Jerry Nalder Told Adam Schiff Trump’s Impeachment Was ‘Unconstitutional’ According to New Book, Schiff Ignored
Jerry Nadler comes clean in a new book about the first impeachment of former President Donald Trump. The book, “Unchecked: The Untold Story Behind Congress’s Botched Impeachments of Donald Trump,” written by Politico Playbook co-author Rachael Bade and Washington Post reporter Karoun Demirjian comes out Oct. 18.
The book details a behind-the-scenes feud between House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, CA Rep Aam Schiff, and New York Rep Jerry Nadler. It seems Pelosi didn’t trust Nadler to handle such a high-profile event, to her credit he has a habit of falling asleep on the job.
Instead, Pelosi wanted the original showboat, Adam Schiff, even though Nadler was chairman of the Judiciary Committee, to handle it. Nadler was pissed and according to the book told Schiff his process was unconstitutional.
The authors claim Nadler was worried that because his Judiciary Committee would not be able to cross-examine witnesses as the committee had done in the past it would open the Dems up to attack.
Nadler told Schiff about the process: “It’s unfair, and it’s unprecedented, and it’s unconstitutional.”
Pelosi backed up Schiff. The authors write:
“She didn’t want the Judiciary panel to interview witnesses at all.
“Pelosi simply didn’t trust the panel — which was stacked with liberal crusaders and hotheaded conservatives — to handle the rollout of the complex Ukraine narrative with the careful, compelling treatment it required.
“She couldn’t afford another Nadler screwup.
“The Judiciary chairman could focus on the legal business of crafting the articles of impeachment and have academics testify, she allowed. But that was it.”
“If we’re going to impeach, we need to show the country that we gave the president ample opportunity to defend himself,” Nadler responded.
“They’re going to argue we don’t have due process for Trump. Why make that argument real?” Nadler said.
“I write the rules of my committee, not you,” Nadler added.
“I resent you telling me how to run my committee.”
“I don’t really care about your resentment,” Schiff fired back.
“Neither the Speaker nor I agree.”
“We need to make the case more strongly that this is a national security issue,” Pelosi said according to the book.
“Eighty percent plus say it’s not okay for the president to ask for foreign assistance in an election despite Trump asserting that he can do it.
“I just think we need to make this case to rural voters, evangelicals, and Republicans,” she said.