Impeachment may be the only way to remove Donald Trump from office, but it's far from the only way to make his life hell.
If Democrats take control of the House, not only will Trump find that he’s out one source of friendly “see no collusion” memos, and not only will the first of his impeachment firewalls be seriously on fire, but he can expect to see all those powers that Republicans have not used pointed his way. During the initial round of Trump–Russia investigations in the House, Republican Rep. Devin Nunes pointedly vetoed every single subpoena that Democrats requested. That’s not just subpoenas for at least 30 more witnesses Democrats wanted to call, that’s subpoenas for documents—up to and including Donald Trump’s taxes.
Not only should Trump expect subpoenas to arrive by the ream, but there’s another power that Republicans seem to have misplaced while they’ve been supposedly investigating Trump: holding people in contempt of Congress. Not only have Trump staffers from Steve Bannon to Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III been caught flat-out lying during congressional testimony, nearly everyone who ever heard of Trump has extended a claim of “privilege” to protect statements made in the White House, in the transition team, and even in the campaign.
Republicans haven’t forced Trump to actually put out a writ of Executive Privilege to protect these claims, or forced Trump or his staff to provide a list of documents and events they believe fit within these claims. In theory, the House does not recognize privilege. Not privilege between journalists and their sources. Not privilege between doctors and patients. And certainly not executive privilege. The whole concept makes a mockery of Congress’ ability to conduct oversight of the executive branch. But Republicans have accepted without complaint a ludicrously broad definition that seems to extend to anything Trump wants to cover up now, and anything Trump might want to cover up in the future. That will end if Democrats get control.
If Democrats have the House, Democrats will be at the head of committees and have the power to both issue subpoenas and citations for contempt. Trump’s for-all-time-in-all-places claim of privilege will be in court the moment it’s deployed. Contempt citations will be issued as soon as Trump’s staffers refuse to appear or to answer. And they may have to move some old filing cabinets and dust off some chairs, but Democrats will find somewhere the House Sergeant at Arms can park some non-cooperative butts.
Because, as Politico points out, the new heads of these committees have zero reason to hold back.
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Trump has done, and is doing, everything in his power to make sure that the post-election relationship with Democrats is as bad as it can be.
Donald Trump once said Rep. Jerrold Nadler — an old New York foe — should “lose 200 pounds.” The president claimed California Rep. Maxine Waters has a “Very low IQ.” And he berated Democratic Rep. “Liddle Adam Schiff,” another Californian, as “the leaking monster of no control.”
Soon he may have to call them chairman or chairwoman.
It’s not just that Trump will find himself facing Democrats as House committee chairs. He’ll also find himself facing a lot fewer people who look like Donald Trump. While the Republican leadership is “overwhelmingly white and male” the people who will take their seats, both as incoming freshmen and in the front chair of committees, are much more diverse. Assuming Democrats don’t decide to move some seats around, after the election four committees will be chaired by women and seven by people of color.
And it’s not just that the chairs will be Democrats, or that they’ll be diverse. They’ll also be from states and districts where being against Trump is just as critical as being for Trump is important to the current chairs. While the Republican committee chairmen are from reliably red districts where Trump support is at its highest, Democratic victory will see the committee chairs coming largely from the Trump-skeptical coasts.
It’s not just Trump and his staff who are likely to come in for plenty of time in front of these committees. Republicans did all they could to keep even the most egregious of Trump’s cabinet officials, like former EPA director Scott Pruitt, in place long after they should have been hounded out of town. With Democrats in power Education Seretary Betsy DeVos, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, and others can expect much for frequent invitations to “explain themselves” to the House. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross might even get to field a few questions about his role in pushing Russian money through his bank in Cyprus.
If Democrats get control of the House … Trump is going to hate it. Which is a very good reason to get out there and vote for Democrats.