A Thread for the House Investigation Results and Outcomes

[Northern_Piper]

From the job adverts in Washington, it looks like we’re going to need a new thread, effective January 3:

House Democrats scooping up staff, lawyers to power Trump investigations

The House Judiciary Committee is looking for a few good lawyers.

A recent committee job posting reviewed by CNN asked for legislative counsels with a variety of expertise: “criminal law, immigration law, constitutional law, intellectual property law, commercial and administrative law (including antitrust and bankruptcy), or oversight work.”

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee needs lawyers, too, posting jobs for “executive branch investigative counsel.”

The advertisements give a window into the Democratic recruiting that’s ramped up ahead of the party gaining subpoena power for the first time in eight years when it takes over the House in January.

One person familiar with the Democratic ramp-up in staffing told CNN, “There are a lot of people willing to take pay cuts to come do that work.”

“We’re being deluged with resumes, really impressive resumes. There will be no shortage of good candidates. The difficulty will be choosing among them,” said Rep. Adam Schiff of California, who will lead the House Intelligence Committee next year and will play a key role in investigating Russian election interference.

Schiff has signaled that he also wants to focus on questions about possible money laundering and the Trump Organization. A source familiar with the Intelligence Committee’s planning tells CNN that Schiff is looking to hire investigative staff with expertise in financial crimes.

And, one last point that is sure to have the President a tad worried:

At the center of Democrats’ efforts is the pursuit of Trump’s tax returns. While modern presidents have handed over their returns willingly, Democrats are prepared to force the issue, arguing Trump has defied precedent.

Rep. Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he intends to use an arcane IRS code that allows his committee to ask the Treasury Department for the President’s returns.
…
Depending on what’s in them, Trump’s tax returns could provide information that would feed investigations by other committees.

“I think there’s a lot of information in them that would be of interest to my committee. For example, we’d like to know exactly what our, what has been the sources of income for this President,” Cummings said. “He’s made all kinds of claims that he doesn’t have relationships with Russia. He told us he didn’t have any relationships with Russia; we come to find out that’s not accurate. So there’ve been a lot of allegations, but I think the tax returns, where he has to swear that the information is accurate, that would tell us a lot.”

Deep Throat’s advice is still sound: “Follow the money.”

[jsc1953]

Oh boy…this is going to be good.

[Guest-starring_Id]

Wouldn’t Trump Organization malfeasance be a bigger Achilles heel for him than the Russian meddling?

[Northern_Piper]

I would think so, because it’s more likely to cross over federal and state boundaries, so NY state prosecutors would have jurisdiction. He can’t call them off using his executive powers, and he can’t issue pardons for state offences.

Prosecutions for ordinary commercial frauds are also less vulnerable to allegations that it’s all just politics, which is one of the potential weaknesses of the Russian issue: “You’re just upset because he won the election!”

[Colibri]

@jsc1953

Oh boy…this is going to be good.

My Schadenfreude runneth over.

[bobot]

I hope Republicans will remember Benghazi and Birth Certificates when they whine about their hero being scrutinized!

[jsc1953]

@bobot

I hope Republicans will remember Benghazi and Birth Certificates when they whine about their hero being scrutinized!

Trump has been trying out the phrase “presidential harassment”…I expect we’ll hear more of it next year. He’s also made veiled threats about counter-punching the House, but I’m sure that’s all empty bluster.

[Aspenglow]

@jsc1953

Trump has been trying out the phrase “presidential harassment”…I expect we’ll hear more of it next year. He’s also made veiled threats about counter-punching the House, but I’m sure that’s all empty bluster.

I somehow doubt there will be the same stampede of legal talent willing to work for less pay to take up Trump’s side of the fight. I mean, I guess Trey Gowdy will be available.

[Guest-starring_Id]

@Aspenglow

I mean, I guess Trey Gowdy will be available.

And let’s not forget that fire and brimstone go-getter and sexual abuse-enabling former wrestler Jimmy Jordan. Maybe Chick Grassley - with his shitty turn during the Kavanaugh hearings - could bumble in.
And oh noes1 that whip of a :pNunes:p guy - he’ll get that investigating thingie goin!

[Sherrerd]

@jsc1953

Trump has been trying out the phrase “presidential harassment”…I expect we’ll hear more of it next year. …

And, typical for Trump, he’s fingered himself as the harasser: “presidential _____” virtually always describes actions by the president or description of that president:

“Presidential malfeasance”
“Presidential demeanor”
“Presidential communications”
“Presidential diplomacy”
“Presidential rhetoric”
“Presidential corruption”
“Presidential inaugural address”…etc., etc., etc.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

Support for Trump’s impeachment and removal is now equal to his approval rating: Support for Donald Trump's Impeachment and Removal Now Equal to His Approval Rating, Amid Government Shutdown, Legal Peril

[Northern_Piper]

Forgot to post this article when it came out:

The 5 House chairs who are about to make life much harder for Trump

Jerry Nadler - Chair of the Judiciary Committee; would have responsibility for any impeachment proceedings.

Adam Schiff - Chair of the Intelligence Committee; already indicated he wants to review the Russia thing.

Richard Neal - Chair of Ways and Means; one of the only three people in Congress who have legal authority to request the President’s tax returns from the IRS.

Elijah Cummings - Chair of the House Oversight Committee; has the broadest remit, of general oversight of the federal government.

Maxine Waters - Chair of the Financial Services Committee; can investigate Trump and Trump Organization’s financial doings

[Shoeless]

I’m thinking we’ve probably heard the last about “low IQ Maxine Waters” from Trump, unless he wants her to open a serious can of whup-ass on him.

ETA: Who are the other two who can subpoena Trump’s tax returns?

[Northern_Piper]

According to the article, the Chair of the equivalent Senate Finance committee, and the Chair of the Joint Committee on Taxation. Those two are currently both Republicans, so Neal is the only Democrat who has that power.

[BobLibDem]

Let’s not dance in the end zone yet. The Republicans have thus far refused to nominate any members to serve on the Intelligence Committee, which will be unable to act until they have a quorum. My money says that they will never nominate any members to any committee that they fear will investigate Donald, thus ending the investigations. They live by the motto that play my game by my rules or nobody plays.

[Euphonious_Polemic]

@BobLibDem

Let’s not dance in the end zone yet. The Republicans have thus far refused to nominate any members to serve on the Intelligence Committee, which will be unable to act until they have a quorum. My money says that they will never nominate any members to any committee that they fear will investigate Donald, thus ending the investigations. They live by the motto that play my game by my rules or nobody plays.

So they’re going to obstruct and cover up right to the end?

I really do wonder what sort of compromat there is, and how widespread among Republican politicians…

[mikecurtis]

@BobLibDem

. . . The Republicans have thus far refused to nominate any members to serve on the Intelligence Committee, which will be unable to act until they have a quorum. . . .

How does this work. Is there a committee rule that says it has to have so many Republicans? What if (god forbid :rolleyes: ) there where no Repubs in the House?

mc

[Aspenglow]

@BobLibDem

Let’s not dance in the end zone yet. The Republicans have thus far refused to nominate any members to serve on the Intelligence Committee, which will be unable to act until they have a quorum. My money says that they will never nominate any members to any committee that they fear will investigate Donald, thus ending the investigations. They live by the motto that play my game by my rules or nobody plays.

I heard about this yesterday, once, and quietly. I have no idea why it has not been better publicized for the public to understand what is going on. Really discouraging.

[Railer13]

@BobLibDem

The Republicans have thus far refused to nominate any members to serve on the Intelligence Committee

They are probably still looking for a Pub that’s qualified to serve on the Intelligence Committee.

[SteveG1]

@bobot

I hope Republicans will remember Benghazi and Birth Certificates when they whine about their hero being scrutinized!

I already have my response ready, and I take it directly from them …

“Fuck you and your feelings”.