The House Judiciary Committee will be working overtime this weekend as it prepares for its second hearing in the formal impeachment inquiry. But this time, the committee will be receiving evidence to likely to begin the next phase of the investigating: drafting articles of impeachment.
Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.), who sits on the committee, said they could be drafting the articles as early as next week. Nevertheless, the thought of scripting a timeline may be too ambitious, she says.
"We don't want to put a timeline because things change so quickly," Mucarsel-Powell told Cheddar. "We are still receiving evidence, we're reviewing that evidence, but hopefully we will have a sense by December 20th."
During Monday's hearing, the Judiciary Committee will receive presentations of evidence from the Intelligence Committee.
"The evidence that we have received that's been very damning for the president has been abuse of power," Mucarsel-Powell said, referring to one of the articles being discussed. "I do believe that we'll be talking specifically about abuse of power."
Nevertheless, Mucarsel-Powell said she is "unsure" if other articles, like obstruction of justice and obstruction of Congress, will be drafted.
"We have seen him use the presidency, the office of the presidency, to put pressure on a foreign government, for his own private and political gain," she said, referring to President Trump's now-infamous phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "And that's very dangerous for our national security. It also threatens the integrity of our elections."
On Thursday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced that the House would begin the process of drafting the articles, her biggest step forward in the inquiry since explaining the House would open an investigation at the end of September.
Earlier in the day. President Trump urged House Democrats to move "fast" if they decide to impeach him, "so we can have a fair trial in the Senate, and so that our Country can get back to business."
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham echoed that message writing: "We look forward to a fair trial in the Senate."
And while the GOP strategy has been to criticize Democrats for focusing on impeachment, like President Trump who calls them the "Do-Nothing Democrats", Mucarsel-Powell explained that the Caucus has little recourse but to move forward.
"We have been left with absolutely no other choice but to deal with the impeachment of a sitting president that would do anything to hold on to the power of his office for his re-election," she said.
As President Biden's poll numbers fall with Black voters, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass. 7th District) joined Cheddar to discuss what she feels could help the embattled administration: deliver on policies. Pressley pointed to stalled legislation such as new voting rights laws and Build Back Betters and canceling student loan debt, which would go a long way to improving his standing with Black constituents. "President Biden has the authority and the power to alleviate this burden, which would also help in closing the racial wealth gap, and he can do it by executive action with the stroke of a pen," she said. "And it doesn't require one vote from Congress. So, the Biden administration just needs to deliver to Black America in a tangible and impactful way."
Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, NJ and Ayana Morris, co-director of the documentary 'Why Is We Americans?,' join Cheddar News to discuss the new documentary highlighting the impact of the Baraka family.
Former New York City mayor and lawyer to Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani made his singing debut on a taping of Fox’s The Masked Singer. However, Ken Jeong and Robin Thicke, two judges on the competition show, reportedly left in protest when Giuliani was unmasked upon being eliminated.
All Hands celebrates Black History Month by highlighting achievements in inclusivity and paying homage to those who have fought for equal rights. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) joins Cheddar News to discuss voter suppression; Damali Peterman, CEO of Breakthrough ADR, elaborates on the biggest barriers for Black professionals; Andre Perry, senior fellow of Brookings Institution, dives into student loans and the racial wealth divide; and lastly, BET CEO Scott Mills discusses the company's initiatives for 2022.
All month long Cheddar News is celebrating Black History Month.
In our nation’s capital, Black history is being made right now.
cheddar's own Arielle Hixon puts the spotlight on three lawmakers making that happen, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Rep. Cori Bush (D-MO), and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC).
Representative Maxine Waters (D-Calif. 43rd District) joined Cheddar News to talk about the current political climate in America, including efforts to roll back voting rights in multiple states in light of Black History Month. "Why do we have to deal with those who still believe that somehow this country only belongs to the whites of the country and that somehow they have to do everything that they can to undermine our voting and do voters suppression to keep us from being influential and at the table by which to solve problems?" she asked. Waters chided "two Democrats" who she said were stymying attempts to rectify the issue and also spoke on President Biden’s promise to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court.
Wall Street saw another volatile day after the Federal Reserve left rates unchanged for now, with plans to raise rates in March at its next meeting in order to ease inflation. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the Fed has not made decisions on the size of rate increases, adding that the Fed is not trying to get inflation below two-percent. Ken Johnson, CFA and Investment Strategy Analyst explains why Powell thinks that high inflation is a significant threat to the labor market.
