Congressional Investigation

House Republicans gather to speak at a press conference organized by Rep. Matt Gaetz, (R-FL), on Capitol Hill on October 23, 2019 in Washington, DC.

GOP “Storming” of Secure Facility for Impeachment Proceedings: An Explainer

How does a "SCIF" work, and can members of Congress be penalized for their en masse protest of testimony in the House impeachment investigation?

Oct. 23, 2019 Kel McClanahan

House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) holds up copies of the Starr Report during a House Judiciary Committee markup vote on a resolution to issue a subpoena to the Justice Department to receive the full unredacted Mueller report, on Capitol Hill April 3, 2019 in Washington, DC.

The Barr-Nadler Subpoena Standoff: Still Room for Accommodation?

In its standoff with the House Judiciary Committee over the Mueller report, the Justice Department’s assertions when it comes to protecting its law enforcement equities, are…

May 10, 2019 Edgar Chen

U.S. Attorney General William Barr speaks with a clenched fist about the release of the redacted version of the Mueller report as U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and U.S. Acting Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General Ed O’Callaghan stand behind him at the Department of Justice April 18, 2019 in Washington, DC.

On Mueller Report, Barr Says No Executive Privilege Redactions. But Look for Assertion Later.

The release of the redacted version of the Mueller Report may not signal the end of debates over Executive Privilege, and is likely only the beginning of congressional activity…

Apr. 18, 2019 Andy Wright

Senior Advisor Jared Kushner and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly listen while US President Donald Trump puts his papers away at the beginning of a meeting on cyber security in the Roosevelt Room of the White House January 31, 2017 in Washington, DC.

The White House Counsel’s Flawed Response to Congress on Security Clearances

Intensifying congressional oversight activity prompted President Donald Trump to accuse Democrats of “presidential harassment.” He complained — falsely — that President…

Mar. 6, 2019 Andy Wright

Michael Cohen is surrounded by press as he arrives at federal court for his sentencing hearing, December 12, 2018 in New York City.

Questioning Michael Cohen: An Advanced Course in Congressional Investigations

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, has announced his willingness to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee and the House and Senate intelligence…

Feb. 20, 2019 Elise Bean

Trump and Putin speak while waiting for a meeting in Helsinki, on July 16, 2018. American and Russian flags stand in the background and two staffers sit with paper notebooks on the sides.

Will Executive Privilege Block Congress’ Access to Trump-Putin Helsinki Meeting Notes?

Executive privilege looms large as Congress seeks translator's notes about the off-books Trump-Putin meeting in Helsinki. But that is only the beginning of the separation of powers…

Feb. 14, 2019 Andy Wright

Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker delivers remarks to the Joint Terrorism Task Force on November 21, 2018 in New York City.

The Whitaker Hearing: Potential Executive Privilege and Subpoena Fireworks

It appears acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker allowed an important deadline to pass on the eve of his testimony before the House Judiciary Committee. Rep. Jerrold Nadler…

Feb. 7, 2019 Andy Wright

Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai (L) shakes hands with US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the Presidential Palace in Kabul on February 21, 2009.

What the Constitution Says About Trump’s Obstruction of Pelosi’s Afghanistan Trip

President Donald Trump’s retaliation against Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s withdrawing the State of the Union invitation — denying Pelosi’s use of military aircraft to travel…

Jan. 24, 2019 Andy Wright

Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) holds the gavel during the first session of the 116th Congress at the U.S. Capitol January 3, 2019 in Washington, DC.

New House Rules Promote Aggressive Congressional Oversight

The new Democratic majority has taken formal control of the House and has fortified congressional oversight power in its new rules package. At the same time, a lot of additional…

Jan. 17, 2019 Andy Wright

Former FBI Director Robert Mueller, special counsel on the Russian investigation, leaves following a meeting with members of the US Senate Judiciary Committee at the US Capitol in Washington, DC on June 21, 2017.

Mueller’s Investigation May Be Coming to an End, But Congress Is Just Getting Started

On January 3, 2019, a new Congress will head to work with a monumental — but not unprecedented — job to tackle. Close observers of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation…

Dec. 21, 2018 Anne Tindall

Explainer: The Comey Subpoena Fight–A Face-Saving Surrender and Testimony Deal

Former FBI Director James Comey appears to have capitulated in his legal effort to fight a congressional subpoena to give a closed deposition, but he also walked away with some…

Dec. 4, 2018 Andy Wright

A subpoena reading, “United States of America; Congress of the United States; Subpoena Duces Tecum; To: President Richard M. Nixon, The White House, Washington D.C.; Pursuant to lawful authority, you are hereby commanded to make available to the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities of the Senate of the United States, on Thursday, July 26, 1973, at 10:00 o’clock a.m., at their committee room, 318, Old Senate Office Building, the following: …”

Can Congress Subpoena Trump to Testify?

Now that the Democrats have won control of the House of Representatives, there will be a flood of congressional investigations of waste, fraud, and abuse within the Trump administration,…

Nov. 27, 2018 Andy Wright