(Headline USA) House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., reportedly opposed Democrat leadership’s handling of former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment, insisting that his party’s methods were “unconstitutional.”
A new book written by Politico’s Rachael Bade and Washington Post reporter Karoun Demirjian, titled Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind Congress’s Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump, alleges that Nadler confronted House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., about his impeachment procedures. Nadler was specifically concerned with Schiff’s decision to block Republicans from cross-examining witnesses as the committee had done traditionally.
“It’s unfair, and it’s unprecedented, and it’s unconstitutional,” Nadler told Schiff, according to the book, which was obtained by Fox News.
Schiff allegedly responded: “I don’t appreciate your tone. I worry you’re putting us in a box for our investigation.”
Shortly after the exchange, Nadler was sidelined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and blocked from aiding the impeachment proceedings.
Nadler then made an “effort to get back into Pelosi’s good graces,” according to the book, and his “aides sucked up to her staff relentlessly.”
“She didn’t want the Judiciary panel to interview witnesses at all,” the book’s authors wrote.
“Pelosi simply didn’t trust the panel — which was stacked with liberal crusaders and hotheaded conservatives — to handle the rollout of the complex Ukraine narrative with the careful, compelling treatment it required. She couldn’t afford another Nadler screwup,” the book continued.
“The Judiciary chairman could focus on the legal business of crafting the articles of impeachment and have academics testify, she allowed. But that was it.”
Nadler’s frustration with his Democrat colleagues continued to grow. Right before Trump’s second impeachment went to trial in the House, Nadler warned Pelosi and Schiff that it would have long-term consequences on the Democrat Party’s standing.
“If we’re going to impeach, we need to show the country that we gave the president ample opportunity to defend himself,” Nadler told them.
