House Report: Joe Biden’s Obstruction, Sale Of Government Power To Foreign Adversaries Merit Impeachment
House Republicans published a report Monday presenting the evidence against President Joe Biden as guilty of 'impeachable offenses.'House Republicans published a report Monday presenting the evidence against President Joe Biden as guilty of 'impeachable offenses.'Supreme Court Tosses Obstruction Charges For J6 Defendants
The Supreme Court ruled the DOJ used an inappropriately broad interpretation of a federal statute to prosecute a former police officer.SCOTUS Arguments Don’t Bode Well For DOJ Prosecutors Pushing J6 Obstruction Charges
Most of the justices seemed dubious about the DOJ's broad interpretation of the statute allowing it to sweep in the kinds of conduct Jan. 6 encompassed.Biden investigation takes new turn over allegations of a 'conspiracy to obstruct' Congress: 'An impeachable offense'
House Republicans are investigating whether President Joe Biden "engaged in a conspiracy to obstruct" their investigation into allegations of Biden family corruption.
On Dec. 13, Hunter Biden defied Congress and refused to testify at a deposition for which he had been legally subpoenaed. Instead, he spoke to reporters outside the Capitol. Later that afternoon, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre raised eyebrows when she appeared to confirm that President Biden knew beforehand that his son had planned to defy Congress.
"The president was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say," Jean-Pierre said.
The admission compels an investigation into "the involvement of the president in his son's scheme to defy the committees' subpoenas," House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R) told White House counsel Edward Siskel in a letter on Wednesday.
"The fact that the president had advanced [sic] awareness that Mr. Biden would defy the Committees' subpoenas raises a troubling new question that we must examine: whether the president corruptly sought to influence or obstruct the Committees’ proceeding by preventing, discouraging, or dissuading his son from complying with the Committees’ subpoenas," the chairmen explained.
"Such conduct could constitute an impeachable offense," they warned.
The committees are thus demanding that the White House turn over all documents and communications in the executive office of the president regarding the Hunter Biden deposition.
Constitutional legal scholar Jonathan Turley predicted House investigators would probe President Biden's knowledge of his son's decision to defy a subpoena, calling Jean-Pierre's comments about Biden's foreknowledge "a breathtaking mistake."
Politico, meanwhile, confirmed with multiple sources that Biden knew beforehand about Hunter's speech on Capitol Hill, which suggests he also knew his son planned to defy Congress.
Congress, however, has not yet taken any action to hold Hunter Biden in contempt. If that happens, the case would be turned over to the Justice Department, and prosecutors would decide whether or not to charge Hunter. Under Attorney General Merrick Garland, the DOJ happily prosecuted two Donald Trump allies who defied the Jan. 6 committee.
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Turley explains how Biden may have made a 'breathtaking mistake,' providing Republicans with more impeachment ammunition
The White House may have accidentally given House Republicans another avenue of investigation in the formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden.
On Wednesday, Hunter Biden defied a congressional subpoena, opening himself up to additional criminal prosecution. When asked about the first son's decision, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that President Biden "was certainly familiar with what his son was going to say." The comment suggests that Biden knew his son would defy Congress because they had discussed it beforehand.
If that is true, it is "a breathtaking mistake," according to legal scholar Jonathan Turley, because it implies that Biden obstructed Congress' investigation.
"One of the four most obvious potential articles of impeachment that I laid out in my prior testimony was obstruction," Turley explained in a new essay.
"There already are questions over special treatment potentially being given to Hunter in the form of alleged felonies being allowed to expire, warnings about planned federal raids, and sweetheart deals," he continued. "In addition, President Biden has enlisted White House staff to actively push challenged accounts of his conduct and attack the House Republicans' investigative process.
"If this latest allegation is true, the president was speaking with his son about committing a potentially criminal act of contempt," Turley explained. "The House can pursue evidence on that conversation and how the president may have supported his son’s effort."
Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy gave Jean-Pierre an opportunity to clarify what "familiar" means, asking if President Biden attempted to convince Hunter not to defy Congress. But Jean-Pierre declined the chance.
"I don’t have anything else to add," she said. "The president was familiar with what Hunter was going to say today."
Multiple sources who spoke with Politico confirmed that Biden knew about Hunter's planned speech on Capitol Hill and, therefore, his plan to defy a congressional subpoena.
This series of events raises two important questions.
First, will the Justice Department prosecute Hunter Biden for contempt of Congress? The Merrick Garland-controlled DOJ, after all, had zero issues quickly prosecuting Steve Bannon when he defied a subpoena for the Jan. 6 committee two years ago. Moreover, President Biden stated at the time that any individual who defied Congress should be criminally prosecuted.
Second, will House investigators probe Biden's role in Hunter's defiance of a congressional investigation, which the White House seemingly admitted to?
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Democrat Jamaal Bowman attempts to explain why he pulled Capitol fire alarm – but somehow makes things worse for himself: Photos
Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York was caught on video pulling a fire alarm in a Capitol office building on Saturday shortly before a House vote to avert a government shutdown. The progressive politician and member of the so-called "Squad" is offering an explanation as to why he triggered the fire alarm – but many aren't buying it.
Ahead of the critical House vote to avoid a government shutdown, Bowman is seen pulling a fire alarm at the Cannon House Office Building on Saturday afternoon.
Bowman – a principal for more than 10 years – claimed that he set off the fire alarm because he believed it would open a door.
"Today, as I was rushing to make a vote, I came to a door that is usually open for votes but today would not open," Bowman said in a statement. "I'm embarrassed to admit that I activated the fire alarm, mistakenly thinking it would open the door."
Bowman asserted that his actions were not "in any way trying to delay any vote," adding, "It was the exact opposite — I was trying urgently to get to a vote, which I did."
The Democrat said he met with the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police at their request following the incident.
He concluded, "My hope is that no one will make more of this than it was."
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However, many are saying that Bowman may have committed crimes by pulling the fire alarm during the critical vote in Congress. Bowman's actions were compared to non-violent participants of the January 6 Capitol riot.
Lawyer Harmeet K. Dhillon: "Whoever put this statement out, or gave legal advice on it, or tried to cover it up with lies, is part of a criminal conspiracy to interfere with the operations of our revered Congress. RICO charges for all involved! Isn’t that how it works?"
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah): "Does anyone believe the 'I thought the fire alarm would open the door' line?"
Journalist Jake Sherman: "For those who work on Capitol Hill — or even those who don’t — this makes no sense. 1) have you in your life ever activated a fire alarm in a large public building to open a door? 2) there are tunnels that take you from this building straight to the Capitol. It’s very easy. I do it daily."
Commentator Siraj Hashmi: "Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who doesn’t give his political opponents the benefit of the doubt, is asking his political opponents to give him the benefit of the doubt."
Lawyer David Freiheit: "There is a photo from security footage, so obviously there is a video. Can we see the video to see if confirms or contradicts @JamaalBowmanNY’s version of events? Because committing a misdemeanor to impede Congress could land him in jail. For a very, very long time. No one is above the law, after all. Right?"
Political correspondent Byron York: "'Whoever corruptly...obstructs, influences, or impedes any official proceeding, or attempts to do so.' Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman set off fire alarm to disrupt House work on averting a government shutdown. Triggered evacuation of House office building."
Journalist Julie Kelly: "Rep. Bowman clearly violated numerous laws including 1512(c)(2) obstruction of an official proceeding. At least 320 Jan 6 defendants including Donald Trump have been charged with this felony count. This includes defendants who didn’t enter the building."
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) told Fox News: "That any member of Congress would think it’s appropriate to pull a fire alarm to try and delay Congress from doing its business is shameful, it’s unbecoming, and he should strongly consider resigning from Congress if he did that."
Journalist John Hasson posted photos of the exit area where Bowman pulled the alarm.
There is no button to open the doors, they must be opened manually.
There is a bright red sign indicating that this exit is an "EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY."
At one point, there were two red signs on the doors that read: "EMERGENCY EXIT ONLY PUSH UNTIL ALARM SOUNDS (3 SECONDS) DOOR WILL UNLOCK IN 30 SECONDS."
The two signs on the door don't appear in the photo from the moment that Bowman pulled the fire alarm.
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Progressive 'Squad' Democrat reportedly caught on video pulling fire alarm to delay government shutdown vote, Republicans call for his arrest
A progressive Democrat and member of the so-called "Squad" is accused of pulling a fire alarm at the Cannon House Office Building on Saturday afternoon in a suspected ploy to delay a continuing resolution vote to avert a government shutdown.
Olivia Beavers, Politico Congress reporter, broke the story on the X social media platform.
"Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was caught on camera pulling the Cannon fire alarm ahead of this motion to adjourn vote as Dems tried to delay the CR vote, multiple sources tell me," Beavers tweeted on Saturday afternoon. "We have reached out to him for comment – we haven't viewed footage ourselves."
Beavers added, "There was an alert to Capitol Police officers to locate him, I'm told."
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The spokesperson said, "An investigation into why it was pulled is underway."
Chad Pergram, senior Congressional correspondent for Fox News, wrote, "Dem NY Rep Jamaal Bowman pulled fire alarm in Cannon Building, forcing evacuation as Dems tried to buy more time to read new CR. USCP criminal investigation unit is questioning Bowman."
House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) said, "Rep. Jamal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in Cannon this morning. An investigation into why it was pulled is underway."
The Democratic Representative was reportedly caught on video triggering the fire alarm.
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A spokesperson for Bowman said, "Congressman Bowman did not realize he would trigger a building alarm as he was rushing to make an urgent vote. The Congressman regrets any confusion."
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.) proclaimed, "This is the United States Congress, not a New York City high school. To pull the fire alarm to disrupt proceedings when we are trying to draft legislation to AVERT A SHUTDOWN is pathetic…even for members of the socialist squad."
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said, "If true, this is a crime that carries up to six months in jail. While Republicans are trying to be productive, Democrats are pulling fire alarms in the halls of Congress. Insurrection?"
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) declared, "Democrat Rep Jamaal Bowman reportedly just violated 18 USC 1512(c)(2), interruption of an official proceeding."
Rep. Troy E. Nehls (R-Texas) stated, "I’m hearing Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) was CAUGHT ON CAMERA pulling the fire alarm in a House Office Building to delay the CR vote. IF TRUE: he should be charged with obstructing an official proceeding which is a FELONY. As a former Sheriff, I’d happily slap the cuffs on him."
The New York Times previously wrote of obstruction of an official proceeding charges, "The count — formally known in the penal code as 18 U.S.C. 1512(c)(2) — makes it a crime to 'corruptly' obstruct, impede or interfere with any official government proceeding, and carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison."
Purposely creating a false fire alarm is a misdemeanor in the District of Columbia and is punishable by up to six months in jail.
In March, Bowman wrote online, "No one in this country is above the law" in regards to indictments against former President Donald Trump.
Fox News requested a comment from Bowman's office, but did not receive an immediate response.
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6 Ways Jack Smith’s Latest Indictment Is Legally Flawed And Politically Shady
Jack Smith, in his rush to 'get Trump,' has done serious violence to our constitutional order and Bill of Rights.'The most outrageous intimidation effort in history': Mark Levin's electoral deep dive
Are you ready for a very "necessary deep dive?" In this video, Mark Levin broke down key details that he described as the "most outrageous intimidation effort in history." Mark covered:
- A U.S. attorney's Office in Washington D.C. that issues subpoenas like lollipops on Republican offices
- Crushing the Constitution and shredding attorney-client privilege
- Casting a broad net trying to get Trump Republicans and Republican state legislatures caught up in a massive criminal conspiracy
While much of the political attention seems to focus on "fake electors," Mark turned to the Constitution to see what the law states about the role of the state legislature's the electoral process, the proper process, and why it could seem to folks that perhaps maybe Democrats either do not understand the law or they are deliberately deceiving the American people ... theoretically, of course.
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