Incoming House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) warned the White House that with Democrats in control of the House, the president will be held accountable for former Attorney General Jeff Sessions' firing. (Photo: @CNBC/Twitter)
'Constitutionally Perilous Moment': Nadler Warns Trump White House to Preserve All Documents Related to Sessions' Ouster
"Donald Trump may think he has the power to hire and fire whomever he pleases, but he cannot take such action if it is determined that it is for the purposes of subverting the rule of law and obstructing justice."
Issuing a preemptive warning to an administration that has repeatedly lied about its policies, withheld financial disclosures, and challenged the probe of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller into alleged 2016 election meddling, the incoming House Judiciary Committee chair on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to preserve all documents related to former Attorney General Jeff Session's forced resignation.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who will oversee the committee now that the Democratic Party has taken control of the House, cautioned the president that he will now face far more oversight from lawmakers and warned that Sessions' firing and subsequent appointment of loyalist Matthew Whitaker to serve as acting attorney generalhas thrown the nation into a "constitutionally perilous moment."
" Donald Trump may think he has the power to hire and fire whomever he pleases, but he cannot take such action if it is determined that it is for the purposes of subverting the rule of law and obstructing justice," said the congressman. "If he abuses his office in such a fashion, then there will be consequences."
\u201cCongressman Nadler is raising concerns about obstruction-- calling for an investigation into the Jeff Sessions firing. He's the same guy who will take over the Judiciary Committee (and can begin impeachment proceedings). #SessionsFired #SessionsResignation #Midterms2018\u201d— Alex Miller (@Alex Miller) 1541627208
\u201cIncoming House Judiciary Chair Nadler announces Congress will investigate President Trump's removal of Attorney General Sessions. We're filing FOIAs demanding answers about Sessions' replacement. https://t.co/5F69ZRS4Sn\u201d— American Oversight (@American Oversight) 1541622829
Nadler also called for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to oversee Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe rather than Whitaker, Sessions' former chief of staff. Whitaker claimed last year that Mueller's investigation has gone "too far" and explicitly stated that a replacement for Sessions could cause Mueller's work to "grind to a halt" by reducing the special counsel's funding.
"Under these conditions, it would be wholly inappropriate for Mr. Whitaker to supervise the Special Counsel investigation given his documented history of opposition to it," Nadler said, before warning that the Sessions firing would be investigated and warning that documents related to the event must be preserved.
"We are immediately issuing multiple letters to key officials demanding that they preserve all relevant documents related to this action to make sure that the investigation and any evidence remains safe from improper interference or destruction," Nadler said. "The American people understand that no person is above the law and have demanded accountability from their government. The firing of Jeff Sessions will be investigated and people will be held accountable."
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Issuing a preemptive warning to an administration that has repeatedly lied about its policies, withheld financial disclosures, and challenged the probe of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller into alleged 2016 election meddling, the incoming House Judiciary Committee chair on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to preserve all documents related to former Attorney General Jeff Session's forced resignation.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who will oversee the committee now that the Democratic Party has taken control of the House, cautioned the president that he will now face far more oversight from lawmakers and warned that Sessions' firing and subsequent appointment of loyalist Matthew Whitaker to serve as acting attorney generalhas thrown the nation into a "constitutionally perilous moment."
" Donald Trump may think he has the power to hire and fire whomever he pleases, but he cannot take such action if it is determined that it is for the purposes of subverting the rule of law and obstructing justice," said the congressman. "If he abuses his office in such a fashion, then there will be consequences."
\u201cCongressman Nadler is raising concerns about obstruction-- calling for an investigation into the Jeff Sessions firing. He's the same guy who will take over the Judiciary Committee (and can begin impeachment proceedings). #SessionsFired #SessionsResignation #Midterms2018\u201d— Alex Miller (@Alex Miller) 1541627208
\u201cIncoming House Judiciary Chair Nadler announces Congress will investigate President Trump's removal of Attorney General Sessions. We're filing FOIAs demanding answers about Sessions' replacement. https://t.co/5F69ZRS4Sn\u201d— American Oversight (@American Oversight) 1541622829
Nadler also called for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to oversee Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe rather than Whitaker, Sessions' former chief of staff. Whitaker claimed last year that Mueller's investigation has gone "too far" and explicitly stated that a replacement for Sessions could cause Mueller's work to "grind to a halt" by reducing the special counsel's funding.
"Under these conditions, it would be wholly inappropriate for Mr. Whitaker to supervise the Special Counsel investigation given his documented history of opposition to it," Nadler said, before warning that the Sessions firing would be investigated and warning that documents related to the event must be preserved.
"We are immediately issuing multiple letters to key officials demanding that they preserve all relevant documents related to this action to make sure that the investigation and any evidence remains safe from improper interference or destruction," Nadler said. "The American people understand that no person is above the law and have demanded accountability from their government. The firing of Jeff Sessions will be investigated and people will be held accountable."
Issuing a preemptive warning to an administration that has repeatedly lied about its policies, withheld financial disclosures, and challenged the probe of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller into alleged 2016 election meddling, the incoming House Judiciary Committee chair on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to preserve all documents related to former Attorney General Jeff Session's forced resignation.
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who will oversee the committee now that the Democratic Party has taken control of the House, cautioned the president that he will now face far more oversight from lawmakers and warned that Sessions' firing and subsequent appointment of loyalist Matthew Whitaker to serve as acting attorney generalhas thrown the nation into a "constitutionally perilous moment."
" Donald Trump may think he has the power to hire and fire whomever he pleases, but he cannot take such action if it is determined that it is for the purposes of subverting the rule of law and obstructing justice," said the congressman. "If he abuses his office in such a fashion, then there will be consequences."
\u201cCongressman Nadler is raising concerns about obstruction-- calling for an investigation into the Jeff Sessions firing. He's the same guy who will take over the Judiciary Committee (and can begin impeachment proceedings). #SessionsFired #SessionsResignation #Midterms2018\u201d— Alex Miller (@Alex Miller) 1541627208
\u201cIncoming House Judiciary Chair Nadler announces Congress will investigate President Trump's removal of Attorney General Sessions. We're filing FOIAs demanding answers about Sessions' replacement. https://t.co/5F69ZRS4Sn\u201d— American Oversight (@American Oversight) 1541622829
Nadler also called for Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to oversee Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe rather than Whitaker, Sessions' former chief of staff. Whitaker claimed last year that Mueller's investigation has gone "too far" and explicitly stated that a replacement for Sessions could cause Mueller's work to "grind to a halt" by reducing the special counsel's funding.
"Under these conditions, it would be wholly inappropriate for Mr. Whitaker to supervise the Special Counsel investigation given his documented history of opposition to it," Nadler said, before warning that the Sessions firing would be investigated and warning that documents related to the event must be preserved.
"We are immediately issuing multiple letters to key officials demanding that they preserve all relevant documents related to this action to make sure that the investigation and any evidence remains safe from improper interference or destruction," Nadler said. "The American people understand that no person is above the law and have demanded accountability from their government. The firing of Jeff Sessions will be investigated and people will be held accountable."