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A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 13 February 2020

After impeachment: Congress adrift, oversight uncertain

Continued from Front trol of the House and Sen- "Republicans thought the
ate. "Everything is at stake president would learn his
"We won and they lost," in November," said Rep. lesson. The lesson the presi-
declared Senate Majority Hakeem Jeffries of New dent learned was that the
Leader Mitch McConnell. York, the Democratic cau- Republican Party will not
House Democrats are fran- cus chairman, as he im- hold him accountable no
tically reviving their kitch- plored Americans to pre- matter how egregious his
en-table agenda of health pare to vote "as if your life behavior," he said.
care and pocketbook pri- depends on it." Some Republicans who
orities, a direct appeal to Democrats warn that indicated the president
voters after spending the Trump, far from hav- might temper his behavior
past months focused on ing learned lessons from acknowledged Wednes-
erecting a firewall against becoming the third im- day the limits. Sen. Lisa
potential wrongdoing by peached president, is in Murkowski, R-Alaska, said,
the president. fact engaged in an esca- "There haven't been very
What has become clear Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., talks to reporters lating pattern of retribution strong indicators this week
in the aftermath of the im- following a GOP strategy meeting at the Capitol in Washington, and political favoritism that that he has." "I said before
peachment proceedings Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Associated Press started as soon as he was that I would hope that the
is the stark realization that acquitted by the Senate. president would learn from
the legislative branch can The outcome leaves Con- nation's political energy In a matter of days, the that experience," said Sen.
only carry the country so gress adrift, its legislative turns toward the presiden- White House reassigned an Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn.
far as a check on the exec- agenda uncertain, its over- tial primaries ahead of the Army officer, Lt. Col. Alex "The president is his own
utive. It's now up to voters sight role challenged. Both November election, when Vindman, a key witness in person, and I'm my own
to decide. parties are in flux as the voters will also decide con- the impeachment inquiry, person, and you can judge
from the National Secu- whether you think he has."
rity Council, and pushed his Asked if the president has
twin brother, a council law- learned any lessons from
yer, out with him. Ambassa- impeachment, Sen. Mar-
dor Gordon Sondland was co Rubio, R-Fla., said: "He
recalled from his post. seems the same as he did
Then, Trump tweeted it was two weeks ago." Demo-
"very unfair" that associate crats, though, are display-
Roger Stone was being rec- ing only tepid enthusiasm
ommended for up to nine for digging deeper into
years in prison after being Trump's alleged wrongdo-
convicted of witness tam- ings after the Senate voted
pering, obstruction and last week to acquit him of
lying to Congress in the the charges of abuse of
Russia probe. The Justice power and obstruction of
Department swiftly backed Congress in the Ukraine
off, four government pros- matter.
ecutors withdrew from the Privately, Democrats say
case and the White House there is little expectation
nixed the nomination of the House will issue a sub-
Jessie Liu, the supervising poena for John Bolton, the
attorney, who was in line former national security
for a Treasury post. adviser whose forthcoming
On Wednesday, Sen. book holds fresh revelations
Democratic Leader Chuck about Trump's pressure
Schumer called on the Jus- on Ukraine to investigate
tice Department's inspec- Democratic rival Joe Biden
tor general to look into that was central to the im-
the matter. House Speak- peachment charges.
er Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Attorney General William
agreed there needs to be Barr is scheduled to tes-
an investigation. tify before the House Ju-
"What we are witnessing is diciary Committee in late
a crisis in the rule of law in March, it was announced
America," Schumer said. Wednesday.q