Political Quotes

“Thank you. I send a question to the desk from myself and Senator Schatz and Senator Menendez. The CHIEF JUSTICE. Thank you. The question from Senators Bennet, Menendez, and Schatz is to the House managers: If the Senate accepts the President's blanket assertion of privilege in the House impeachment inquiry, what are the consequences to the American people? How will the Senate ensure that the current president or a future president will remain transparent and accountable? How will this affect the separation of powers? And, in this context, could you address the President's counsel's claim that the President's advisers are entitled to the same protections as a whistleblower? Mr. Manager NADLER. Mr. Chief Justice, Members of the Senate, privileges are limited. We have voted to impeach the President for, among other things--article II of the impeachment is total defiance of House subpoenas. And the President announced it in advance: I will defy all the subpoenas. What does this mean? It means that there is no information to Congress. It means the claim of monarchical, dictatorial power. If Congress has no information, it cannot act. If the President can define--now, he can dispute certain specific claims. You can claim privilege, et cetera. But to defy categorically all subpoenas, to announce in advance you are going to do that and to do it, is to say that Congress has no power at all, that only the executive has power.…”