Adam Schiff plans to take "measures of execution" against the Ministry of Justice

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Schiff told reporters that the committee would hold a working meeting next week to take unspecified action against the Department of Justice for failing to provide the committee's documents. But a letter obtained by CNN shows that the Justice Department proposed on Wednesday to show all members of the committee a less expurgated version of the Mueller report.

Schiff would not say whether coercive measures meant that he would pass to the Attorney General William Barr 's conviction for contempt of court, as the Judiciary Committee of the House has already done after the ministry did not. did not provide the committee with Mueller's unredacted report and evidence.

Schiff said that he would speak with the General Counsel of the House in order to decide the best course of action against the Department of Justice if he does not provide documents.

"The deadline was coming and going without the production of a single document, raising deep questions about whether the department had any intention of honoring its legal obligations," Schiff said.

Schiff also announced Thursday that his committee would vote separately next week for the release of closed-door transcripts with former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen, made earlier this year, as well as some exhibits at conviction.
But the action being taken against the Justice Department, in whatever form, adds to the litany of grievances that Democrats are filing against the Trump administration while they conduct numerous investigations into the problem. Administration and the president – and claim to face general resistance from the government. White House to their requests for documents and subpoenas.

The Department of Justice responded to Schiff's letter Wednesday proposing to provide more than he had proposed to the House Judiciary Committee before the panel voted to have Barr convicted of contempt. The ministry proposed to Schiff to extend access to the entire Intelligence Committee to the less redacted version of the Mueller report, according to a letter obtained by CNN. After reviewing the less redacted report, the ministry also proposed to request a list of 12 specific documents not covered by the grand jury documents.

In the letter, the Department of Justice called Schiff's subpoena for all information relating to counter-intelligence "too widespread and unachievable".

Schiff announced that by the deadline of this week, he had sent to the Department of Justice a list of a dozen "limited series of documents" requesting counterintelligence and foreign intelligence documents. He added that the requested documents had been referenced in the Mueller report and would not be covered by the executive power's privilege.

But, like Democrats sitting on the House Judiciary Committee, the House's Intelligence Committee could face a tough battle in the courts if members refuse to revise even the minimally worded version of the report. which has been offered to date.

Schiff argued that the Department of Justice had no valid reason not to comply with its subpoena to provide counterintelligence information to its panel. He told CNN that his committee, as well as other committees of the House, are considering reigniting an "inherent disregard" for the fines imposed on those who do not comply with subpoenas, claiming that they impose heavy fines on "all that is necessary to bring them into compliance."

While they can not impose their subpoenas, Schiff said: "Not only this president, but also future presidents can act as corruptly as they wish, without any control or oversight, nor accountability. "

Schiff accused the Department of Justice of "flagrant double standard" for providing a wealth of documents to the Republican-led Congress about the Hillary Clinton inquiry, but to have provided none to Democrats now that they are looking for information relating to the investigation conducted by the special advocate.

The representative of California, Devin Nunes, the former chairman of the Republican committee who had pushed the Ministry of Justice to hand in documents at the last congress, joined Schiff in his letter asking for information about Mueller's counterintelligence.

But it's unclear whether Nunes is in favor of Schiff's summons, or how Republicans will vote on what the committee could do against the Justice Department next week.

At the last convention, Nunes had threatened to outrage former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, or even try to challenge him, but the committee did not finally do it.

This story has been updated with additional developments on Thursday.

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