Democrats Conducting Invalid Impeachment Inquiry, Violate Due Process Rights: Police/Intel Advisor Says
House Democrats are breaking with just about every longstanding precedent as to how constitutionally valid impeachment inquiries are conducted, according to an email sent to police spokesman Jim Kouri for the National Association of Chiefs of Police and the editor of Conservative Base.
According to Fox News Channel contributor Lt. Steve Rogers, former chief of detectives for the Nutley, New Jersey Police Department, the House of Representatives have never attempted to launch an impeachment inquiry against a sitting President without voting to authorize it – which the deranged House Democrats are doing now.
In a clear demonstration of their priorities, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi initiated their impeachment inquiry with a press conference instead of following precedent. House Democrats are refusing to respect fundamental due process protections that form the basis for our entire justice system, according to Lt. Rogers, a former member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force in New York and New Jersey.
The President is entitled to due process just like every other American, Rogers reminded Democrats suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS).
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) used to emphasize that “the power of impeachment…demands a rigorous level of due process.” Of course, he was stating his belief based on the fact that then President Bill Clinton was being impeached for a number of charges including perjury.
The U.S. Supreme Court has recognized that due process protections apply to all congressional investigations. But, House Democrats haven’t established any procedures to afford the President even the most basic due process protections demanded by the Constitution.
According to Lt. Rogers, author of the book “Cops & God,” a fair process would include – at a minimum — the right to see all evidence, to present evidence, to call witnesses, to have counsel present at all hearings, to cross-examine all witnesses, to make objections relating to the examination of witnesses or the admissibility of testimony and evidence, and to respond to evidence and testimony.
House Democrats are ignoring nearly 150 years of precedent for the rights to cross-examine witnesses, call witnesses, and present evidence. The Democrat-controlled committees have provided none of these basic constitutional rights in their procedures.
House Democrats have failed to provide co-equal subpoena to House Republicans, ensuring their entire inquiry will be nothing but a one-sided political theater.
They clearly don’t have any interest in gathering the actual facts.
The minority’s right to issue subpoenas has been the standard, bipartisan practice in all recent impeachment inquiries.
House Democrats are trying to have it both ways on oversight and impeachment
They have tried to justify their requests by suggesting that they would seek the information even if impeachment were not underway, but they can’t have it both ways.
House Democrats can’t rely on the established oversight process to gather information for an unauthorized impeachment inquiry.
“In the history of our Nation, the House of Representatives has never attempted to launch an impeachment inquiry against the President without a majority of the House taking political accountability for that decision by voting to authorize such a dramatic constitutional step.”
“To comply with the Constitution’s demands, appropriate procedures would include – at a minimum – the right to see all evidence, to present evidence, to call witnesses, to have counsel present at all hearings, to cross-examine all witnesses, to make objections relating to the examination of witnesses or the admissibility of testimony and evidence, and to respond to evidence and testimony.”
“[T]he Committees must provide for the disclosure of all evidence favorable to the President and all evidence bearing on the credibility of witnesses called to testify in the inquiry.”
“In addition, the House has not provided the Committees’ Ranking Members with the authority to issue subpoenas.”