Elijah Cummings: The White House hasn't turned over a single piece of paper to my committee

[Eugene]

Source: Washington Post

Elijah Cummings: The White House hasn’t turned over a single piece of paper to my committee

By Elijah E. Cummings March 19 at 5:24 PM
Elijah E. Cummings, a Democrat, represents Maryland’s 7th Congressional District in the House, where he is the chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.

In November, the American people voted overwhelmingly to put Democrats in charge of the House of Representatives to start serving as a truly independent check and balance on the executive branch. Since then, President Trump and his allies have complained of “Presidential Harassment,” decrying Democrats for having the audacity to request documents and witnesses to fulfill our constitutional responsibilities.

The problem is that the White House is engaged in an unprecedented level of stonewalling, delay and obstruction.

I serve as chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, the primary investigative body in the House of Representatives. I have sent 12 letters to the White House on a half-dozen topics — some routine and some relating to our core national security interests. In response, the White House has refused to hand over any documents or produce any witnesses for interviews.

Let me underscore that point: The White House has not turned over a single piece of paper to our committee or made a single official available for testimony during the 116th Congress.

One of the most important investigations we are conducting is a review of White House security clearances. The White House argues that Congress is not entitled to any information about individual employees, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying about his communications with the Russians; current national security adviser John Bolton, who worked directly with the gun rights group founded by now-convicted Russian spy Maria Butina; or the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who was reportedly given access to our nation’s most sensitive secrets over the objections of then-White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly and others.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/elijah-cummings-presidential-harassment-more-like-unprecedented-obstruction/2019/03/19/8382d0fc-4a6a-11e9-b79a-961983b7e0cd_story.html

[ck4829]

1. Funny how those "deep state leakers" suddenly don't leak WH documents when it really matters.

[beachbum bob]

2. the power of subpoena and possible supreme court intervention

the House has tremendous power to investigate and now we will see the real drama unfold if the SC shields the trump admin or not

[procon]

3. It's to Trump's benefit if Dems start issuing subpoenas.

That kicks everything into legal negotiations that lawyers can drag out for months, and likely hit the courts for more delays. Cummings is smarter than Trump, and going public will make people wonder about what Trump is hiding.

[lagomorph777]

4. Elijah, just say it: "Trump is obviously covering up major crimes."

Otherwise, he'd be more than happy to comply.

[machoneman]

5. Subpoenas don't work unless those who don't comply....

are visited by the House's Sergeant at Arms, with armed police, arrested and locked up in a secure facility until they do comply. Sadly, I don't see us the doing that as we don't have the balls the republiscums do.