The committees of the US Congress conduct the business of our democracy, addressing pressing issues and developing legislation. They’re also the place where Members debate their views on controversial issues, including foreign policy, tax policy, health care, and immigration. The Portal’s Committee News section brings you the latest headlines and developments from committees across the House and Senate.
Ahead of the new Congress, we’ve got a look at who could chair key committees in the next Congress. Bob Latta is running for the E&C chair, a seat that will likely be one of the most important in the next Congress. He’s competing with Brett Guthrie and several other Republicans.
The Congressional Ethics Committee is preparing to refer criminal charges against President Trump to the Justice Department, the panel’s chairman said Monday. The referrals would accuse the former president of lying to investigators, obstruction of an official proceeding and possibly insurrection. The panel’s final report is expected to be released later this week.
“We have a lot of evidence, and that’s why we’re taking this step,” Rep. Adam Schiff said. He added that the panel is still evaluating whether there’s enough evidence to charge other associates of Trump who may have engaged in process offenses, such as witness tampering or perjury. He didn’t specify which associates the panel is considering for prosecution.
A spokesperson for Jordan dismissed the referrals as a partisan stunt, saying they were made without adherence to the House’s rules on committee proceedings and violated due process. The spokesperson also noted that the panel was unable to answer questions from Jordan and other minority members about their work because of a court-ordered gag order.
The panel’s decision comes amid mounting pressure on the Justice Department to prosecute the president for alleged campaign finance violations and other allegations relating to his business empire. The Justice Department has reportedly already opened an investigation into those allegations, but it is unclear if they will bring a case against the president. The White House has also defended the DOJ’s handling of the investigation, saying it’s up to prosecutors whether to charge Trump or not.