House Democrats released the eight-page Resolution Tuesday laying out the terms under which the impeachment inquiry will be conducted going forward but providing no exact timeline or dates for the proceedings. The next phase of the inquiry will take place in the House Intelligence Committee with the commencement of public hearings moving forward. But the Judiciary Committee will ultimately be responsible for writing the articles of impeachment using the materials and evidence compiled by the Intelligence panel. The resolution also authorizes public release of transcripts of the closed-door testimony that has already taken place.
Republicans on the Intelligence Committee will be allowed to call or even subpoena witnesses provided that they offer "a detailed written justification" for why that witness will be relevant to the inquiry. Let's face it, that's going to be a tall order for House Republicans, who will almost surely bombard Democrats with a parade of useless witnesses then complain about them being cut out of the process.
Lawyers for Trump will not be able to participate in the hearings conducted before the House Intelligence Committee. However, once the Intelligence panel's impeachment report and supporting materials have been transmitted to the Judiciary Committee for drafting the impeachment articles, Trump and his counsel will have an opportunity to participate in the proceedings under guidelines yet to be determined by the Judiciary panel.
GOP Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan were quick to jump in front of cameras to complain about the resolution even though it provides three of their biggest asks: transparency, the right to call witnesses, and participation of Trump and his lawyers.
Nonetheless, Scalise claimed the resolution "continues to deny the White House an opportunity to participate" in the proceeding, adding that House Intelligence Chair Adam Schiff was conducting a "one-sided, Soviet-style" inquiry. So more of the same process complaints from Republicans.
Still no word on whether they will ever actually defend Trump's actions on the merits.