https://www.theepochtimes.com/democrats-to-continue-impeachment-investigations-regardless-of-senate-trial-outcome_3176517.html
House lawmakers will continue their impeachment probe against President Donald Trump even after the vote to oust the president later this week; House Democrat attorneys told a federal court on Dec. 16.
House General Counsel Douglas Letter in a filing on Monday to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, highlighted the urgency of grand jury materials that were demanded by the House, which are connected to former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation. He argued that ahead of the Senate’s scheduled impeachment trial next month, such evidence might become relevant, reported Politico.
Citing a report outlining the probe released Monday by the House Judiciary Committee, Letter added that separately, the panel plans to push on with its impeachment probe, regardless of the outcome from the Senate trial.
“The committee has continued and will continue [its impeachment] investigations consistent with its own prior statements respecting their importance and purposes,” Letter wrote.
The House is expected to vote on two articles of impeachment against Trump on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The president faces a charge of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.
The impeachment investigation centers around allegations that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a potential political rival. Democrats also claim the president withheld aid to Ukraine and dangled the prospect of a White House meeting as leverage to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to comply with his request. Both Trump and Zelensky have repeatedly said there was no quid pro quo or pressure.
A 123-page report released by House Republicans on Dec. 2 maintained that the ongoing inquiry into Trump currently rests entirely on secondhand evidence, assumptions, and speculation.
While Democrats assert that the allegation that Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate Biden has been proven, during the past month, no witness has offered firsthand evidence of Trump exerting pressure or conditioning any official act on Ukraine’s compliance with his request.
“The evidence does not support the accusation that President Trump pressured President Zelensky to initiate investigations for the purpose of benefiting the President in the 2020 election,” the report stated.
David Adams
Article URL : https://www.theepochtimes.com/democrats-to-continue-impeachment-investigations-regardless-of-senate-trial-outcome_3176517.html