Democrats in the House voted formally for the first time Thursday on rules that will govern the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump moving forward. The resolution passed Thursday morning mostly along party lines, 232-196, with 2 Democrats voting 'no' on the resolution.
According to the text of the resolution, details on how the House will move the impeachment inquiry forward into its next phase are outlined with the House Intelligence Committee will conduct public hearings and how the House Judiciary Committee "shall report to the House of Representatives such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper."
The text directs the five committees currently conducting an impeachment inquiry, including the Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, Oversight, and Financial Services and Ways and Means, to continue their "ongoing investigations as part of the House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist" for the impeachment inquiry into Trump. However, the Intelligence Committee, led by Chairman Adam Schiff, will hold open-hearings in the investigation, with equal time allowed for both majority and minority members of the committee or staff.
The chairman and ranking member of the Intelligence Committee will be allowed to question witnesses for up to 90 minutes, with 45 minutes apiece allowed for Democrats and Republicans. Committee aides will also be allowed time to question witnesses. A summary of the resolution states that will allow staff counsels to "follow their lines of inquiry to their ends," instead of having lawmakers question witnesses for five minutes.
Republicans will also be allowed to request witnesses to be called as well as issue subpoenas of their own, however those can only be issued if Democrats agree with any of the Republican-issued subpoenas.
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