Pompeo says State Dept. officials won't show up for scheduled impeachment depositions this week
Last edited Tue Oct 1, 2019, 03:42 PM - Edit history (1)
Source: Washington Post
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fired a broadside at House Democrats on Tuesday, saying State Department officials scheduled to appear this week before committees conducting the impeachment inquiry would not be made available until "we obtain further clarity on these matters."
The refusal, in a letter to House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.), described the demand for depositions by five officials who played a role in U.S. relations with Ukraine as "an attempt to intimidate, bully, and treat improperly, the distinguished professionals of the Department of State." The statements came as Pompeo's role in the Ukraine investigation broadened with reports that he was a participant in the July 25 call by President Trump to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, which led to the impeachment investigation.
Before that report, first published by The Wall Street Journal, Pompeo had brushed off questions about the incident, saying last week that he had not yet read the transcript of the telephone call released by the White House, or the whistleblower complaint that it sparked.
The committee, along with the House Intelligence and Oversight panels, had requested the five officials to appear for depositions this week and next, to begin Wednesday with Marie Yovanovitch, who was recalled by Pompeo as ambassador to Ukraine in May, prior to the end of her tour.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/pompeo-says-state-dept-officials-wont-show-up-for-scheduled-impeachment-depositions-this-week/2019/10/01/b350f8a2-e459-11e9-a331-2df12d56a80b_story.html
Edit - here is a copy of the letter that Pompass sent - https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/read-secretary-of-state-mike-pompeo-s-letter-to-the-chairman-of-the-house-foreign-affairs-committee/06381877-dc0e-445c-baf5-8a003d49b7bf/
Dennis Donovan
(18,770 posts)ENOUGH of this nonsense.
dalton99a
(81,070 posts)cstanleytech
(26,080 posts)RKP5637
(67,032 posts)The democrats are going to look too soft and easy!!!
monmouth4
(9,664 posts)still_one
(91,965 posts)delay tactic, at the worst it is the attempted destruction of the republic
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)This can't be allowed any longer.
Botany
(70,291 posts)Subpoenas
Congressional rules empower all its standing committees with the authority to compel witnesses to produce testimony and documents for subjects under its jurisdiction. Committee rules may provide for the full committee to issue a subpoena, or permit subcommittees or the chairman (acting alone or with the ranking member) to issue subpoenas.
As announced in Wilkinson v. United States, a Congressional committee must meet three requirements for its subpoenas to be "legally sufficient." First, the committee's investigation of the broad subject area must be authorized by its chamber; second, the investigation must pursue "a valid legislative purpose" but does not need to involve legislation and does not need to specify the ultimate intent of Congress; and third, the specific inquiries must be pertinent to the subject matter area that has been authorized for investigation.
The Court held in Eastland v. United States Servicemen's Fund that Congressional subpoenas are within the scope of the Speech and Debate clause which provides "an absolute bar to judicial interference" once it is determined that Members are acting within the "legitimate legislative sphere" with such compulsory process. Under that ruling, courts generally do not hear motions to quash Congressional subpoenas; even when executive branch officials refuse to comply, courts tend to rule that such matters are "political questions" unsuitable for judicial remedy. In fact, many legal rights usually associated with a judicial subpoena do not apply to a Congressional subpoena. For example, attorney-client privilege and information that is normally protected under the Trade Secrets Act do not need to be recognized.
joost5
(421 posts)It's authorized by chamber - check, it's to oversee the Exec branch - check, it's specific to the subject of T's call to Ukrainian president - check. They're trying to stall till 2020 and say it's politically motivated by the election.
Time to lock them up now.
Botany
(70,291 posts)... seems like a clear cut case of inherent contempt to me and this is in Congress' per view.
samnsara
(17,570 posts)lunatica
(53,410 posts)she was also innocent and had nothing to hide. Same cant be said about these guys. Its not even much of a question anymore on what the motivation for all this obfuscation, delaying tactics and general all around criminality are for. Only the truly stupid dont see this for what it is.
Soon theyll be whipping out the flag to wrap themselves in. You know, Scoundrels, patriotism...
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,788 posts)at140
(6,110 posts)The Trumpians are counting on re-election.
SunSeeker
(51,377 posts)redstatebluegirl
(12,264 posts)Just keep piling them on Pompeo.
pazzyanne
(6,518 posts)KPN
(15,587 posts)Or do we have more steps to go through? Do we provide clarity" in the form of a response letter and does that letter iterate the dates for appearance before investigative committee(?) under this subpoena and possibly threaten "inherent contempt" for further delay tactics?
RKP5637
(67,032 posts)Right to Jail!!! The democrats need to start taking some hard nosed action!!!
Delmette2.0
(4,143 posts)They can wait there until Putin and Trump figure out what to do.
RKP5637
(67,032 posts)his bag of tricks. These are not nice people and F'en evil.
Delmette2.0
(4,143 posts)Once a few of them are jailed the next ones will think twice before refusing. (That's based on a lot of hope.)
RKP5637
(67,032 posts)Hotler
(11,353 posts)RKP5637
(67,032 posts)solara
(3,832 posts)or his minions. This was another little Rubicon. Pompeo believes he is also above the Law and he most likely is, just like his boss, the tyrant trump.
I sure hope someone can talk me down.. but I am only one of the millions who are incredibly tired of this crap; who are worn out with the trump administration's myriad crimes that have absolutely no penalty.
I think I am done.
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)what would it take to simply REMOVE Pompeo from his position for insubordination? He will not obey the law of the land, so why should taxpayers pay his salary and perks? Also, catch Stephen Miller before he gets into the WH, arrest the little prick and jail him until he decides to talk.
solara
(3,832 posts)He won't obey the Rule of Law so why should we taxpayers keep paying him to continue rubbing our faces in his arrogance? And capturing Miller on his way to the WH just goes without saying.
These are great ideas...
Scarsdale
(9,426 posts)travel, too. For Pompeo, Barr and Guiliani. They are using taxpayer funded travel to encourage other countries to undermine the US.
solara
(3,832 posts)duforsure
(11,882 posts)Make these people show up for Congress or have consequences that'll make them all take notice, instead of being able to just ignore Congress completely. Jail , fines , removal from office positions, along with refusals to answer questions or this just continues to go on without them being held accountable for anything.
northoftheborder
(7,566 posts)apnu
(8,722 posts)... time to hold every one of these scumbags in Contempt of Congress and formally charge them, the department heads, and Trump with Obstruction of Justice.
The time for being nice is past. Get mean, get ugly.
barbtries
(28,702 posts)lock them up. this cannot go on
LiberalArkie
(15,686 posts)JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)benld74
(9,889 posts)If Perdue said the same thing
And I was called to testify
I would still testify
Heads of these departments are POTUS selected
Workers at these departments
Are the actual workers.
Pepsidog
(6,252 posts)benld74
(9,889 posts)State Department inspector general tells Capitol Hill he'd like to meet tomorrow to "provide staff with copies of documents related to the State Department and Ukraine."
duforsure
(11,882 posts)He'll be one of them heading to prison, and their will be many more. Whistle blowers and leaks, and the people not willing to go to prison for trump will be exposing a lot of stuff they've been doing that was illegal, and Pompeo will either turn , or be going away.
BumRushDaShow
(127,312 posts)because they expect a full pardon/commutation of sentence.
librechik
(30,663 posts)Nevermypresident
(781 posts)ancianita
(35,813 posts)RKP5637
(67,032 posts)rickyhall
(4,889 posts)Lulu KC
(2,547 posts)How dare he.
Seriously.
SomewhereInTheMiddle
(275 posts)The President, Vice President and all Civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
U.S. Constitution, Article II, section 4
The House can choose to expand the impeachment investigation to include officials who refuse to cooperate. That is one of the checks the Legislative branch has on the Executive. Although it is likely that the Senate would fail to convict in the SecState's case as well as the POTUS'.
Another is the power of the purse. The House can choose to defund some or all of the State Department or Justice Department or .... This would be massively controversial and highly irresponsible. But choosing to defund parts of the departments' budgets might be done as a targeted statement to make a stand - say the Secretary's staff or travel budget.
The third option I see is the Contempt of Congress route. I'd imagine the President can pardon anyone cited for Contempt in a federal venue, but I could be wrong. He cannot pardon from impeachment and conviction or from budget cuts.
Letting Executive officials ignore COngress breaks the delicate balance of power between the branches. It is bad for the nation.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)If we don't show the nation that no one is above the law, we'll lose.
Chakaconcarne
(2,387 posts)You would think they'd take this opportunity to completely shut down democrats and the fake news media....
But once again, they pass on the opportunity... very strange.
dchill
(38,322 posts)Native
(5,935 posts)Regardless of what Pompeo says given she was fired.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,111 posts)Kablooie
(18,571 posts)The rampant criminality of this regime. If they cant this impeachment isnt going to get very far.
It is a crazy challenge when all your witnesses simply ignore the law.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)vlyons
(10,252 posts)Clearly an abuse of power. OK Dems -- time to exercise your power!
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)Harvard is taking back your law degree, since you decided the law doesn't apply to you.
West Point wants to retroactively bust you down to private for taking a dump on the oath you took to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
Thunderbeast
(3,383 posts)It is clear that Barr will not let Federal Marshals execute arrests.
The Sargent at Arms doesn't have enough arms to confront the security details of these criminals.
Who can Pelosi deputize to make arrests?
D.C. Police?
Virginia State Police?
Ginger Baker's Air Force? (Damn! Just found out Ginger is hospitalized. Best wishes.)
Mall cops from Tyson's Corners?
orangecrush
(19,237 posts)And there needs to be one, quickly.
The headlines are making it look like he is flipping off the House and getting away with it scot free.
ffr
(22,649 posts)We have ceased to be a democracy. No other way to see it.
LiberalLovinLug
(14,154 posts)I guess the founders, and others after, never even contemplated the possibility of such a draconian administration. And what happens if the accused and their witnesses simply refuse to show up? There does not seem to be any recourse. A party can keep it in the courts for years in litigation. They can't arrest anyone because they will just say they are appealing the decision and so are protected until the appeal is over.
I think the only way to finally do this is rising up, surrounding the White House, like Michael Moore suggested, and demand justice.
onecaliberal
(32,489 posts)world wide wally
(21,719 posts)turbinetree
(24,632 posts)Linda Ed
(492 posts)Hey Pompeo, remember last week, when you lied on national TV about when you found out about the July 25 phone call with Ukraine?
A survey of 50 former American ambassadors & senior national security officials found 85% disapprove of your performance: Serious morale issues are continuing under Pompeo. No one believes he really cares about the institution or its people. On top of failing to protect the DoS from the verbal and investigatory abuses of this administration, he also traitorously is pushing foreign governments to investigate and discredit our CIA and FBI. You have no right to say our duly elected Congress can't hold this criminal administration accountable.
Democrats must be ready to immediately Impeach Pompeo and any other Trump admin official who blocks oversight in the Impeachment Hearings.
If they arent guilty, they will have nothing to worry about.
Complying with a Congressional subpoena when issued is part of your duty as a citizen and government personnel.
Sebastian Gorka Was a Wanted Man in Hungary the Entire Time He Worked in the White House
Why is the criminal, Seb Gorka, flying with you on government planes? He has no security clearances and no role in our government! His nebulous role at the White House was never fully defined during his eight-month tenure in the Trump administration, is wanted in connection with firearm or ammunition abuse
Nitram
(22,671 posts)BlueWI
(1,736 posts)I guess this response seems advisable in the short term.
reggaehead
(269 posts)Like a border State Child Detention Center