Devin Nunes Invokes House Rule Loophole Allowing Republicans to Call Witnesses to Testify During Impeachment Inquiry

  |  
Nov 22, 2019

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) issued a letter to House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) on Thursday demanding that the minority party be allowed to call witnesses to testify during the impeachment proceedings.

Nunes cited House Rule XI, Clause 1(a)(1)(A) and House Rule XI, Clause 2(j)(1) in order to make the case that it is germane for Republicans to bring forth witnesses for questioning at an upcoming hearing.

“As the Committee continues to conduct the Democrats’ partisan and one-sided “impeachment inquiry,” there are still important perspectives and serious issues that you have prevented the Committee from examining,” Nunes explained in the letter.

“We will inform you of the witnesses we intend to call once you have provided a hearing date and time to which we agree. Your failure to schedule this hearing shall constitute evidence of your denial of fundamental fairness and due process,” he added.

One possible witness could be CIA officer Eric Ciaramella, the man widely believed to be the whistleblower who initiated the newest phase of the impeachment witch hunt with his complaint against President Trump. Ciaramella is a long-time deep state operative who has been noted for his extreme partisanship with extensive ties to powerful Democrats.

The entirety of the letter, which was also signed by Republican Reps. Michael Conaway (TX), Michael Turner (OH), Will Hurd (TX), Brad Wenstrup (OH), Elise Stefanik (NY), Chris Stewart (UT), and John Ratcliffe (TX), can be viewed in its entirety here:

This news further dooms the impeachment inquiry, which has not exactly captivated the public. The backlash from the ongoing witch hunt hearings have caused President Trump to receive a substantial bump in the polls.

A new poll shows that Trump’s approval ratings are spiking as support for impeachment drops:

A new poll shows support for the impeachment of President Trump has declined since public hearings have started.

The Emerson poll released Thursday found support for impeachment has dropped from 48% to 43% since October, while opposition to impeachment has risen from 44% to 45%.

Independents are key in the shift, with 49% opposing impeachment and only 34% supporting impeachment. In October, 48% of independents supported impeachment and 39% opposed.

The poll also showed Trump’s approval rating rising to a net positive. Forty-eight percent approved of the president while 47% disapproved. His approval rating was only 43% a month ago.

A Morning Consult- Politico poll this week also showed independents are beginning to oppose impeachment as the second week of public hearings wraps up. The poll found a 10% drop in support from independents since the beginning of public hearings.

President Trump gloated during an appearance “Fox & Friends” on Friday morning that the FISA report on the Russian collusion investigation is dropping soon, which he claims will be “historic.”

“So, you have a FISA report coming out, which the word is, it’s historic. That’s what the word is That’s what I hear,” Trump said.

“Now, what you’re going to see, I predict, will be perhaps the biggest scandal in the history of our country,” he continued.

“And, if it’s historic, you’re going to see something. And then, perhaps even more importantly, you have [John Durham’s report] coming out shortly thereafter — the U.S. attorney — and he’s already announced it’s criminal,” he added. “I’ll tell you what, you have a lot of very bad people.”

The schemes of these “very bad people” in the Democratic Party have failed miserably, and President Trump and his GOP seemingly have them exactly where they want them right now.