What's Next

Yesterday, the House released a draft of the Resolution that outlines procedures for the impeachment process going forward.  Like so many government documents, its wording is both stiff, and voluminous, so I've summarized it here.  Note that, far from being slanted or in any other way glossing over Constitutional responsibilities, as has been asserted by Republican members of the House, the Resolution appears eminently fair.

---

• Adam Schiff, chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, shall (note the verb - not "can", but "shall") set up open (AKA public) hearings
• Both the majority and the minority members of the Committee shall have equal time to ask questions at those hearings.
• Questions can be delegated to staff\
• The ranking minority member may submit to the chair, in writing, any requests for witness testimony relevant to the investigation
• The ranking member may issue subpoenas for depositions, testimony, and records of a number of kinds
• Schiff can make publicly available in electronic form transcripts of depositions and testimony
• The chair of any other committee having custody of records (e.g., Financial Services, Foreign Affairs, Oversight and Reform, and Ways and Means) will continue their ongoing investigations, and, upon completion of those investigations, transfer, along with the Intelligence Committee, any resulting records or materials to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• The Judiciary Committee can then conduct proceedings relating to the impeachment inquiry, in accordance with procedures needed for printing in the Congressional Record.
• Such  procedures must allow for the participation of the President and his counsel.
• The Committee on the Judiciary shall report to the House of Representatives resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations.