Government Oversight
To advance its legislative agenda, the Judiciary Committee conducts regular oversight of the Department of Justice, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, among other government agencies. The Committee is also responsible for determining whether to recommend articles of impeachment against federal officials. In 2019, the Committee advanced two articles of impeachment against Donald J. Trump to the House of Representatives.
More on Government Oversight
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The "Authorization and Oversight Plan" before us this morning is not binding on the Committee. It is, instead, an informal outline of our oversight priorities for the Congress to come.
Mr. Chairman, I want you to know that I have always appreciated both your effort-and that of your staff-to reach consensus on the Committee's oversight plan. Unfortunately, I fear that there are several urgent matters within our jurisdiction that will not be discussed on a timely basis if we do not bring them up today.
Today, every Democratic Member of both the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wrote to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions and FBI Director James Comey requesting a full briefing in regards to former National Security Agency Director Michael Flynn's communications with Russian officials and any knowledge or involvement others in the Trump Administration may have had concerning these communications.
Today, Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Ranking Member on the House Judiciary Committee, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following joint statement:
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr (D-MI), along with Congressional Black Caucus Chair Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and House Judiciary Committee Members Reps. Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Jamie Raskin (D-MD), today released the following joint statement after the Republican led House Committee on Administration voted on party lines to repeal the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) yesterday:
MEMBERS SAY: TRUMP MUST RESPECT THE SEPARATION OF POWERS THAT IS SO CRITICAL TO OUR DEMOCRACY
Today's forum comes as our Nation stands at a crossroads. For decades, we have granted safe haven to families fleeing persecution and violence. Will we continue down that path of refuge, tolerance, and inclusion pursued across parties and Administrations, or will we veer down the path of intolerance, xenophobia, and paranoia as the current Administration appears to be heading?
If we are to correct course, it will require each and every participant in our republic to take action.