MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Washington Rep. Jayapal: ‘We’re bending over backward to be fair’ in impeachment hearings

Dec 2, 2019, 9:06 AM

Jayapal impeachment, Pramila Jayapal...

Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for MoveOn Political Action)

(Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images for MoveOn Political Action)

As impeachment proceedings continue in Congress, Washington state’s own Rep. Pramila Jayapal spoke out in a defense of a process Republicans claim has unfairly excluded them.

Jayapal: Impeachment ‘only remedy’ for latest Trump scandal

“We’re bending over backward to be fair,” Rep. Jayapal said Sunday on Twitter.

Early on in impeachment proceedings, GOP lawmakers stormed into a closed-door witness interview, claiming their party had not been allowed to preside over the process.

They’ve continued those cries as proceedings have continued. That culminated in an invite from the House Judiciary committee to President Trump and his lawyers, giving them the chance to attend a Wednesday hearing to question a witness panel of constitutional scholars and law professors.

That hearing will see the House Judiciary committee examine the “high crimes and misdemeanors” requirement for impeachment laid out in the U.S. Constitution.

The White House declined that invitation Sunday, a move Congressional Democrats have widely panned.

“The onus is on President Trump to, for once, behave and engage with Congress,” said Rep. Jayapal. “If he has a defense, we on (the House Judiciary committee) — along with the American people — are eager to hear it.”

In addition to the invitation to Wednesday’s hearing, House Judiciary chair Rep. Jerry Nadler also asked whether President Trump plans to review the evidence against him, and whether he or his counsel would like to question witnesses during public hearings. Nadler set a deadline of Friday, Dec. 6 for a response.

How Washington representatives voted on Trump impeachment

Despite declining the chance to participate Wednesday, President Trump’s legal counsel left the possibility open for appearances in sessions down the line.

In the days ahead, should Democrats draft articles of impeachment against Trump, as is expected, and approve them with a House vote, then impeachment managers would be appointed to present the case to the Senate. Traditionally, those managers have come from the House Judiciary Committee, which is stacked with lawyers and former prosecutors, including Rep. Jayapal.

There are no set rules about who can be appointed an impeachment manager. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also could choose members of the House intelligence panel, which led the Ukraine investigation, or draw from other committees.

Associated Press contributed to this report

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

3 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

4 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

5 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

5 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

6 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

9 hours ago

Washington Rep. Jayapal: ‘We’re bending over backward to be fair’ in impeachment hearings