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Bloomberg
The New York City lawmaker whose district includes much of Manhattan and Trump Tower has the inside track to take over a key congressional watchdog committee with a leading role
in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, according to multiple House Democratic officials.
Representative Carolyn Maloney, 73, has already taken over the Committee on Oversight and Reform on an acting basis, following the death of Elijah Cummings, the former chairman.
Maloney’s seniority on the committee gives her an advantage over other Democrats eyeing the top job on the panel involved in the impeachment process and other investigations of Trump’s administration and associates.
Since the inquiry was sparked by a whistle-blower complaint from the intelligence community, the most visible leader of the impeachment process is still expected to be Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff.
This would give Maloney an important but mostly behind-the-scenes role in hearings to gather evidence on Trump’s actions regarding Ukraine, which could be the basis for article of impeachment.
“I think it’s been decided,†said Representative Lacy Clay, a Missouri Democrat and Oversight Committee member, who has also been suggested as a candidate.
But Clay said he will not make a bid and understands that Maloney has it sewn up.
If confirmed, Maloney will bring a long record of legislative accomplishments as well as her sometimes quirky mannerism.
She recently drew attention in the Capitol (and at the Met Gala) for wearing firefighting gear. She did so as a lead sponsor of the 9/11 victims fund re-authorisation to help first-responders and survivors of the Septemebr 11, 2001 attacks.
The measure was one of this year’s rare examples of a bipartisan bill signed into law.
Maloney has been temporarily leading the Oversight panel since Cummings died on October 17. The late chairman was a more infrequent presence on Capitol Hill as he fell ill in recent weeks, and committee staff members have been working with other panels to schedule and question witnesses.
US’ top official tells probe he wanted Pompeo to back envoy
Bloomberg
The State Department’s top diplomat for Europe told impeachment investigators he was disappointed Secretary of State Michael Pompeo didn’t back the US ambassador to Ukraine when she was targeted in a smear campaign by President Donald Trump and his associates, a person familiar with his testimony said.
Speaking for more than eight hours in a rare session, Philip Reeker, the acting assistant secretary for Europe, said he pushed department leadership to make a statement of support for Marie Yovanovitch to counter the push to get her recalled, led by Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
Giuliani had worked for months to have Yovanovitch removed, believing she was opposed to the president.