Democrats speak out against dismissal as House inquiry progresses

Democrats discussed Sunday the confusion that reigns around the investigation into the dismissal of the House following a key vote this week in the House Judiciary Committee, while legislators were delivering conflicting messages about the high-profile panel inquiry.

"I do not think there should be any confusion," said Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I. "Fox News Sunday. "" The Judicial Committee took part in the work of our committee to determine whether or not it is advisable to recommend impeachment items to the entire House. We examine the obstruction of justice, abuse of power and corruption in the broad sense. We have had hearings, we will continue to call witnesses before the committee and demand the production of documents clearly indicating that no one in this country is above the law. "

Cicillin, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, said the panel would "follow the facts" and "at the conclusion, make a recommendation".

On Thursday, the Judiciary Committee passed a resolution that parties define procedures and rules for future investigative hearings. At the time, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler, had stated that some people called this process "an imputation" investigation, while others called it "an imputation survey".

"There is no legal difference between these terms, and I no longer worry about discussing the nomenclature," he said.

Legislators are divided as to whether the inquiry counts as a non-voting impeachment inquiry in the House that authorizes it as such. Nadler argues that it can be a dismissal investigation simply because they envision acts of removal. This distinction could play a role in the committee's ability to obtain information on the grand jury of Special Advocate Robert Mueller's probe.

Although there is no deadline for recommending impeachment articles, Democratic advisers have indicated that the goal is to reach a decision by the end of the year. 39; year. More than half of the Democrats in the House support an impeachment investigation.

In an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Adam Schiff, President of Intelligence in the House, was asked to clarify whether or not he could initiate an impeachment investigation as opposed to the usual surveillance of A committee.

"Yes, we are conducting an investigation that will determine if the president should be dismissed," he said, adding that an investigation was underway.

"Now it is not just a simple message," he added. "Some of our members are ready to vote to remove and dismiss the president tomorrow, and others think we should not remove him, because it will be a failed exercise in the Senate." But the vast majority of our caucus, including including our leaders, is of the opinion that we should conduct an investigation before determining if the president should be dismissed.This is the category in which I return and that is the work we are doing. "

Elsewhere in "Face the Nation", representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Said: "It was not so we had to attack, but that's when we were going to attack, and I think some people can benefit from it, so that other people catch up with those where some of us have been for a very long time. "

Omar said "decisions are being made", with more than half of Democrats supporting an investigation.

"That's why they voted to open the investigation," she said, "and I'm really confident that they are convincing all those who are still behind to run. "