Michelle Goldberg just made an excellent point about impeachment inquiries

[StarfishSaver]

In response to the claim that, absent a formal impeachment resolution passed by the full House, the Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry isn't official and/or doesn't carry the same weight, she explained that previous impeachment resolutions simply authorized the Judiciary Committee to begin conducting an imoeachment inquiry. In this instance, the committee is simply conducting that inquiry.

I hadn't thought about that, but she's absolutely right. And unless anyone's planning to argue that the Judiciary Committee's inquiry is somehow improper or violates any law or House rule (which it isn't and doesn't), the claim that it doesn't carry the same weight or is not "official" without a full House resolution is a non-starter.

[hlthe2b]

1. Every legal scholar I've seen discuss this has said this is an impeachment inquiry and those

who nitpick on the semantics are citing a distinction without a difference, at least legally. And, I've read comments from at least a dozen by now.

[StarfishSaver]

2. I agree

And Goldberg's point reinforces it.

And when it comes to the court moving on congressional actions like this, they give great difference to Congress to define its work, especially when it's work is governed by internal Congressional rules.. If the House tells a court it's conducting an impeachment inquiry, the court isn't going to second guess them with that kind of nitpicking.

[DeminPennswoods]

3. Nadler made the same points when he was on

with O'Donnell last night.

[StarfishSaver]

4. I think his point was slightly different, but it was all in the same ballpark.

Or maybe I missed him saying the same thing Goldberg said.

[melman]

5. Why are congresspeople still calling for to happen if it's already happening?

for example..

Link to tweet

[StarfishSaver]

6. I don't know

Maybe she missed Nadler's press conference and hasn't talked to any of her colleagues.

Or maybe she told her communications people to put out a tweet supporting an inquiry, and this is what they wrote.

Who knows? But if the Chairman and Members of the Judiciary Committee say they're investigating impeachment, that's good enough for me.

[Me.]

7. Because Most People SimplyCan't Or Refuse To Understand Nuance

[StarfishSaver]

8. This isn't even nuance

[melman]

9. Or maybe...

it's not actually happening.

Unless maybe Michelle Goldberg knows things Rep. Wexton doesn't know? Or perhaps Rep. Wexton used the word 'begin' by accident?

"it is time for the House of Representatives to assert our constitutional responsibility and begin an impeachment inquiry."

those are the words Rep. Wexton's tweet. How could it be "time to begin" if it's already started?


also, "investigating impeachment" ? impeachment inquiry. As you know.

[StarfishSaver]

10. Nadler and the Judiciary Committee Members say it's happening

If there's a difference of opinion here, I'm going with the people on the Judiciary committee who are actually conducting the investigation over a first term Congresswoman in her 7th month on the job.

And yes, an impeachment inquiry = an impeachment investigation.

But since you seem to believe they're different things would you please define your terms, explain to us the distinction between the two, and offer legal or precedential support for your definitions.

[melman]

11. Eliot Engle

Link to tweet

"I believe the House must pursue a formal impeachment inquiry."



But maybe he's another one that just doesn't understand. Or perhaps it's another case of rogue communication teams?

[StarfishSaver]

13. Yes, that could be it.

Or perhaps, as I said, he knows the Committee has already started an impeachment investigation and he wants to look like he's ahead of the curve.

[melman]

15. Right

Rep. Engel is calling for a "formal impeachment inquiry" because he just doesn't get that it's already happening and that "investigation" and "formal inquiry" mean exactly the same thing. Of course.

[StarfishSaver]

17. Interesting to see you having such faith in the intelligence, integrity, consistency

absolutely non-political motives of Members of Congress - at least those who today issued statements boldly calling for an impeachment inquiry four days after the Judiciary Committee announced it's conducting an impeachment inquiry

[ehrnst]

19. Funny, isn't it? (nt)

[pnwmom]

12. Maybe she didn't read the Judiciary Court filing saying that he was conducting

an investigation preliminary to an impeachment proceeding.

Which is exactly what a resolution would have called on the Judiciary Committee to do.

[StarfishSaver]

14. Actually the pleading goes even further than that

It says, among other things and repeatedly that "The Judiciary Committee is investigating whether to recommend articles of Impeachment." That's an impeachment investigation.

And Nadler and the Committee Members have repeatedly said their conducting and impeachment inquiry or impeachment investigation.

There's really no question that that's being done. It is questionable why some people keep insisting otherwise.

[pnwmom]

16. +1. nt

[uponit7771]

18. K&R,