Judge critical of Trump administration's attempt to control testimony of former official

[babylonsister]

Judge critical of Trump administration's attempt to control testimony of former official
By Katelyn Polantz and Marshall Cohen, CNN
Updated 6:14 PM ET, Thu October 31, 2019


Washington (CNN)A federal judge in Washington expressed disbelief that the White House could control what its former officials might talk about, when they're subpoenaed by the House of Representatives or otherwise.

"We don't live in a world where your status as a former executive branch official somehow shields you or prevents you from giving information," Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson said Thursday during a nearly four-hour hearing to a Justice Department attorney who was defending the White House.

The lawsuit is over whether former White House counsel Don McGahn must appear for testimony in the House. Democrats issued the subpoena in April, though he ignored their demands and didn't show up.

"I see almost every day people who are former executive branch officials giving information to the media. People are out there talking, people are saying things," Jackson said, taking a legally complicated separation-of-powers topic and injecting the real world into it.

more...

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/31/politics/hearing-mcgahn-white-house/index.html

[TruckFump]

1. If this judge rules like it looks she is going to rule, IMO...

...the flood gates are open for the WH current and former employees.

[hlthe2b]

2. She said she'd be willing to rule from the bench, but it doesn't seem like they took her up on it:

The judge didn't say exactly when she would issue a ruling, the timing of which could have a domino effect on other witnesses in the fast-moving impeachment inquiry. If the parties want to expedite her decision, Jackson said she is open to ruling from the bench, with a written opinion to follow, but the parties would need to make a formal request.

Darn. Get that formal request in!

[crickets]

3. Agreed! nt