House Democrats have launched a sweeping probe into Donald Trump, related to alleged corruption, obstruction of justice, and abuse of power. Jerrold Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chair, has requested documents from 81 sources, including the Trump family, the Trump Organization, Trump business associates, and current and former White House staff members. The Democrats’ probe could be an important step toward impeachment proceedings against Trump.
Nadler is head of the panel that would be responsible for any impeachment efforts against the president. Nadler cautioned, however, that now is not the time to consider impeachment. Instead, he said, Congress should focus on Trump’s abuses of power.
Among Trump’s actions that will be investigated for abuse of power are his attacks on federal judges and on the media, as well as his hints at offering pardons for people who might be witnesses against him. Some of the allegations against Trump, including campaign finance violations, are supported by the testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal lawyer.
Nadler told ABC’s This Week that the Democrats’ probe into Trump is an effort to “lay out for the American people” the extent of Trump’s malfeasance. “We have sent these document requests in order to begin building the public record,” Nadler said.
He also pointed out that, though Robert Mueller has been investigating Trump, Mueller’s investigation is focused on the Trump’s purported collusion with Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign and does not address Trump’s other alleged offenses and gross abuses of power. “We have to focus much more broadly on abuses of power,” Nadler said.
Trump responded to news of the Democrats’ probe in his classic mode: “So now they go and morph into, let’s inspect every deal he’s ever done,” “These people are sick. They’re sick.” He went on to call House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) “Little Shifty Schiff.”
Trump went on: “You put the wrong people in a couple of positions…And they leave people for a long time that shouldn’t be there and all of a sudden they are trying to take you out with bullshit, okay?”
Even if the Democrats’ probe into Donald Trump uncovers and establishes a pattern of criminal behavior and power abuse, will it make a difference, or will it simply make Trump more of a victimized hero to his base?
Democrats announce a broad probe into President Trump | CNN [2019-03-04]
House Democrats expand corruption probe into President Trump |
Fox News [2019-03-04]
