REQUEST: Please outline the investigative benefits of impeachment

[uponit7771]

I think Maddow did something of the sort but can't find the show.

My understanding is impeachment investigations are not like regular congressional investigations where people get to just bold faced lie in front of congress and then walk away skipping.

Thx in advance for any input on this matter

[manor321]

1. People can't lie to Congress while under oath, at any time

If people lie to Congress under oath, Congress can make a criminal referral to the DOJ. Impeachment proceedings aren't necessary.

Some have indicated that perhaps judges would be more likely to hand over grand jury materials to Congress if Congress was officially engaged in impeachment proceedings. I doubt it is that clear.

[TwilightZone]

2. Under oath is under oath.

There's no difference between lying in an impeachment hearing or lying in a normal Congressional hearing. Some are under the impression that there's some significant or magical difference between the two, but that impression is false.

[Grasswire2]

3. I googled just now to see if I could find something...

...but what I hoped for didn't show up on first try. I recall that investigatory powers are superior to that of a simple Congressional committee. I've heard allusion to that from MSNBC experts. But I don't know more, yet. Perhaps it is because hearings are more than the usual five-minute round robins from each committee member. There is a prosecutor. But maybe that doesn't happen until the Senate trial.

We need to know more. Thanks for raising this issue.

[uponit7771]

4. +1