General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: An impeachment inquiry ISN'T the only way for the House to get secret grand jury material, after all [View all]FBaggins
(26,729 posts)It isn't.
Nowhere in the resolution does the House establish that the hearings going forward are preliminary to a judicial proceeding..
Nor could they. The House doesn't have the power to declare something a judicial proceeding (hint... there's a whole 'nother branch of government for that). Arguably (and with court precedent) an actual impeachment trial in the Senate is a judicial proceeding and therefore an impeachment inquiry is arguably preliminary to that. But House hearings outside of impeachment either are or are not covered by the exception. It's laughable to think that the House has the power to add a new category of hearings that it says qualify.
Note that all the resolution does is grant the chair the ability to act on behalf of the House in asking the courts. This merely speeds up the process... it doesn't change the rules on which that process rests.
(1) to seek declaratory judgments and any and all ancillary relief, including injunctive relief, affirming the duty of
(A) William P. Barr, Attorney General, to comply with the subpoena that is the subject of the resolution accompanying House Report 116-105; and
(B) Donald F. McGahn, II, former White House Counsel, to comply with the subpoena issued to him on April 22, 2019; and
(2) to petition for disclosure of information regarding any matters identified in or relating to the subpoenas referred to in paragraph (1) or any accompanying report, pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e), including Rule 6(e)(3)(E) (providing that the court may authorize disclosure of a grand-jury matter preliminarily to... a judicial proceeding).
Resolved, That the chair of each standing and permanent select committee, when authorized by the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, retains the ability to initiate or intervene in any judicial proceeding before a Federal court on behalf of such committee, to seek declaratory judgments and any and all ancillary relief, including injunctive relief, affirming the duty of the recipient of any subpoena duly issued by that committee to comply with that subpoena. Consistent with the Congressional Record statement on January 3, 2019, by the chair of the Committee on Rules regarding the civil enforcement of subpoenas pursuant to clause 8(b) of rule II, a vote of the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group to authorize litigation and to articulate the institutional position of the House in that litigation is the equivalent of a vote of the full House of Representatives.
Resolved, That in connection with any judicial proceeding brought under the first or second resolving clauses, the chair of any standing or permanent select committee exercising authority thereunder has any and all necessary authority under Article I of the Constitution.
Resolved, That the chair of any standing or permanent select committee exercising authority described in the first or second resolving clause shall notify the House of Representatives, with respect to the commencement of any judicial proceeding thereunder.
Resolved, That the Office of General Counsel of the House of Representatives shall, with the authorization of the Speaker, represent any standing or permanent select committee in any judicial proceeding initiated or intervened in pursuant to the authority described in the first or second resolving clause.
Resolved, That the Office of General Counsel of the House of Representatives is authorized to retain private counsel, either for pay or pro bono, to assist in the representation of any standing or permanent select committee in any judicial proceeding initiated or intervened in pursuant to the authority described in the first or second resolving clause.