A resolution prodding the Department of Justice to hand over more documents related to the Russia investigation will head for a vote by entire House on Thursday, Republican leadership announced late Wednesday.
The resolution, if approved, would put the House on record requesting the documents that could escalate the fight between conservative lawmakers and the Justice Department over special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
All the Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee sent a letter Wednesday to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Virginia Republican. The letter protests the plan to take up the resolution, which is being pushed forward on an “emergency basis” by Republicans.
“We are aware of no substantive ’emergency’ here; rather the hearing appears to be driven by the efforts to divert attention from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation and the Trump administration’s disastrous policies separating families at the border,” the letter said.
The letter also claims the Judiciary Committee “has been hijacked by its most extreme majority members at the expense of upholding longstanding committee rules and minority rights.”
But conservative lawmakers say the resolution, although unenforceable, could lead to punitive actions against Mr. Rosenstein for not turning over the documents. Those penalties could include impeachment or holding him in contempt.
The measure gives the Justice Department until July 6 to respond to the document requests.
The showdown between Republicans and Democrats comes as Mr. Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray are scheduled to testify before Congress Thursday morning. It is likely the resolution vote will occur after they answer lawmakers’ questions.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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