During an interview on MSNBC’s The Rachel Maddow Show, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) discussed how Trump and his Republican enablers in Congres are colluding to derail the Russia investigation.
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Schiff was asked by Maddow about the White House claim that they aren’t invoking executive privilege.
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The California congressman answered, “This is the exact kind of dodge which they have been making all along. They send General Kelly out to say we have not invoked executive privilege. Technically, that’s true. But what three have done is saying, telling witnesses don’t answer the questions, but also don’t tell the committee that we’ve invoked executive privilege. We don’t want to look like we’re hiding something by invoking privilege, but we don’t want you to answer the questions, so don’t answer them. Can I mention, too, Rachel? This is an important point which you started out with, if we allow this, it will not only obviously impair our ability to get to the truth, it will impair the ability of any Congress in the future to hold any administration accountable if we will simply take no for an answer when it’s convenient to the White House.”
The Trump administration is damaging the checks and balances in our system of government, and Republicans in Congress are enabling them at every turn. Donald Trump is not the first man to occupy the Oval Office who dreams of an imperial presidency, but he is the first to have a Congressional majority by his side that is so spineless and complicit that they are willing to destroy the model of democracy for the world in a quest for partisan power.
Rep. Schiff was correct. If this behavior goes unchallenged, it will set a precedent that will do long-term damage. It is time for the American people to get outraged and stand up for their democracy.
The midterm elections are still off in the distance, so the time to organize is right now.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association