Rep. Jim Jordan Set To Join The House Intel Committee Ahead Of Public Impeachment Hearings

[Image Source: Fox News Video Screenshots. Swamp Drain Compilation]

Posted By: Lindsey Michelle November 8, 2019

Ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, Jim Jordan (R-OH), has been assigned by House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), to serve on the House Intelligence Committee so he can participate in questioning in the open Trump impeachment inquiry hearings that start next week. He will take the place of Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR).

A senior Republican aide told CBS News earlier this week: “Democrats have turned the Intelligence Committee into an impeachment committee. We are interested in putting together the best team.”

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy tweeted on Friday, “I am appointing [Jim Jordan] to the Intelligence Committee—which has now become the Impeachment Committee—where he will continue fighting for fairness and truth. [Rick Crawford] has been an exemplary member of the committee and will rejoin it when this Democrat charade is over.”

Jordan’s appointment may be seen as undermining Congressman Devin Nunes, the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee. While Nunes has attended some of the closed-door depositions, he has less experience running high-profile investigations and keeps a lower media profile. Republicans may see Jordan as a better counterpart to Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who often appears on cable news and speaks to reporters to explain the Democratic position on impeachment, as per CBS News.

The transcripts of the depositions released so far show that Jordan has already been an active participant in the questioning of the witnesses.

Jordan, who has been a staunch defender of the president, in his current role, would not have been on the dais during open hearings next week to counterpunch. Republican leadership, all week, had been weighing the Jordan move, also considering adding Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., as well. But in order to position Jordan on the panel, Republican leadership is required to remove one of the current Republicans on the panel. Removing three, to also include Meadows and Zeldin, would be somewhat of a feat, as reported by Fox News. (Continued Below)

On Wednesday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced that the first public hearings as part of the inquiry would be held next Wednesday and Friday, featuring current and former officials with knowledge of the Ukraine controversy.

“Next week, the House Intelligence Committee will hold its first open hearings as part of the impeachment inquiry,” Schiff tweeted. On Wednesday, November 13, 2019, we will hear from William Taylor and George Kent. On Friday, November 15, 2019, we will hear from Marie Yovanovitch. More to come.”

Rep. Jordan tweeted on Friday, “Republicans only have til (sic) Saturday to request witnesses for ALL open hearings. [Adam Schiff] decides WHICH witnesses testify, if any -Schiff decides WHEN witnesses testify, if at all -President’s counsel still excluded. Does this sound like due process?” (Video Below)

House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy’s official tweet:

Rep. Rick Crawford, who is stepping aside for Jordan to defend the President, tweeted Friday: “@GOPLeader and @DevinNunes will ensure the Amerian people hear the full truth while @Jim_Jordan will add critical bandwidth and legal expertise to the House Intelligence Committee during these upcoming public hearings.”

Crawford added: “I look forward to rejoining my colleagues on HPSCI when this impeachment hoax has concluded and we return to the important work and oversight of the Intelligence Community that the committee is intended for.”

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Rep. Jim Jordan’s official tweets:

On Thursday, Jordan called for the “whistleblower” to testify under oath and in person:

(Related: Zeldin Unveils How Fmr Ukraine Ambassador May Have Perjured Herself In A Section Of Her Testimony)