Pelosi to Hold Vote to Formalize Impeachment Inquiry and Bring It to ‘Open’ Phase
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced on Monday that lawmakers will vote on a resolution that would effectively formalize the impeachment proceedings into Donald Trump, a major step in a weeks-long process that has ensnared the current presidency.
The resolution, which will be considered by the House Rules Committee, appears on the surface to be a bow to process criticisms that Trump and his allies have been making for weeks. But in a letter to her colleagues announcing her decision, Pelosi framed her decision as an attempt to outline the next steps forward as lawmakers move to more “open” hearings, in addition to removing any doubt about the legitimacy of the inquiry.
“This resolution establishes the procedure for hearings that are open to the American people, authorizes the disclosure of deposition transcripts, outlines procedures to transfer evidence to the Judiciary Committee as it considers potential articles of impeachment, and sets forth due process rights for the President and his Counsel,” Pelosi’s letter reads. “We are taking this step to eliminate any doubt as to whether the Trump Administration may withhold documents, prevent witness testimony, disregard duly authorized subpoenas, or continue obstructing the House of Representatives.”