Bill Summary
This legislation, titled "Resolution Disapproving the Manner in which Chairmen Adam B. Schiff and Jerrold Lewis Nadler Conducted the Impeachment Inquiry of President Donald John Trump," condemns the actions of Chairmen Schiff and Nadler, who are in charge of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Committee on the Judiciary, respectively. The resolution outlines several instances where the Chairmen violated the Rules of the House of Representatives and abused their powers during the impeachment inquiry. These violations include unilaterally announcing investigations without consulting the Ranking Minority Member, releasing a redacted version of a whistleblower complaint without proper procedure, and restricting Republican members' questions and interrupting them during hearings. The resolution also criticizes Chairman Nadler for failing to respond to a request for a minority day of hearings and misstating the rules during committee meetings. The resolution ultimately condemns both Chairmen for their actions and their disregard for the rights of the minority party during the impeachment inquiry.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could affect the reputations of Chairman Schiff and Chairman Nadler, potentially leading to negative public perception and consequences for their political careers.
2. The legislation could limit the power and influence of the minority party in the House of Representatives, as it highlights instances where they were denied the opportunity to call witnesses and ask questions during the impeachment inquiry.
3. The legislation could create a divide within the House of Representatives, as it highlights the actions of the majority party and accuses them of abusing their power and disregarding the rules. This could lead to further conflicts and challenges in passing future legislation.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 770 Laid on Table in House (LTH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 770
Disapproving the manner in which Chairman Adam B. Schiff of the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Chairman Jerrold Lewis
Nadler of the Committee on the Judiciary have conducted committee
action during the impeachment inquiry of President Donald John Trump.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 18, 2019
Mr. McCarthy submitted the following resolution; which was laid on the
table
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Disapproving the manner in which Chairman Adam B. Schiff of the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Chairman Jerrold Lewis
Nadler of the Committee on the Judiciary have conducted committee
action during the impeachment inquiry of President Donald John Trump.
Whereas Chairman Schiff and Chairman Nadler willfully and intentionally violated
the Rules of the House of Representatives by abusing and exceeding their
powers as Chairmen of Committees;
Whereas, on September 9, 2019, without consultation of the Ranking Minority
Member, in violation of rule 9 of the Rules of the Permanent Select
Committee on Intelligence, Chairman Schiff, in coordination with the
Committees on Oversight and Reform and Foreign Affairs announced a wide-
ranging investigation into the ``Trump-Giuliani Ukraine scheme'';
Whereas, on September 26, 2019, in an unprecedented action, Chairman Schiff
unilaterally released a redacted version of the August 2019
whistleblower complaint;
Whereas, on September 26, 2019, in his opening statement at a public hearing,
Chairman Schiff engaged in a false retelling of the July 25, 2019,
telephone conversation between President Trump and President Zelensky;
Whereas, on November 20, 2019, a letter was transmitted from the Ranking
Minority Member to Chairman Schiff requesting, pursuant to House
Resolution 660, the concurrence of the chair to issue certain subpoenas;
Whereas, on November 20, 2019, after excusing the witnesses at an open hearing,
and without prior notice to the Republicans on the Committee, Chairman
Schiff announced that the Committee had a ``business matter to take up''
and convened an impromptu business meeting to consider the Ranking
Minority Member's November 20 request concerning certain subpoenas;
Whereas, on November 20, 2019, Chairman Schiff violated clause 2(g)(3) of rule
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, which states, ``The
chair of a committee shall announced the date, place, and subject matter
of . . . a committee meeting, which may not commence earlier than the
third calendar day . . . on which members have notice thereof'';
Whereas, on November 20, 2019, Chairman Schiff's actions further violated
paragraph 4(B) of House Resolution 660, which states, ``In the case that
the chair declines to concur in a proposed action of the ranking
minority member . . . the ranking minority member shall have the right
to refer to the committee for decision the question whether such
authority shall be so exercised and the chair shall convene the
committee promptly to render that decision, subject to the notice
procedures for a committee meeting under clause 2(g)(3)(A) and (B) of
rule XI'';
Whereas, on November 21, 2019, pursuant to clause 2(j)(1) of rule XI of the
Rules of the House of Representatives, all Republican Members on the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence wrote to Chairman Schiff
demanding to call witnesses at a minority day of hearings;
Whereas, subsequent to receiving the request for an additional day of hearings
by members of the minority party, Chairman Schiff refused to schedule
such hearings;
Whereas, on December 6, 2019, Chairman Schiff, without consultation of the
Ranking Minority Member, in violation of section 3 of House Resolution
660, unilaterally transmitted additional records and other materials to
the Committee on the Judiciary;
Whereas Chairman Schiff compelled the production of documents from AT&T and
Verizon and, in violation of clause 2(k)(6) of rule XI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, publicly used these documents to smear the
personal attorneys of the President, a journalist, and to create a false
narrative about a sitting Member of Congress and current and former
congressional staff;
Whereas on multiple occasions in both closed-door depositions and public
hearings, Chairman Schiff abused his power as chair by unilaterally
restricting Republican lines of questions and supporting witnesses'
attempts to evade answering Republicans' [or ``the minority's'']
questions by directing witnesses not to answer certain questions from
Republican Members and staff;
Whereas on multiple occasions in both closed-door depositions and public
hearings, Chairman Schiff abused his power as chair by failing to follow
proper parliamentary procedure, failing to recognize Members who wished
to raise valid points of order, and repeatedly interrupting Republican
Members and staff when they controlled the time;
Whereas at the House Judiciary Committee's first hearing pursuant to House
Resolution 660, on December 4, 2019, Chairman Nadler was furnished with
a request for a minority day of hearings, pursuant to clause 2(j)(1) of
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, signed by all
Republican Members of the Committee;
Whereas subsequent to receiving the request for an additional day of hearings by
members of the minority party, Chairman Nadler refused to schedule such
hearings;
Whereas Ranking Minority Member Collins furnished Chairman Nadler with a letter
reminding him of his obligation to schedule a minority day of hearings,
as requested by members of the minority party, and Chairman Nadler
ignored the letter and failed to respond;
Whereas Chairman Nadler repeatedly misstated the rules, misguiding members of
the Committee and the American people, and refused to rule properly on
members' points of order concerning the requested minority hearing day;
Whereas Chairman Nadler refused to consider the scheduling of the minority
hearing day during a committee meeting until the markup of articles of
impeachment;
Whereas in place of finding common ground with the minority, Chairman Schiff and
Chairman Nadler have constantly disregarded the Rules of the House of
Representatives and ignored the fundamental rights of the minority; and
Whereas Chairman Schiff's and Chairman Nadler's actions and abuses of power as
chairmen of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the
Committee on the Judiciary have willfully trampled on the rights of the
minority in violation of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
brought dishonor and discredit upon the House of Representatives: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the House of Representatives strongly condemns Chairman
Adam B. Schiff for repeated and blatant abuse of power in a way
that is not befitting an elected Member of the House of
Representatives nor his position as Chairman; and
(2) the House of Representatives strongly condemns the
manner in which Chairman Jerrold Lewis Nadler has failed to
respond to the minority's request for an additional day of
hearings to consider the impeachment of President Donald John
Trump.
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