Chairman Graham Introduces Resolution Condemning House of Representatives’ Closed Door Impeachment Process
WASHINGTON – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) introduced a Senate Resolution condemning the House of Representatives’ closed door impeachment inquiry.
The resolution is currently cosponsored by 39 Republican Senators.
“Every American should be disturbed by what is taking place in the House of Representatives regarding the attempt to impeach President Trump,” said Graham. “One of the cornerstones of American jurisprudence is due process – the right to confront your accuser, call witnesses on your behalf, and challenge the accusations against you. None of this is occurring in the House.”
Graham noted that during the impeachment inquiry of President Clinton – when the Democrats were in the minority of the House of Representatives – the minority had the ability to subpoena witnesses and documents on President Clinton’s behalf. President Clinton’s lawyers were also able to participate in examining witnesses, subpoenaing documents, introducing and objecting to evidence, and otherwise defending the President against the accusations made against him.
“The House also refuses to open up a formal inquiry of impeachment because they know to do so would empower the Republican minority to attack the heart of these accusations,” Graham continued.
Graham concluded, “It is imperative the President be able to confront his accuser, call witnesses on his behalf, and have a basic understanding of the accusations against him that would form any basis for impeachment. We cannot have a country where every American has rights except Donald Trump. I find the current process illegitimate and dangerous to the future of the presidency.”
The Graham-McConnell resolution:
- calls on the House of Representatives, prior to proceeding any further with its impeachment investigation into President Trump, to vote to initiate a formal impeachment inquiry;
- calls on the House of Representatives to provide President Trump, like every other American, with due process, to include the ability to confront his accusers, call witnesses on his behalf, and have a basic understanding of the accusations against him that would form any basis for impeachment; and
- calls on the House of Representatives to provide members of the minority with the ability to participate fully in all proceedings and have equal authority to issue subpoenas and other compulsory process.
Full text of the resolution is HERE.
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