House Republicans rebuke Bragg's 'unavailing' refusal to provide testimony on Trump probe

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

House Republican leaders on Saturday rebuked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s (D) refusal to testify about his investigation into former President Trump’s role in a 2016 hush money payment.

The letter — from House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), House Administration Committee Chair Bryan Steil (R-Wis.) and House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) — comes in response to Bragg’s accusation on Thursday that their request was an “unlawful incursion” on his investigation.

“Your conclusory claim that our constitutional oversight responsibilities will interfere with law enforcement is misplaced and unconvincing,” the trio of Republican lawmakers said in their eight-page letter.

“As a threshold matter, whether your office is, in fact, fairly enforcing the law or abusing prosecutorial discretion to engage in a politically motivated indictment of a former President is a serious matter that … implicates significant federal interests,” the group added.

Read more: https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-republicans-rebuke-bragg-unavailing-213851842.html

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It's unconvincing because they're fucking idiots.

[oasis]

1. Blow it out your ass Mr. Putin.

[bahboo]

2. fuck 'em...

[Rizen]

3. Republicans are criminals.

[turbinetree]

4. I thought these jerks were for "states rights'.......

....fucking idiots....maybe these jerks should bring in Stephanie Gregory Clifford.....

[SpamWyzer]

5. What they can do...

What, Exactly, Does Congress Have the Authority To Investigate?

Simply put, almost anything. Although the Constitution does not expressly authorize Congress to conduct investigations, Congress – and the courts – have long recognized that Congress has an inherent, constitutional prerogative to conduct investigations. In fact, the first congressional investigation occurred as early as 1792, when the House of Representatives convened a committee to investigate the defeat of General Arthur St. Clair in the Battle of the Wabash in what was then known as the Northwest Territory (and now known as Ohio).

Congress has the authority to conduct investigations “in aid of its legislative function.” That authority can extend to investigations for the purpose of deciding whether legislation is appropriate, to information gathering on matters of national importance, to oversight of federal departments and executive agencies. As a result, a congressional committee has broad discretion regarding both the scope of its investigation and the relevance of the information it requests.

Although congressional authority to investigate is broad, it is not unlimited. Because Congress’s authority to investigate is tied to its authority to legislate, limits on congressional investigations are necessarily linked to the limits on Congress’s constitutional authority. For example, Congress has no general authority to investigate the purely private affair of an ordinary citizen.

The doctrine of separation of powers also places limits on congressional authority to investigate. Congress cannot, under the guise of an investigation, usurp the power of another branch of government. It cannot investigate matters where the means of redress is purely judicial. Nor can Congress investigate matters committed to the President’s discretion. For example, Congress could not undertake an investigation to determine an individual’s entitlement to a pardon because the Constitution granted the pardon power to the President, not Congress.

While Congress can investigate conduct that may be criminal, Congress itself lacks the authority to bring criminal charges or otherwise initiate a criminal prosecution. If a congressional investigation uncovers evidence of criminal activity, however, Congress may refer the matter to the Department of Justice for investigation and, potentially, prosecution. Sometimes, the DOJ investigation predates the congressional investigation. No matter which branch of government moves first to investigate, however, the end result is that a congressional investigation often will run parallel to a criminal investigation. As a result, evidence developed in a congressional investigation might be used by the DOJ in its criminal investigation or in a prosecution.

[Shipwack]

17. They have -nothing- to investigate, yet they still complain.

They complain that his charges are overbroad and are politically motivated when no indictments have been made.

They have shown their bias and lack of seriousness. They should be ignored until the adults have finished their work.

[multigraincracker]

18. 3 equal branches of our government.

But Jim thinks Congress is more equal.

[VeryProgressive]

6. Go Pound Sand

“Your conclusory claim that our constitutional oversight responsibilities will interfere with law enforcement is misplaced and unconvincing,”
He should respond that I am not trying to convince you. This isn't an argument. Obviously, you idiots can't understand plain English.

As a threshold matter, whether your office is, in fact, fairly enforcing the law or abusing prosecutorial discretion to engage in a politically motivated indictment of a former President is a serious matter that … implicates significant federal interests,”

It would be serious matter, if true, but ultimately the decision of whether Trump has received a fair hearing is determined by the courts, not by political hacks. That's why there are appeals courts. So, once again, fuck off and pound sand.

[BOSSHOG]

7. More proof that lawyers with integrity

DO NOT WORK FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY! I think we have enough proof of that. But ole gymbo and his posse are still humping for trump, or as Stormy likes to call him, TINY.

[GB_RN]

20. Only One Of Those 3 Has A Law Degree...

And believe it or not, that’s Gym Jordan. However, he failed to take (or failed) the Bar Exam, so he’s not a lawyer. Further, he didn’t go to a top tier law school. Add in the fact that he probably suffered more than a few blows to the head during his wrestling career. What do you get? Certainly no one that I’d trust to interpret a parking ticket, much less constitutional law.

[HuskyOffset]

21. But...but...but...he took his jacket off & everything...(NT)

[GB_RN]

23. Yeah...

Good ole Jacketoff Gym Jordan (R-Molester Protector). What a fuckstick.🙄😂

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Totally political and everyone knows it

Congress never goes there. Until these clowns showed up.

[Bev54]

9. Keep it up assholes, hope to see you all charged with obstruction.

[GB_RN]

22. I Would Love To See That...

But unlikely to happen. The Speech-Debate Clause would cover their asses on this one.

At worst, they issue a subpoena, Bragg refuses, it goes to court and by the time it’s over (years and appeals later), tRump’s case has already been dealt with, which would render the subpoena moot. And that assumes that Jacketoff Gym Jordan (R-Molester Protector) is still chair of the committee.

[Ford_Prefect]

10. The authority for examining state investigations is held by the state supreme court and

The AG for that state. The US Congress has NO right of interference in an ongoing state investigation.

If there is a specific charge made of incorrect prosecution, and the state does not respond, then Congress may have cause to investigate. They have no right of prior restraint, and lacking evidence of a crime they have no cause to look for one. No more than the DOJ may do.

IMO the idiots who are bloviating over this have no clue how an investigation, a grand jury, or a state level prosecution operates. They presume to pursue an alleged wrong-doing when the have no evidence, and no standing to bring suit against the prosecutor.

This is straight up intimidation with no purpose except to delay.

[WinstonSmith4740]

11. Can't wait for Jordan to subpeona him.

Gonna love to see his reaction when he's told to go pound sand and Ted Lieu, along with every Democratic member of the House, reminds him (again) that he blew the J6 committee subpeona off.

[SouthernDem4ever]

16. GOP Hypocrisy has no limits

They no longer even care how dumb or ineffective they look.

[Mc Mike]

30. Great point, Winston.

100% agree.

[DownriverDem]

12. It's an active

investigation. repubs need to get bent.

[MichMan]

37. Not relevant apparently

Last edited Mon Mar 27, 2023, 02:07 PM - Edit history (1)

The January 6th investigation was ongoing when that was investigated by Congress.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

13. Futile attempt to preserve their nonexistent dignity!

[ashredux]

14. It's becoming obvious that these folks are really not that bright

[tornado34jh]

15. And it wasn't political when they are doing the same with Hilary Clinton and Joe Biden?

Total hypocrites.

[Novara]

19. He doesn't answer to you motherfuckers.

You all need to read the fucking Constitution and what it says you actually have jurisdiction over. Hint: it ain't the Manhattan DA.

Oh, and pay close attention to the 10th Amendment, motherfuckers.

[The Jungle 1]

24. He should agree. Get a date and time.

Then just don't show up.

[Marthe48]

25. Dolts!

3 stooges, that aren't funny.

[twodogsbarking]

28. Or smart.

[Joinfortmill]

26. 'conclusory'. Had to look that one up.

[azureblue]

27. when they explain why

they refused to show up when subpoenaed, then maybe we will listen to them. Hey Jim, you refused a subpoena, so sit down and shut up.

[SWBTATTReg]

29. Well, Bragg is right, that they have no authority interfering w/ an ongoing investigation,

plus, if he wants to be snippy w/ the house repug leaders, he can tie everything to everything trump does, if trump files a lawsuit, then he files a lawsuit, if trump does action A, then Bragg does action A too. Tit for tat, I'd say. I'd think that this would upset the repug house members, but who cares?

[MichMan]

38. How did the last congress have the authority to investigate January 6, then ?

That investigation was ongoing by the DOJ.

[paleotn]

31. Fuck off, Repukes.

When they have the power to actually enforce their bullshit, that's when Bragg will comply. Currently, they're impotent.

[republianmushroom]

32. Gym jim go suck up to trump some more.

26 months and counting

[keithbvadu2]

33. Didn't Gym Jordan have an issue about testifying?

[Initech]

34. This is a political hit job by the MAGAs and that's about it.

No answer he gives will be satisfactory to them. The MAGAs are totally psychotic and out of control.

[Martin68]

35. Suck it up, Trumpists! You can whine all you want, the law is on Bragg's side. Unlike all the

Trump aides, etc who refused to testify, went to court to overturn subpoenas, and still had to testify because the law is not on their side.