The White House yesterday instructed the Dynamic Duo of House Judiciary ranking member Jim Jordan and House Oversight ranking member James Comer that their demands for documents in investigations they have no authority to initiate yet would have to be restarted AFTER they have actually been sworn in as Chairmen of their respective committees:
“The Biden White House launched its first major broadside in response to incoming House Republicans likely to spearhead aggressive oversight of the administration.
A top lawyer for the president pledged in letters to those members that the administration would operate in good faith with them. But he also said that oversight demands made by congressional Republicans during the last Congress would have to be started over.”
Wait, Mr. top lawyer sir, you mean Republicans will have to follow the same rules as everyone else and wait to commence their inquisitions until after they have… you know… been sworn in as committee chairs? But surely both these pols have been around long enough that ranking members cannot just demand documents without a vote of the entire committee authorizing such a move, right?
“Dauber did not rule out satisfying the requests once the next Congress is sworn in. But his letter nevertheless represents the first volley in what is likely to be a contentious and potentially litigious two years between House Republicans and the Biden White House. More narrowly, it is an apparent effort to shield the administration from a hail of potential subpoenas in early January by describing them as an abuse of the normal process of congressional oversight.
In a Nov. 18, 2022, letter to White House chief of staff Ron Klain, Jordan had warned that if his requests for documents from the administration remained outstanding at the beginning of the 118th Congress the Committee may be forced to resort to compulsory process to obtain the material we require.”
O.K., O.K. Jordan really is that stupid.
But surely James Comer knows he can’t just demand documents without authorization, like he is King Shit of the U.S. Congress or something?
Um, not so much…
“Comer, in a Dec. 6 letter questioning the administration’s troop withdrawal from Afghanistan , demanded that the White House provide responsive material “no later than December 20, 2022.” In joint Dec. 13 letters to several administration officials relating to the origins of Covid-19, Jordan and Comer demand materials by no later than December 27, 2022.”
The White House “top lawyer”, Richard Sauber, though diplomatic
enough not to call Jordan and Comer a couple of chuckleheads, which I definitely would have done, nevertheless couldn’t resist closing his letter with a little joke…
“Should the Committee issue similar or other requests in the 118th Congress,” Sauber writes, “we will review and respond to them in good faith, consistent with the needs and obligations of both branches. We expect the new Congress will undertake its oversight responsibilities in the same spirit of good faith.”
Good faith, huh, Richard?
Good one.
This little exchange is a sign on how much things have changed. It’s doubtful any White House lawyer under Uncle Joe would be this openly dismissive before now. That this is happening tells me much…not least of which that our lawyer can say this with minimum blowback that matters. Plus, Jordan is likely on the hook for J6…how about Comer?
I agree Bare, somebody let the dogs out early, perhaps they thought, I don’t really think they are able to do that basic process of thinking first, but maybe they think they can hide from their own Court battles by getting some over sized balls rolling …
The Truth WILL eventually emerge, waiting is never easy, but cutting a huge swath through the GOP structure by the DOJ WOULD make our day … the smattering of common sense left in the GOP is NOT enough to keep the GOP afloat …
The former guy thought he had power before he was sworn it. Of course his minions and followers will believe they can do it.
They should cooperate to the same degree the Republicans did to supenas and questions under oath. Stick it.
Democrats had to sit and listen to 4 years of Trump and the Republican party claiming that being President gave Donald Trump UNLIMITED power and authority. Remember that s**t?
“Read Article II people! I can do ANYTHING…I…WANT! UNLIMITED power and authority!” Trump even sent his lawyers to the Supreme Court to make this exact argument.
Biden should play the same game as Trump did. Simply spend the next two years claiming unlimited power and authority as President and telling Republicans to f**k off until the clock runs out and we hit the 2024 elections. F**k Republicans.
The only problem with that is that the chowderheads in the GOP would turn to GOP-friendly talking heads and media outlets whining that Biden is acting like an autocrat and NOBODY would set the record straight.
Not a good reason to delay landing some solid blows. Repugnicans are going to whine and wail and complain and shed hot tears – and the media will report their meltdowns and nothing will change – so we might as well get a few solid kicks in to give them something to cry about.
MAGA Republicans are morons.
Let’s think positively, shall we?
The Republicans will be heel bent on bringing up Afghanistan. OK, please proceed, so we can explain, in your”hearings” that YOUR guy, tRump, made the deal with Taliban about the pullout before Biden was even sworn in.
We can explain, in YOUR hearings, why J6th was not a “tourist visit.” Again, in case you didn’t get it the first time.
We can explain, again, that Hunter Biden ‘s laptop means nothing and why. And we could slip in a few Jared & Ivanka digs while we’re at it.
Let’s be positive and use everything we can right back at them.
From your digital lips to God’s ear…and that’s before you get into how a lot of these Repukes may find themselves up on charges.
I’ve always wondered why the republicans are so hung up on Hunter Biden’s laptop , Hunter is not in office and why anything he does is any of their business , he is a grown 50 yr. old man .
RW in such a hurry, for people to look at them in “awe”, they forget PROCEDURE! RW act like dumb-ass children, most of the time!
I agree , don’t they have anything else to do ? They are not being paid to stick their nose in other people’s business .
Good faith my ass. These clowns are part of the insurrection. They should be in front of the ethics committee and the capitol police for insurrection related crimes.