House panel asks court to enforce subpoenas

WA S HINGTON» The House Judiciary Committee on Friday asked a federal judge to enforce congressional subpoenas seeking grand jury information related to the special counsel investigation, taking steps in the direction of possible impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Judiciary chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., told reporters the legal request signaled that the panel is pursuing an impeachment investigation, although neither the committee nor the full House has voted formally for launching proceedings.

“Because Department of Justice policies will not allow prosecution of a sitting president, the United States House of Representatives is the only institution of the federal government that can now hold President Trump accountable for these actions,” the petition said. “To do so, the House must have access to all the relevant facts and consider whether to exercise its full Article I powers, including a constitutional power of the utmost gravity — approval of articles of impeachment.”

Nadler and his fellow Judiciary Democrats repeatedly emphasized that its filing was just a first step in a process that could eventually lead to articles of impeachment, but refused to say whether that would be the ultimate outcome.

“We are considering the malfeasances of the president. We’re considering what remedies we can do, including the possibility of articles of impeachment,” Nadler said.

The committee asked Judge Beryl Howell to force the Justice Department to turn over grand jury information related to the nearly two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and whether Trump obstructed the probe. Howell is chief judge for the U.S. District Court for District of Columbia.

Nadler first shared his plans during a CNN interview, two days after appearances by former special counsel Robert Mueller before his panel and the House Intelligence Committee.

“Some have argued that because he was reluctant and seemed older than some remembered him, his work is somehow diminished,” said Nadler, who argued the hearing produced a “great change” on the issue of impeachment, but said Democrats need to continue building a public case about Trump’s transgressions.

“The evidence has got to be so solid and out there that impeaching the president wouldn’t tear the country apart,” said Nadler, whose committee has jurisdiction over impeachment proceedings.

The party remains divided over whether to impeach Trump, while Republicans made clear they think the investigations should end.