Democrats on Tuesday will push the House Judiciary Committee to consider a “resolution of inquiry” from Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., which is aimed at unearthing information from the Justice Department about President Trump’s alleged business ties to Russia.
The resolution seeks documents “relating to the financial practices of the president,” including any relating to “criminal or counterintelligence” investigations targeting Trump and foreign government investments in Trump’s vast business holdings.
Nadler charged that by relegating the matter to committee, instead of bringing it straight to the floor for full House consideration, Republican leaders are dodging the issue.
Republicans “prefer that only a few of their safest members be forced to take a vote on this matter,” Nadler charged in a statement. “The majority must decide between conducting basic oversight of President Trump, on the one hand, or being complicit in potential misdeeds by Trump and his associates, on the other. Given their refusal to hold the president accountable so far, they are clearly trying to contain the damage.”
On Monday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., again rebuffed calls to examine former national security adviser Mike Flynn’s discussions with Russia’s U.S. ambassador.
For months, the committee has been investigating Russian hacking of Democratic Party officials’ emails and Nunes recently expanded it to explore potential inappropriate contact between the White House and Moscow. Nadler said even the timing of his resolution’s consideration is suspect.
By scheduling it for the same day as Trump’s address to Congress, which will snatch most of Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s headlines, Republicans are attempting “to bury our debate,” he said.
“Members of Congress have an obligation to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch,” he stated. “I remain hopeful that at least some of my Republican colleagues will carefully consider our oath of office, and choose to support this resolution on Tuesday.”
