The Tale Of The "Legal Geniuses" (trademark pending): Sidney Powell & Rudy Giuliani Accuse John Conyers, Jr. Of Public Corruption Without Demanding Due Process

Yes, Sidney Powell & Rudy Giuliani are "Legal Geniuses" (trademark pending) as they hold a press conference to utter and publish accusations that "The Elected Ones" of the politically stratified districts under John Conyers, Jr. were rift with public corruption.

I say we investigate!

Or, have we already?

I say Sidney and Rudy should go ask Rashida if there is still political corruption of criminal activities still going on in her congressional district.

Oh, Sidney and Rudy should go ask Rashida to call for an investigation into these alleged treasonous activities of Detroit by filing, first, with the U.S. Committee on Ethics.

Drats!

I forgot, that was already done, quite a few times, if I correctly recall.

Anyway, just watch them do the legal dilatory distraction dance, because we are already in Detroit, just watching the world realize, that the heavens are falling because this is about gerrymandering, or rather, stealin' the children, land & vote.

Watch Sidney and Rudy not say his name as they speak upon Detroit and Voting Rights, while demanding due process, but not for my Sweetie.

#maytheheavensfall

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

DOJ: Former CIA Officer Arrested and Charged with Espionage

Non Disclosure Agreements...

I like the bearing false witness direction.

#maytheheavensfall

Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, 67, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer, was arrested on Aug. 14, 2020, on a charge that he conspired with a relative of his who also was a former CIA officer to communicate classified information up to the Top Secret level to intelligence officials of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).  The Criminal Complaint containing the charge was unsealed this morning.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney for the District of Hawaii Kenji M. Price, Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Division Alan E. Kohler Jr., and Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office Eli S. Miranda made the announcement.

“The trail of Chinese espionage is long and, sadly, strewn with former American intelligence officers who betrayed their colleagues, their country and its liberal democratic values to support an authoritarian communist regime,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.  “This betrayal is never worth it.  Whether immediately, or many years after they thought they got away with it, we will find these traitors and we will bring them to justice.  To the Chinese intelligence services, these individuals are expendable.  To us, they are sad but urgent reminders of the need to stay vigilant.”

 “The charges announced today are a sobering reminder to our communities in Hawaii of the constant threat posed by those who seek to jeopardize our nation’s security through acts of espionage,” said U.S. Attorney Price. “Of particular concern are the criminal acts of those who served in our nation’s intelligence community, but then choose to betray their former colleagues and the nation-at large by divulging classified national defense information to China. My office will continue to tenaciously pursue espionage cases.”

“This serious act of espionage is another example in a long string of illicit activities that the​People's Republic of China is conducting within and against the United States,” said Alan E. Kohler Jr., Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterintelligence Division.  “This case demonstrates that no matter the length or difficulty of the investigation, the men and women of the FBI will work tirelessly to protect our national security from the threat posed by Chinese intelligence services.  Let it be known that anyone who violates a position of trust to betray the United States will face justice, no matter how many years it takes to bring their crimes to light.”

“These cases are very complicated and take years if not decades to bring to a conclusion,” said Eli Miranda, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Honolulu Division.  “I could not be more proud of the work done by the men and women of the FBI's Honolulu Division in pursuing this case. Their dedication is a reminder that the FBI will never waiver when it comes to ensuring the safety and security of our nation.”

Ma is a naturalized U.S. citizen born in Hong Kong. According to court documents, Ma began working for the CIA in 1982, maintained a Top Secret clearance, and signed numerous non-disclosure agreements in which he acknowledged his responsibility and ongoing duty to protect U.S. government secrets during his tenure at CIA.  Ma left the CIA in 1989 and lived and worked in Shanghai, China before arriving in Hawaii in 2001.

According to court documents, Ma and his relative (identified as co-conspirator #1) conspired with each other and multiple PRC intelligence officials to communicate classified national defense information over the course of a decade.  The scheme began with three days of meetings in Hong Kong in March 2001 during which the two former CIA officers provided information to the foreign intelligence service about the CIA’s personnel, operations, and methods of concealing communications.  Part of the meeting was captured on videotape, including a portion where Ma can be seen receiving and counting $50,000 in cash for the secrets they provided.

The court documents further allege that after Ma moved to Hawaii, he sought employment with the FBI in order to once again gain access to classified U.S. government information which he could in turn provide to his PRC handlers. In 2004, the FBI’s Honolulu Field Office hired Ma as a contract linguist tasked with reviewing and translating Chinese language documents.  Over the following six years, Ma regularly copied, photographed and stole documents that displayed U.S. classification markings such as “SECRET.”  Ma took some of the stolen documents and images with him on his frequent trips to China with the intent to provide them to his handlers.  Ma often returned from China with thousands of dollars in cash and expensive gifts, such as a new set of golf clubs.

According to court documents, in spring 2019, over the course of two in-person meetings, Ma confirmed his espionage activities to an FBI undercover employee Ma believed was a representative of the PRC intelligence service, and accepted $2,000 in cash from the FBI undercover as “small token” of appreciation for Ma’s assistance to China.  Ma also offered to once again work for the PRC intelligence service.  On August 12, 2020, during a meeting with an FBI undercover employee before arrest, Ma again accepted money for his past espionage activities, expressed his willingness to continue to help the Chinese government, and stated that he wanted “the motherland” to succeed.

Ma will make his initial appearance before a federal judge tomorrow in the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii.  He is charged with conspiracy to communicate national defense information to aid a foreign government and faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.  The maximum sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes.  In the event Ma is convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the advisory Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Honolulu and Los Angeles Field Offices. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ken Sorenson and Trial Attorneys Scott Claffee and Steve Marzen of the National Security Division’s Counterintelligence and Export Control Section are prosecuting the case.

Attachment(s): 

Download ma_complaint_.pdf

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

JUDICIARY: Hearing On Jobs, Justice & Peace - Without Once Saying His Name

The Committee addressed qualified immunity by resurrecting the Second Amendment of the right to keep and bear the arms of the United States and the respective States which issues the licenses.

With great discernment, the Committee amazingly addressed the legacy of Conyers, without once saying his name, or the fact that he, as Chairman Emeritus of Judiciary, was denied due process, assassinated by blasphemy.

Absolutely amazing to witness the soulless execute such a bipartisan task.

Nessel calls for public database of Michigan's problem police officers

Detroit Police Chief James Craig speaks after officer Waldis Johnson's funeral Detroit Free Press

LANSING – The public could access a statewide database of problem police officers under a set of reforms put forward Tuesday by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Nessel said in a news release she wants the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards to create a police misconduct registry of verified claims of abuse or other misconduct made against police officers in Michigan.


The proposed registry is part of a seven-point plan Nessel released amid nationwide discussions about police reform in the wake of the Memorial Day death of George Floyd, a Black man who died during an arrest by Minneapolis police.

Frank Guido, general counsel for the Police Officers Association of Michigan — a union representing more than 12,000 officers in more than 300 local police and sheriff departments — said he is OK with some of Nessel's proposals, two of which he said are already in place, but he has concerns with others.


As for the public database, how would misconduct be defined? Guido asked. Also, "is this a requirement that is appropriate for all government employees?" or would only police officers be singled out, he asked.

The Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards sets professional standards in education, selection, employment, licensing and funding in law enforcement and criminal justice in Michigan. Last week, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced she was adding four seats to the commission — which has been dominated by law enforcement representatives — to give it a greater community voice.


Nessel said that in 2016 the commission began requiring that law enforcement officers be licensed. But she said the commission "lacks sufficient authority to oversee law enforcement professionals and to revoke the licenses of police officers who demonstrate poor moral character or violate the public trust."

More: Michigan State Police graduates another school of troopers — with only 4 Black recruits

More: Whitmer: Require police to intervene if they see officers use excessive force

The measures she announced Tuesday are "the first step toward implementing positive change in our criminal justice system," Nessel said.

In addition to the database, Nessel called for:

Amending the Public Employee Benefits Forfeiture Act so that officers forfeit their retirement benefits upon conviction of a felony related to misconduct while on duty. 
Authorizing the commission to suspend or revoke a license when an officer engages in certain misconduct.
Requiring police agencies to maintain all disciplinary records of a police officers in their personnel files.
Requiring police agencies to report use of force data, with information about the civilians' race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion and age.
Creating an independent investigative and prosecutorial process for deaths resulting from police actions.
Requiring continuing education for officers as a condition of licensing and improving and standardizing policies and training related to conflict de-escalation, cultural awareness, and implicit bias.
The public registry of problem officers would be a departure for Michigan. Until 2018, when Public Act 128 of 2017 took effect, even Michigan police agencies often could not review the circumstances under which police officers seeking employment left their previous departments. That had led to an issue with problem officers moving from one police agency to another, without their records following them.

“We must do more than just condemn bigotry and acts of excessive force committed by law enforcement officers. We must act,” Nessel said.

"Making meaningful and concrete changes doesn’t end here, but it’s crucial that we move first with measures which create better accountability and more transparency to the actions of law enforcement here in Michigan."

Guido said no officer should forfeit pension money they have contributed or earned for past service.

He also expressed concern about the proposed license suspensions. Guido wondered who would make such determinations and what due process protections would be in place.

"The concepts are far too broad," he said. "Not much job security for a law enforcement officer if every move is subject to someone claiming, after the fact, it was detrimental to the department — and now you lose your job because of knee-jerk reactions."

Maintenance of disciplinary records already occurs, as do independent investigations, and additional training is always welcome as long as the government funds it, Guido said.

"Reporting data is not objectionable as long as sufficient funds are provided out of the AG budget for personnel to do record-keeping," Guido said. "Also, the data should include information concerning the individuals that attack law enforcement."

In an executive order Tuesday, President Donald Trump called for creation of a national database of problem officers to track potential police hires with records of abuse. But unlike the registry proposed by Nessel, Trump's database would not be accessible to the public. Instead, data from the national database would be made anonymous and periodically made public, according to the order.


Until Whitmer's recent executive order, the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards had 19 members. The AG, the director of the Michigan State Police and the chief of police in Detroit are all members. The other 16 members are appointed by the governor, based on recommendations from various law enforcement groups, such as the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police.

Whitmer's order adds as members the director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and three community representatives.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Tales Of The New Crown: Fat Ass William Isaac Robinson Is Exiled From Humanity

William Shakespear once wrote:

T'is better to be vile than vile esteem.

Fat Ass is both.

https://beverlytran.blogspot.com/search?q=william+isaac+robinson

May the heavens continue to fall.

#mayrheheavensfall

State Rep. Isaac Robinson dies of suspected coronavirus infection

William *Fat Ass* Robinson

Michigan House of Representatives
First-term state Rep. Isaac Robinson, D-Detroit, died Sunday morning at Detroit Receiving Hospital from a suspected coronavirus infection, according to this mother, former Rep. Rose Mary C. Robinson.
State Rep. Isaac Robinson died Sunday morning at Detroit Receiving Hospital from a suspected coronavirus infection, hours after being transported to the hospital for breathing problems, his mother confirmed Sunday night.

Robinson, 44 and a Detroit Democrat, had not been tested for COVID-19 before being transported by ambulance early Sunday morning to the Detroit Medical Center hospital, said his mother, former state Rep. Rose Mary C. Robinson, D-Detroit.

"I called EMS, they took him to Receiving at 6 a.m. and he was dead by 11," Rose Mary Robinson told Crain's.

Rose Mary Robinson said her son had breathing difficulty in recent days, but resisted seeking medical attention.

"He wouldn't go to the hospital. I kept insisting the last three days," she said. "I kept saying, 'You should go to the doctor, go to the hospital.' Of course, he resisted."

"Tough guy," the mother added.

Robinson's death comes three days after state Rep. Tyrone Carter of Detroit tested positive for COVID-19.

A lawyer by trade, Isaac Robinson was elected in 2018 to represent the 4th District in the Michigan House of Representatives, succeeding his mother in office.

Before working in private law practice, Robinson was a political director for a local Teamsters union.

He never married and had no children, according to his mother.

As of Sunday at 10 a.m., the coronavirus had claimed the lives of 35 Detroiters. More than 1,500 Detroit city residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.State Rep. Isaac Robinson dies of suspected coronavirus infection

Michigan House of Representatives
First-term state Rep. Isaac Robinson, D-Detroit, died Sunday morning at Detroit Receiving Hospital from a suspected coronavirus infection, according to this mother, former Rep. Rose Mary C. Robinson.
State Rep. Isaac Robinson died Sunday morning at Detroit Receiving Hospital from a suspected coronavirus infection, hours after being transported to the hospital for breathing problems, his mother confirmed Sunday night.

Robinson, 44 and a Detroit Democrat, had not been tested for COVID-19 before being transported by ambulance early Sunday morning to the Detroit Medical Center hospital, said his mother, former state Rep. Rose Mary C. Robinson, D-Detroit.

"I called EMS, they took him to Receiving at 6 a.m. and he was dead by 11," Rose Mary Robinson told Crain's.

Rose Mary Robinson said her son had breathing difficulty in recent days, but resisted seeking medical attention.

"He wouldn't go to the hospital. I kept insisting the last three days," she said. "I kept saying, 'You should go to the doctor, go to the hospital.' Of course, he resisted."

"Tough guy," the mother added.

Robinson's death comes three days after state Rep. Tyrone Carter of Detroit tested positive for COVID-19.

A lawyer by trade, Isaac Robinson was elected in 2018 to represent the 4th District in the Michigan House of Representatives, succeeding his mother in office.

Before working in private law practice, Robinson was a political director for a local Teamsters union.

He never married and had no children, according to his mother.

As of Sunday at 10 a.m., the coronavirus had claimed the lives of 35 Detroiters. More than 1,500 Detroit city residents have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Now I Know Why I Was Booted From LinkedIn

These people know exactly what they are doing.

Do not be confused.

The day LinkedIn moved to Detroit, they cancelled my account.

I had the congressional office and Judiciary networks.

It was historic and they bleachbitted.

They even corrupted their own predictive modeling crap by removing John Conyers, Jr. from their search engines.

That is very naughty.

Reid Hoffman was mean to my Sweetie.

#maytheheavensfall

LinkedIn Arrived In Detroit, Then Blocked My Account

LinkedIn Co-Founder Apologizes for Deception in Alabama Senate Race

Reid Hoffman

The tech billionaire Reid Hoffman said he was “embarrassed” to learn that his funding had been used to spread disinformation.

Reid Hoffman, the tech billionaire whose money was spent on Russian-style social media deception in a Senate race last year, apologized on Wednesday, saying in a statement that he had not approved the operation and did not support such tactics in American politics.

Mr. Hoffman said he had no idea that political operatives whose work he had financed had used fakery on Facebook and Twitter in the special Senate election a year ago in Alabama. But he had an obligation to track how his money was spent, he said, and he promised to exercise more care in the future.

“I categorically disavow the use of misinformation to sway an election,” said Mr. Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn and a prominent figure at the intersection of Silicon Valley and Democratic politics. He said he had financed “organizations trying to re-establish civic, truth-focused discourse” and was “embarrassed” to learn his money had been spent on disinformation.

The New York Times and The Washington Post reported last week that $100,000 from Mr. Hoffman was spent on a deceptive social media campaign to aid Doug Jones, the Democratic candidate, who barely defeated the Republican, Roy Moore.

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The money went to a small group of social media experts that included Jonathon Morgan, the chief executive of New Knowledge, a cybersecurity firm.

They created a Facebook page intended to look like the work of conservative Alabamians, and used it to try to split Republicans and promote a conservative write-in candidate to take votes from Mr. Moore.

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They also used thousands of Twitter accounts to make it appear as if automated Russian bot accounts were following and supporting Mr. Moore, according to an internal report on the project. The apparent Russian support for Mr. Moore drew broad news media coverage.

Democratic political strategists say the small Alabama operation — which accounts for a minuscule share of the $51 million spent in the contest — was carried out as a debate about tactics intensified within the party.

Democrats had been shocked to learn of Russia’s stealth influence campaign to damage Hillary Clinton and promote Donald J. Trump in the 2016 presidential race. But at least a few Democrats thought their party could not shun such tactics entirely if others were going to continue to use them.

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The Alabama operation is among the first examples to come to light of such underhanded methods on social media in American politics. But because such efforts are generally very easy to hide and very difficult to trace, it is possible that other instances have gone undetected.

In 2017, through a fund called Investing in Us, Mr. Hoffman gave money to a small company, American Engagement Technologies. The company’s leader, Mikey Dickerson, is a former Google employee who founded the United States Digital Service during the Obama administration to try to upgrade the federal government’s use of technology. An associate of Mr. Hoffman’s said that his total grant to American Engagement was $750,000, which also went toward other political races and social media research. Mr. Dickerson has declined to comment.

American Engagement then passed $100,000 to Mr. Morgan and other researchers. Mr. Hoffman’s statement says the money went to Mr. Morgan’s company, New Knowledge, but Mr. Morgan said the Alabama project was carried out separately from the company.

The revelations of and fallout from the operation are being closely watched. Some American political experts fear that the Russian influence campaign of 2016 could become a dangerous model for stateside politics, with dirty tricks on social media becoming common. Laws and regulations have not been updated to cope with such a threat.

On Saturday, Facebook shut down five accounts, belonging to Mr. Morgan and other unnamed individuals, in response to their use of “inauthentic” operations on the platform. Twitter declined to say whether it had taken any action in the Alabama case.

Senator Jones and Democratic Party officials have said they were unaware of the social media tactics and denounced them. Mr. Jones has called for investigations by the Justice Department and the Federal Election Commission — a call Mr. Hoffman joined on Wednesday.

“We cannot permit dishonest campaign tactics to go unchecked in our democracy — no matter which side they purportedly help,” Mr. Hoffman said in his statement.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

JUDICIARY: Impeachment - The Original Intent Of The Second Amendment - Voting Rights - May The Heavens Fall

I have provided a musical accompaniment to enjoy the beauty of these historic impeachment hearings just to celebrate another one of those transposable prosecutorial models.

Just remember, it is always wise to have "The Elected Ones" self-defrock so that they may fall from the heavens to be summoned by the laws of the land, to bear witness in the public, for the people to vote, to terminate the parental right to bear the armoralities of the United States in failing to protect the children's trust, our most precious treasures.

Grand juries have voting rights which shall never be stripped.

The quest for the quorum has begun through due process because impeachment is not just for presidents.

#maytheheavensfall

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

U.S. House Intelligence Committee Trump - Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report

Russia, Ukraine Agree ‘Comprehensive’ Cease-Fire in Donbass

"This is very poorly written." declared the Celestial Goddess of the Woodshed.

https://intelligence.house.gov/report/#report The impeachment inquiry into Donald J. Trump, the 45th President of the United States, uncovered a months-long effort by President Trump to use the powers of his office to solicit foreign interference on his behalf in the 2020 election.  As described in this executive summary and the report that follows, President Trump’s scheme subverted U.S. foreign policy toward Ukraine and undermined our national security in favor of two politically motivated investigations that would help his presidential reelection campaign.  The President demanded that the newly-elected Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, publicly announce investigations into a political rival that he apparently feared the most, former Vice President Joe Biden, and into a discredited theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that interfered in the 2016 presidential election.  To compel the Ukrainian President to do his political bidding, President Trump conditioned two official acts on the public announcement of the investigations:  a coveted White House visit and critical U.S. military assistance Ukraine needed to fight its Russian adversary. During a July 25, 2019, call between President Trump and President Zelensky, President Zelensky expressed gratitude for U.S. military assistance.  President Trump immediately responded by asking President Zelensky to “do us a favor though” and openly pressed for Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Biden and the 2016 conspiracy theory.  In turn, President Zelensky assured President Trump that he would pursue the investigation and reiterated his interest in the White House meeting.  Although President Trump’s scheme intentionally bypassed many career personnel, it was undertaken with the knowledge and approval of senior Administration officials, including the President’s Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.  In fact, at a press conference weeks after public revelations about the scheme, Mr. Mulvaney publicly acknowledged that the President directly tied the hold on military aid to his desire to get Ukraine to conduct a political investigation, telling Americans to “get over it.” President Trump and his senior officials may see nothing wrong with using the power of the Office of the President to pressure a foreign country to help the President’s reelection campaign.  Indeed, President Trump continues to encourage Ukraine and other foreign countries to engage in the same kind of election interference today.  However, the Founding Fathers prescribed a remedy for a chief executive who places his personal interests above those of the country:  impeachment.  Accordingly, as part of the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry, the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, in coordination with the Committees on Oversight and Reform and Foreign Affairs, were compelled to undertake a serious, sober, and expeditious investigation into whether the President’s misconduct warrants that remedy. In response, President Trump engaged in an unprecedented campaign of obstruction of this impeachment inquiry.  Nevertheless, due in large measure to patriotic and courageous public servants who provided the Committees with direct evidence of the President’s actions, the Committees uncovered significant misconduct on the part of the President of the United States.  As required under House Resolution 660, the Intelligence Committee, in consultation with the Committees on Oversight and Reform and Foreign Affairs, has prepared this report to detail the evidence uncovered to date, which will now be transmitted to the Judiciary Committee for its consideration.

Preface Executive Summary Report

U.S. House Intelligence Committee - THE TRUMP-UKRAINE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY REPORT - 20191203 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

Meet Maher Bitar, staff of Adam Schiff, who assisted in the generation of this report.

Now, meet his Maher's wife, Astrid Dorelien.

Maher  Bitat, Astrid Dorelien & their tiny human

Black History Month 2012: Astrid Dorelien

Astrid Dorelien is a 2010 Presidential Management Fellow in the Office of the Haiti Special Coordinator (S/HSC). As a foreign affairs officer in S/HSC, Astrid is the principal point of contact for health, labor, and economic affairs. She also works closely with the Deputy Coordinator for Assistance to oversee the U.S. Government's food and economic security programs in Haiti. Astrid came to the State Department from the Department of Housing and Urban Development in August 2011, where she worked in the Office of Healthcare Programs and the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement.

Astrid brings with her to the State Department experience in law, global health, and international relations. Astrid received a joint Juris Doctor and master's in public health degree from Georgetown Law and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. As an undergraduate at Georgetown's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Astrid majored in science, technology, and international affairs with a concentration in international health. Astrid's professional experiences include internships with the World Health Organization's Office of the Legal Counsel, the Brady Center for Gun Violence Prevention's Legal Action Project, and with the arbitration law firm Bullard, Falla, & Ezcurra in Lima, Peru. Astrid is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland.

http://www.haiti.mphise.info/us-department-state-haiti-related-contacts?fbclid=IwAR03Vbds6aZbaQoJcl-NA23Z4iNmQvFPXqnOLYv2RXs-Ht_I7-S0HlRQWe0

Having emigrated from Haiti as a child, Astrid’s fluency in French, Haitian Creole, and her familiarity with Haiti’s particular political and development challenges, have allowed her to hit the ground running and contribute to the Department’s efforts in Haiti.

Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

Yamiche Alcindor Reports On Roger Stone Wikileaks Conviction For Bearing False Witness To Congress

Yamiche Alcindor breaks all the hottest, exclusive news.

So they now convict Roger Stone of lying and want to jail him for many years to come. Well, what about Crooked Hillary, Comey, Strzok, Page, McCabe, Brennan, Clapper, Shifty Schiff, Ohr & Nellie, Steele & all of the others, including even Mueller himself? Didn’t they lie?....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2019

Trump associate Roger Stone found guilty of lies that protected Trump

WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 15: Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch acknowledges audience from members of the public in the audience as she concludes her testimony before the House Intelligence Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC. In the second impeachment hearing held by the committee, House Democrats continue to build a case against U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to link U.S. military aid for Ukraine to the nation's investigation of his political rivals.  (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Impeachment hearing ends with fireworks and applause

Trump doubles down on tweets attacking witness

Roger Stone, former adviser to President Donald Trump, holds a bible as he arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse, on November 15, 2019 in Washington, DC.

Trump associate Roger Stone found guilty on all counts

Former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, during the second public impeachment hearing of President Donald Trump's efforts to tie U.S. aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents. 

Yovanovitch: Trump's attacks are 'very intimidating'

(CNN)Longtime Trump political adviser Roger Stone was found guilty on Friday of lying to and obstructing Congress in a case that has shed new light on President Donald Trump's anticipation of the release of stolen Democratic emails in 2016 by WikiLeaks.

Stone, a political operative and Trump's friend, was found guilty of all seven counts brought by the Justice Department, a victory for special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Stone was found guilty of five counts of lying to Congress, one of witness tampering and one of obstructing a congressional committee proceeding. Among other things, he misled Congress about his communications with Trump campaign officials in 2016, the jury unanimously decided.

What Roger Stone's trial revealed about Trump and Mueller

The verdict out of Washington marks a stunning conclusion to one of the highest-profile prosecutions to emerge from the Mueller investigation -- a case that began with one of Trump's most vocal supporters arrested during a predawn raid as the special counsel's investigation wound down and since then has gradually revealed new information about the Trump campaign's positive reception to foreign interference in the 2016 US election.

Stone had no audible reaction as the courtroom deputy read the jury's verdict, but he slouched, standing, with a frown. His movements were slow and deliberate as he took a sip of water while each juror stated their position, confirming their unanimous decision, then hung behind in the corner of the courtroom, rarely speaking to others as attorneys and onlookers filed out.

His wife, too, simply looked straight ahead, though a friend of Stone's, Michael Caputo, turned his back to the jurors when all in the courtroom stood to watch them leave. As those in the courtroom dispersed, Stone kissed his wife on the cheek.

Thirty minutes after the jury delivered its verdict, Trump tweeted about his displeasure with it.

"So they now convict Roger Stone of lying and want to jail him for many years to come. Well, what about Crooked Hillary, Comey, Strzok, Page, McCabe, Brennan, Clapper, Shifty Schiff, Ohr & Nellie, Steele & all of the others, including even Mueller himself? Didn't they lie?" the President wrote on Twitter, citing his political foes who either worked on or contributed information to the Russia investigation. "... A double standard like never seen before in the history of our Country?"

Prosecutors asked the judge to take Stone into custody immediately, but she declined. After considering that he may have communicated with right-wing commentator Alex Jones this week -- potentially violating a gag order on his case that prevents him from speaking about it -- Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she would keep a gag order on him as he awaits sentencing. He may return home to Florida, and his sentencing is set for February 6.

Stone potentially faces prison time, but his sentence will be entirely up to the judge. For the most serious of his crimes, witness tampering, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years.

"He has been here for every court appearance. I have no reason to believe" he won't come to his next appearance, Jackson said Friday.

After leaving the courthouse and arriving where he's been staying in Washington, Stone told CNN, "No comment," when asked if he would seek a pardon from the President.

In recent months, Trump has weighed pardoning Stone if he was convicted, multiple people familiar with his thinking say.

Several of Stone's allies have lobbied the President to do so, but multiple people also have advised the President that doing so would be a terrible idea politically and have cautioned against it, people familiar with the situation have told CNN.

These discussions were happening while a conviction was still hypothetical. Now that a federal jury has convicted Stone, it's not clear where the President stands.

The charges

According to prosecutors, Stone lied during testimony and failed to turn over documents to Congress in 2017 showing he had sought to reach WikiLeaks the previous year. He lied about five facts, obscuring his attempt to use intermediaries to get information that could help then-candidate Trump in the election against Hillary Clinton.

WikiLeaks had released emails in July 2016 that the Russians had hacked from Democratic Party servers, and followed up with drops of emails stolen from the Clinton campaign's chairman in October 2016, continuing until Election Day.

Stone's trial at a federal courthouse in Washington revealed the extent to which the longtime Trump friend was directly in touch with Trump and other campaign officials about Wikileaks' 2016 release of hacked Democratic emails.

When the House had asked Stone in September 2017 if he had discussed WikiLeaks, its founder Julian Assange or the Democratic hack with the Trump campaign, Stone had denied it under oath , saying his legal team "found nothing" of those types of communications.

Prosecutors argued that witness testimony, along with Stone's texts, emails and phone records, showed Stone's interest in reaching WikiLeaks about the hacked documents it had and speaking to the Trump campaign and even Trump himself about it. Prosecutors said Stone had lied to Congress out of a desire to protect Trump.

"It would look really bad for his longtime associate Donald Trump" if the truth had come out, prosecutor Jonathan Kravis had said in his closing argument on Wednesday.

Stone's defense team countered that Stone didn't have a motive to protect Trump when he testified to the House in 2017, because Trump already had won the election and become President.

Witnesses in the trial included a cast of Trump-world characters like former White House strategist Steve Bannon and former Trump campaign deputy chairman Rick Gates, a key cooperator in Mueller's investigation. Both emphasized the campaign's interest in hacks and leaks dating back to April 2016.

During the trial, prosecutors revealed several phone calls between Trump and Stone, including a July 2016 conversation in which, Gates testified, Trump and Stone spoke about the planned release of hacked Democratic emails.

In his written answers to Mueller, Trump said he didn't recall his conversations with Stone, nor discussions about WikiLeaks and the Democratic hack.

Prosecutors argued that Stone's alleged failure to tell Congress about the attempts to reach WikiLeaks left the House Intelligence Committee with a blind spot in its investigation -- causing the committee's final report on Russian interference in the election to be inaccurate.

Stone threatening his once-friend Randy Credico, a comedian and radio host, compounded problems for the House, prosecutors argued.

Stone had told the House that he had an intermediary, whom he later identified as Credico, trying to reach Assange during the campaign. But prosecutors alleged another man had sought to get to Assange on behalf of Stone and the campaign, making Stone's claims about Credico false.

When Credico was called before Congress following Stone's testimony, Stone sent him emails and texts directing him to lie or to refrain from sharing the truth. Credico warned him that Stone may have perjured himself already, but Stone persisted, quoting over and over again lines from the film "The Godfather: Part II," referring to a character who is pressured by the Mafia family to lie to Congress.

Inside the courthouse

The trial got off a chaotic start on November 5 -- Stone missed some of the jury selection because he felt ill -- and brought out a memorable cast of characters both as witnesses and in the audience of the courtroom. At times, the proceedings drew laughs from the courtroom, with Credico even offering to do celebrity impressions in the witness box. But as the trial went on, the mood became more somber. By Friday morning, the second day of jury deliberations, Stone carried a Bible with him into the courthouse.

Stone's wife, Nydia Bertran Stone, was by his side throughout the trial, along with a cadre of supporters, including some who have identified themselves as part of the Proud Boys, a far-right group, and a man dressed in floor-length black-and-white robes who Stone described as his "spiritual adviser" and who led Stone's wife and others in prayer.

Prosecutors hit a stirring, philosophical note just before sending the case to the jury, making a broad appeal for the truth in the final words of their closing argument. Prosecutor Michael Marando had latched onto a phrase used in the defense's closing argument, "So what?"

"So what? ... Well, if that's the state of affairs that we're in, I'm pretty shocked. Truth matters. Truth still matters, OK?" Marando said to the jury.

"I know we live in a world nowadays with Twitter, tweets, social media, where you can find any view, any political view you want. ... However, in our institutions of self-governance, courts of law or committee hearings, where people under oath have to testify, truth still matters," he added, before asking for the jury to find Stone guilty.

The jury of nine women and three men, including a former congressional candidate and a federal government lawyer, deliberated over two days. During their almost nine hours discussing Stone's charges, the jury asked the judge questions that indicated a close reading of prosecutors' wording of the charges. At 11:11 a.m. Friday, the jury wrote to the judge: "WE HAVE REACHED A VERDICT."

Stone had been arrested last January in a predawn raid at his home in Florida by armed federal agents, caught exclusively on camera by CNN. That kicked off weeks of Stone's attempts to draw support, especially on social media. But he crossed a line by posting on Instagram a photo of the judge with crosshairs behind her head -- and Jackson then limited his ability to speak publicly about the case.

Jackson oversaw the weeklong trial in Washington's federal district court, cementing her status as one of the most significant arbiters over Mueller's work. She previously sentenced Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to a years-long prison term following his guilty plea in the Mueller investigation, and is set to sentence Gates on December 17.

Trump campaign and WikiLeaks

Gates' testimony in Stone's trial was an especially telling reminder of Mueller's finding that the Trump campaign had welcomed the release of hacked documents that could help them in the 2016 election.

Gates testified he had witnessed Trump take an evening phone call from Stone as they rode to New York's LaGuardia Airport from Trump Tower in late July 2016. Stone and Trump apparently discussed WikiLeaks' planned release of hacked Democratic emails.

"After Mr. Trump got off the phone with Mr. Stone, what did Mr. Trump say?" prosecutor Aaron Zelinsky asked Gates on Tuesday. "He indicated more information would be coming," Gates responded.

The call happened days after WikiLeaks' first release on July 22, 2016, of emails the Russian military had allegedly hacked from the Democratic National Committee.

Gates said WikiLeaks' announcement that it had pending information on then-presidential candidate Clinton was a "gift."

"It was in a way a gift that we had not sought," said Gates. "There were a number of us who felt it would give our campaign a leg up."

Bannon, another high-profile witness, testified that he and the Trump campaign viewed Stone as an "access point" to WikiLeaks.

Credico spent the longest time in the witness box during the trial.

He wasn't in court to hear the verdict but told CNN afterward that he was "stunned," "shell-shocked" and "not rejoicing."

"The whole thing is depressing. It started out as a fender bender that turned into a 21-car, tractor-trailer pileup," Credico said.

"It's a sad, man-made tragedy that could have been avoided."

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CONYERS: The Report Of His Death

I have no comment.

I am watching the heavens fall.

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, former dean of Congress, dies at the age of 90

Kathleen Gray and Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press

Published 4:34 p.m. ET Oct. 27, 2019 | Updated 5:09 p.m. ET Oct. 27, 2019

The Conyers - Post-vows

U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a civil rights icon who during five decades in Congress co-founded the National Black Caucus and pushed to establish a national holiday to honor the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., died Sunday of natural causes at the age of 90.

His death comes after a long and illustrious career that spanned more than 50 years and 27 terms in office, but ended in 2018 with a sudden resignation amidst claims of sexual harassment and verbal abuse of employees and misuse of taxpayer funds to cover-up those claims.

Conyers' tenure was a remarkable 53-year-run during which the lawmaker, the son of a well-known labor lawyer in Detroit, compiled a near-record legacy of civil rights activism, longevity and advocacy for the poor and underprivileged.

He died with the sixth-longest tenure in congressional history.

"For a long time he was black America's congressman," said Sam Riddle, a longtime family friend and consultant to the Conyers family, who confirmed the death Sunday. "On the streets of Detroit, he'll be mourned."

Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan in a statement said he "was deeply saddened" by Conyers' death.

"One of my most special memories was spending time with him at Gordon Park on 12th Street and Clairmount on the 50th anniversary of the violence of 1967 as he recounted the story of his courageous efforts to calm the angry crowds," Duggan said.  "He has fought for a better Detroit for more than half a century.

"From co-founding the Congressional Black Caucus to leading the fight in Congress to enshrine Martin Luther King’s birthday as a national holiday, John Conyers’ impact on our city and nation will never be forgotten," Duggan said.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer called Conyers a "lifelong Detroiter who was deeply committed to the city and to those he represented."

"His impact on our state, whether by spearheading reforms in criminal justice and voting rights in Congress or through his lifetime of civil rights activism, will not be forgotten," Whitmer said in a statement.

Conyers was born in Detroit and graduated from Northwestern High School. After a tour of duty with the U.S. Army during the Korean War, Conyers returned home to earn bachelor's and law degrees from Wayne State University.

His law practice and work in the auto plants in Detroit led him to the office of former U.S. Rep. John Dingell, D-Dearborn, where he worked as a legislative assistant for three years. But by 1964, at the age of 35, Conyers went after a seat of his own in Congress, winning the first of 27 general elections and serving portions of Detroit and some surrounding Wayne County suburbs for the next five decades.

He may not have had many bills that carried his name — only 26 of the 712 bills he introduced became law, according to the Library of Congress — but he fought for issues of civil rights and social justice, including seeking reparations for the descendants of African-American slaves, modifying the mandatory sentences for those convicted of non-violent drug crimes, defending assaults on the Voting Rights Act, reforming laws that put juvenile offenders in prison for life and calling for investigations into police brutality of African-American men.

And he was the key sponsor of the bill, introduced each session for 20 years, that designated the third Monday of January as a federal holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Conyers introduced the bill four days after King was assassinated in 1968, but it wasn’t signed into law until 1989.

In the thick of the civil rights battles, Conyers walked alongside King and other leaders of the movement in Selma, Ala., to bring equal voting rights to blacks.

In 2015, during his 50th year in Congress, Conyers told the Washington Post that King was one of the most important historical figures in history.

"I felt the civil rights movement was a powerful chapter in American history, King to me is the outstanding international leader of the 20th century without every holding office," he said. "He advanced us forward even though there was a terrible loss of life and violence and injustice. But Martin Luther King Jr. moved us in a way that changed history."

He moved among those involved in the disturbance in Detroit in August 1967, urging calm. And he burnished his civil rights record even more by hiring icon Rosa Parks after she moved from Alabama to Detroit. The secretary and receptionist job in Conyers' Detroit office was a job she held until her retirement in 1988.

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who won election to Conyers' seat after his resignation, on Twitter called Conyers "our Congressman forever."

"He never once wavered in fighting for jobs, justice and peace," Tlaib tweeted. "We always knew where he stood on issues of equality and civil rights in the fight for the people. Thank you Congressman Conyers for fighting for us for over 50 years."

Career ends amidst a sex scandal
Despite facing a rising chorus of voices demanding he step down because of the sexual harassment claims, Conyers, D-Detroit, refused to do so for several months in 2017. The scandal was a swift and crushing fall from grace for the longest-serving active member of Congress.

Conyers, 90, resigned  after an article on BuzzFeed.com detailed a secret settlement of more than $27,000 with a former staffer who accused him of making sexual advances toward her and paying her out of funds from his taxpayer-supported office.

Within days, several other women had come forward with accusations against Conyers, who, despite his express denials that he harassed anyone, saw House leaders and members of his own party abandon him, with three of the four Democrats in the Michigan delegation calling for him to resign.

In addition to Marion Brown, the staffer who received the settlement, six other women claimed they either experienced or saw him touching and rubbing women in his office, making sexual advances toward them or making inappropriate remarks. One of them filed a lawsuit against him early this year and then withdrew it, saying she didn't want to hurt Conyers' reputation.

Another woman, Washington lawyer Melanie Sloan, also told the Free Press that Conyers had verbally mistreated her, forced her to babysit his children and, on one occasion, showed up at a meeting with her at his office in his underwear —though she didn't consider it sexual harassment.

From accusation to resignation, Conyers' colleagues went from being warily supportive, urging caution while an investigation by the House Ethics Committee was completed to issuing outright calls for his resignation, even from at least one fellow member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which he helped to create in 1971.

U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, who is the third-ranking Democrat in the House and had been a colleague of Conyers' on the Congressional Black Caucus since 1993, called for him to resign  shortly after similar calls by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Conyers' lawyer, Arnold Reed, of Southfield, had reiterated on several occasions that the congressman was not ready to resign and wanted to see the ethics investigation completed.

But with allegations swirling not only over the harassment claims but his use of taxpayer funds to pay at least one settlement, he abruptly stepped down as the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, a position he had held for more than two decades.

Then  — with media reports that some members of the caucus were privately urging him to resign — he suddenly quit Washington, missing several votes, including one mandating sexual harassment training for members, as he headed back to Detroit and his family.

Conyers record in Congess
During his time in office, which he won with huge margins ever two years like clockwork, Conyers was considered one of the most liberal members of Congress, with a 100% rating from the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and the Human Rights Campaign.

The conservative Freedom Works gave him a 15% rating, while the Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity give him ratings of 8% and 6% respectively.

Conyers, however, had already come under scrutiny twice from the House Ethics Committee in Congress for possible transgressions in his office.

In 2017, the committee confirmed it was continuing to look at whether he had wrongly paid his former chief of staff more than $50,000 for time she didn't work. Conyers said he was only paying her for accrued leave time and severance as part of a separation agreement reached after she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of receiving stolen property unrelated to her job.

In 2003, the Free Press reported on complaints from six unnamed Conyers aides who said they were forced to work on various campaigns, including a failed legislative campaign for Conyers' wife, Monica, on government time. A follow-up Ethics Committee report, however, focused on allegations that the congressman used staff to babysit his sons, help his wife with her law studies and chauffeur him to private events.

Conyers' office denied the accusations and eventually reached a deal to ensure staff knew where their responsibilities began and ended.

RIP John Conyers. Our legacies will always be tied together. See you on the other side.https://t.co/icjSQpxnWj

— Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 27, 2019

In 2014, Conyers nearly didn’t get the chance to run for reelection because of irregularities in the petitions he filed to run for office. Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett said he had used ineligible people to gather signatures, but a federal court disagreed and the state Legislature passed a law that people who collected signatures didn’t need to be registered voters.

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ICYMI: House judiciary passes resolution on impeachment probe rules - No One Will #sayhisname

#sayhisname

#perkinscoiesucks

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Rashida Tlaib Is Mean To Trump & The Legacy Of Detroit

"T'is better to be vile than vile esteem."

Rashida Tlaib shall be honored in the annals of history as the tale of the public official who breached the children's trust.

Rashida has bastardized the legacy of the Congressional Seat of Detroit, Conyers' former seat, and by this act alone, I believe her congressional members have grounds to bringforth a call of expulsion from the body.

Rashida is attempting to bleachbit civil rights history, again, but in this instance, it is the legacy of impeachment.

Rashida engages in insurgent actions, repugnant to my constitution, becoming of "The Elected Ones".

I should file an Ethics Complaint.

Nah.

I got popcorn.

A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world. 
Albert Camus

Tlaib launches sale of 'Impeach the MF' T-shirts

U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s re-election campaign is capitalizing on calls to impeach President Donald Trump with a line of T-shirts sporting her January call to “Impeach the mother (expletive)!”

Priced at $29 each, the T-shirts come in six different designs sporting the Detroit Democrat’s infamous call for Trump’s impeachment as part of an American flag or as a hashtag.

 “You’ve asked for ‘em. And now we’ve got ‘em,” according to the Thursday email from Team Rashida.

Lean in with me to hold this lawless President accountable. Together, we will fight back and protect our democracy.

Our country depends on it!

...and yes you can even wear what you feel https://t.co/8C3BUfp1kf pic.twitter.com/QwBADidAHo

— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) September 26, 2019

The T-shirts reference a story Tlaib recounted soon after being sworn into office in early January 2019 at a MoveOn.org and New American Leaders party. In an address that was filmed and later went viral, Tlaib recounted her son telling her, “‘Look, Mama, you won. Bullies don’t win.’ And I said, ‘Baby, they don’t because we’re going to go in there and we’re going to impeach the mother (expletive).’”

The comment sparked a bipartisan backlash, including condemnation from Trump who called Tlaib’s comments “disgraceful” and “disrespectful.”

Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga of Zeeland slammed the T-shirts as inappropriate, saying he’d be letting his constituents know about them.

“Can you imagine the outrage if I had put a T-shirt together like that for impeaching President Obama?” Huizenga said.

“First of all, my mother would have called me and told me, ‘Shame on you.’ Then I would have heard from my Republican colleagues asking me, ‘What in the world are you doing?’” he added.


“Then I would have to face myself in the mirror and my kids and explain what’s going on, at the same time I’m getting preachy about decorum and how we need civility in politics.”

Tlaib hasn’t been shy about repeating calls for Trump’s impeachment, which included her introduction in late March of an impeachment resolution. But a recent whistleblower report alleging Trump abused his office’s power to “solicit interference from a foreign country” appears to have fueled Tlaib’s determination.

Tlaib's message is one familiar to people in the 13th Congressional District and one that some have grown to accept or embrace, said TJ Bucholz, Tlaib's campaign spokesman.

"Especially for Rashida’s supporters, it's probably a fun item and maybe a collectible item to have," Bucholz said.

The actblue.com web page advertising the T-shirts notes the nation is “at the most critical moment in our movement to impeach Donald Trump,” but that momentum and volume is needed to ensure swift action.

“Get your ‘Impeach the MF’ t-shirt today to show your support for our movement to impeach Donald Trump and support Rashida’s re-election campaign!” the website said.

The website notes that the items are being offered as a gift in return for a contribution of $29 and that Tlaib “is solely responsible for producing and shipping your gift.”

Reporter Melissa Nann Burke contributed.

eleblanc@detroitnews.com
Voting is beautiful, be beautiful ~ vote.©

JUDICIARY: In Search Of The Blueprint For Impeachment - The Constitution In Crisis - #sayhisname

#sayhisname

As the road to impeachment of Trump commences, I would like to provide aid and comfort to the Members of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, to expedite their quest in figuring on how to come up with a blueprint for impeachment, by providing them with the Blueprint for Impeachment by the one of whom no one will #sayhisname.

As a disclaimer, Louie Gohmert did #sayhisname, but was eerily dismissed by his colleagues in silence.

But, alas, no one will #sayhisname.

They are going to force themselves to #sayhisname.

I just want to share my absolute delight in watching these legislative laggards and their pending spiritual implosions.

#maytheheavensfall

Watch the Constitution in Crisis.

Below, is the Blueprint for Impeachment

Godspeed.

  H.Res. 1258 - Impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high crimes and misdemeanors -6... by Beverly Tran on Scribd

Bush Impeachment H.B. 635 of 2005 by Beverly Tran on Scribd

This is quite the non-traditional format.

It almost looks like it was written in 16 font.

Judiciary House BILLS 116 Resolution for Investigative Procedures - Blueprint for Impeachment by Beverly Tran on Scribd

 

House panel moves to intensify Trump impeachment probe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee moved to intensify its investigation of Republican President Donald Trump on Thursday, as lawmakers edged closer to deciding whether to recommend his impeachment.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) presides during a House Judiciary Committee meeting to markup a resolution regarding procedures “for future hearings related to its investigation to determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment with respect to U.S. President Donald Trump” on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., September 12, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
The 41-member panel met to debate a resolution allowing it to designate hearings as impeachment proceedings, subject witnesses to more aggressive questioning and quicken the pace of an investigation that is expanding into areas that could prove politically explosive for both Trump and Congress.

Committee members also hope that approving the resolution will dispel lingering confusion within the House Democratic caucus about how to describe the investigation.

“We have been explicit about our intentions. This committee is engaged in an investigation that will allow us to determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment with respect to President Trump,” House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler told the meeting.

But a more aggressive probe could also increase pressure on House Democratic leaders including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has resisted impeachment as a politically risky step for moderate Democratic freshmen from swing districts where ousting Trump is an unpopular idea.

Republicans dismissed the resolution as a “fantasy” move intended to distract from Democrats’ unwillingness to have the full House authorize a formal impeachment inquiry, as occurred during the Watergate era and the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton.

“The ambiguity — the confusion — is a product of my colleagues’ own making because there is an easy way to know exactly whether this committee is in impeachment proceedings: It’s called a vote — a vote of the full House of Representatives,” said Representative Doug Collins, the panel’s top Republican.

Committee Democrats are already planning to use the new tactics that allow an hour of questioning by committee lawyers on one of Trump’s closest confidants - former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski - who is due to appear before the panel next Tuesday for what may be a contentious hearing.

Democrats on the committee say the resolution will enhance their ability to assemble allegations known as “articles of impeachment” against Trump. They expect Lewandowski’s testimony will help lay out a charge of obstruction of justice. But they are also pursuing allegations of campaign finance violations, witness tampering and unlawful self-enrichment through his business ventures.

Democrats aim to decide by the end of the year whether to recommend articles of impeachment against Trump to the full House. If approved by the chamber, the Republican-controlled Senate would be left to hold a trial and consider the president’s ouster.

A Reuters head count shows that 135 House Democrats back an impeachment inquiry. While that is a majority of the caucus, the number is well short of the 218 votes needed to pass a resolution.

Only two American presidents have been impeached by the House: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Clinton in 1999. Neither was convicted by the Senate.

Former President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 after the House Judiciary Committee approved articles of impeachment against him, but before the full House voted on the matter.

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