investment Just Weeks Before the Stock Blew Up

Turning Point Condemns Georgetown ‘Mockers and Trolls’ Planning Event for Charlie Kirk’s Death Anniversary

US Marshals Find 79 Missing and Endangered Children During Historic Operation

Netanyahu denies UAE warned him ahead of Oct. 7 as blame for massacre dominates Israeli election season

Breaking: US Responds to Failed Iran Strikes, Attacks Oil Tankers as Iran’s Economy Deteriorates

US says it destroyed five Iranian tankers after Navy warship targeted with missiles

Nadler added that Trump is being investigated for obstruction of justice, relating to actions described by Mueller in the second volume of his report, though Mueller did not recommend prosecution and Attorney General William Barr rejected obstruction charges against Trump on the merits.

The White House cooperated fully with Mueller and never exerted executive privilege over any witnesses or documents. It has resisted participating in the House “impeachment inquiry,” which it regards as illegitimate.

Nadler has invited the president and his counsel to call and question witnesses, in accordance with the House resolution authorizing the impeachment inquiry last month — though the president was not allowed to do so in the Intelligence Committee inquiry. However, Nadler and the Democratic majority on the committee can overrule requests for witnesses.

In addition, the House Rules Committee warned last month that Nadler would be allowed to limit the president’s ability to call witnesses if he does not provide witnesses and documents the committee wants.

Republicans criticized Nadler’s letter. Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC), who participated in the earlier round of closed-door hearings, said that Nadler’s letter proved that the president had previously been denied due process rights: