From left, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa., Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz., and Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, pose for a group photo on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 16
House Republicans on Wednesday stormed the secure room
where lawmakers have been questioning impeachment inquiry witnesses, as their
frustration with the closed-door proceedings mounts.
More than a dozen GOP lawmakers convened outside the
meeting room and were promptly kicked out.
“This is an outrage,” Rep. Debbie Lesko,
Arizona Republican, said.
The impeachment inquiry is centered on allegations that
President Trump attempted to pressure Ukrainian President Zelensky to open
investigations for his own personal gain, lead by the House Intelligence,
Foreign Affairs, and Oversight committees.
Only members on those three committees — Republicans and
Democrats — have been allowed in the room to ask questions, a fact Democrats
have been highlighting as they push back on GOP criticism.
Over the past two weeks, several Republicans not on those
committees have tried to get access to the secret depositions and transcripts
of those meetings, but this is the largest group to attempt it.
As of late Wednesday morning, roughly 20 Republican
lawmakers refused to leave the secure hearing room where Defense Department
official Laura Cooper was scheduled to testify.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Democrat, said the
sit-in has derailed Ms. Cooper’s testimony and it was unclear when it would
start again. Ms. Cooper was not in the room at the time, she said.
Democratic lawmakers leaving the room said those that
entered the room brought their cell phones, which is against the rules for a
secured area.
“They had no regard for the
witness or making sure we can continue to hold the president accountable and
ensure we can get to the bottom of this,” Ms. Wasserman Schultz said. “If they
don’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to the substance of evidence, they
have to argue process.”
However, as the minority party, Republicans don’t have
many options to force their hand.
“It’s really unfortunate that they [Democrats] have the
votes and apparently they are not following any procedures, any precedents, any
rules,” Ms. Lesko told The Washington Times.
“I’ll tell you what, if we are in the majority, I would
not allow this kind of unfair process to go on,” she added.
For weeks Republicans have slammed the process as a
“sham” that has shut the American people out of the process by keeping the
meetings with witnesses behind closed doors. They’re repeatedly demanding
Democrats need to hold a vote to authorize the investigation and accused those
running the investigations of ushering out “cherry-picked” leaks.
They’ve decried what they see as a lack of due process for
the president, arguing the identity of the whistleblower that first put forward
the allegations should be revealed.
“House Democrats are bypassing constitutional norms and
basic standards of due process with their impeachment obsession,” Rep. Mark
Walker, North Carolina Republican, said. “The president is not above justice.
But, as you know, neither is he below it.”
...
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/oct/23/republicans-storm-secure-room-demanding-more-acces/
