General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt's time for the Democratic caucus to vote for full-fledged investigation?
The Democrats should meet behind closed doors and take a vote.
If they can get 218 votes for a full investigation, it should go to the floor for a vote from the full Congress. I think this is something Speaker Pelosi would agree with? She would not disagree with such a vote from her caucus.
This is a step that should be taken before asking for a vote on Articles of Impeachment. It is a process that must be followed.
First of all, a vote from the full Congress will carry much more weight in the Courts than a vote from just the House Judiciary Committee.
Perhaps a vote for a full investigation will be an easier vote than a vote for Articles of Impeachment?
It's time for them to make a decision.
I have written elsewhere about a timeline that could be followed as a political strategy.
uponit7771
(90,225 posts)kentuck
(110,950 posts)...to gather the evidence for Articles of Impeachment.
Also, it may be something the Speaker and a huge majority of Democrats can agree with?
uponit7771
(90,225 posts)... and give Congress any information quicker under impeachment than any other time
This has already been discussed at nausea here look for starfish saver for insight
kentuck
(110,950 posts)....is that 218 votes are also enough to file Articles of Impeachment. It demands respect.
It puts the Congress on an equal footing with the other branches, especially the Executive.
In my opinion, this would be preferable to going straight into an impeachment vote.
However, if this complaint from the whistleblower shows this most serious abuse of power, then they would have enough evidence to file Articles of Impeachment, in my opinion. That would depend on whether or not the Democrats have the votes?
That is why an "investigation" vote might give them an exit from voting for impeachment at this time. Once they get 218 votes, they can file articles of impeachment anytime.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)kentuck
(110,950 posts)...right up and thru election day, if necessary.
AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)We are investigating....have been for months and will do so until the freak is gone on 20Jan '21
kentuck
(110,950 posts)AncientGeezer
(2,146 posts)But if that happens again it's on us...
StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Pelosi, Clyburn, the deputy Whips and their staffs are in constant touch with all of the Members and know exactly how many votes they have at any given moment on any particular day.
And the courts do not differentiate and have not ever differentiated between an impeachment inquiry initiated in committee and one initiated by a House resolution - because there's no legal orprocedural difference and the courts have never treated them any differently. An impeachment inquiry is an impeachment inquiry whether started via resolution or in committee.
The House doesn't vote on Articles of Impeachment until AFTER the inquiry is completed, not before. After the inquiry is completed, the Judiciary Committee compiles the evidence and based on that, drafts Articles of Impeachment and then votes on whether to recommend them to the full House. If the articles pass out of committee, the full House debates and votes on them. If one or more pass with 218 votes, the president is immediately and automatically impeached upon the passage of the article.