House Democrat pledges ‘there will be open hearings’ in impeachment inquiry | TheHill – The Hill

Rep. Jim HimesJames (Jim) Andres HimesSunday shows — Officials rush to Trump’s defense on Syria, sanctions Intelligence Committee Democrat: ‘No requirement’ for impeachment inquiry vote Sunday Show Preview: Trump’s allies and administration defend decision on Syria MORE (D-Conn.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said Sunday that the House will hold open hearings in its impeachment inquiry into President TrumpDonald John TrumpPelosi arrives in Jordan with bipartisan congressional delegation Trump says his Doral resort will no longer host G-7 after backlash CNN’s Anderson Cooper mocks WH press secretary over Fox News interview MORE, though the pace of new revelations made it difficult to predict when that would be.

Himes dismissed concerns from House Republicans, brought up by CBS “Face the Nation” host Margaret Brennan, about a lack of transparency in the inquiry.

“What is happening is that there is no way for the Republicans to defend the actions of the president here,” he said. “So as a result what they’re doing is that they’re attacking the process.”

Himes said impeachment proceedings for former Presidents Clinton and Nixon were more transparent than the current inquiry because they were based on existing investigations compiled by special prosecutors.

In those cases, “the Congress was handed a fully done investigation,” he said, adding that “we’re doing that now, and an investigation doesn’t happen in the light of day, but I will tell you that there will be open hearing.”

NEWS: @jahimes tells @margbrennan that Democrats will hold open hearings on impeachment and the Ukraine controversy but timing and witnesses are unclear. https://t.co/Iwf2zsW3DE pic.twitter.com/bTvgWf1Dc8

— Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) October 20, 2019

Himes also said the House needed to further understand Trump’s personal attorney Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiGiuliani asked State Dept. to grant visa for ex-Ukraine official at center of Biden allegations: report Overnight Energy: Trump taps deputy energy secretary to replace Perry | Praises pick Dan Brouillette as ‘total professional’ | Perry denies quid pro quo over Ukraine Ex-Watergate prosecutor says evidence in impeachment inquiry ‘clearly’ points to Trump MORE’s role in U.S.-Ukraine relations as part of its impeachment inquiry.

“Rudy Giuliani running around, meeting with heads of state on behalf of the president’s political interests is a profoundly shocking and important thing for us to understand,” Himes said. “Based on what the administration has disclosed, I really think it’s important to talk to Rudy Giuliani.”