The leader of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee indicated Tuesday he’s prepared to subpoena a Justice Department official who played a key role in the inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 census after he skipped an appearance before the panel.
John Gore, the acting head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, was scheduled to appear at a hearing before the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to discuss the Census Bureau’s progress ahead of the 2020 census.
But Gore did not attend, frustrating Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C.
“Congress, and more importantly, the people we represent, would benefit from his testimony and appearance. But he isn’t here, which is disappointing to say the least,” Gowdy said. “Should he decide to show up, there is a seat waiting for him. If he does not decide to show up, then we will have another opportunity to quiz him about some of the issues that have already been raised.”
Gowdy later suggested he would issue a subpoena to compel Gore to appear before the committee.
“He’s coming to talk at some point or another whether he wants to or not,” the South Carolina Republican said. “I don’t think it’s fair to the folks who did show up, particularly when we’re operating under a time constraint, to spend a lot of time focused on one that did not show up. So, I’m happy to issue a subpoena.”
Gowdy said Gore would appear before the committee “by legal compulsory if necessary,” but reminded his colleagues on the panel that issuing a subpoena “should not be confused” with him talking.
“I can’t make someone talk. I can make them sit at that table and listen to our questions,” he said.
The Commerce Department announced in March the 2020 census would include a citizenship question, which the Trump administration said was needed to ensure better enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.
But the decision has garnered criticism from Democrats and civil rights groups, who fear adding a citizenship question to the census will cause a population undercount that would disproportionately affect states and cities with large immigrant populations.
The Justice Department sent a letter to the Commerce Department in December requesting a citizenship question be added to the census. It was later revealed by ProPublica that Gore was behind the letter.
