Schiff Says Impeachment Report Will Come Soon After Thanksgiving

WASHINGTON  — House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff announced Monday that his committee’s impeachment report will be submitted to the House Judiciary Committee “soon after Congress returns from the Thanksgiving recess.”

In a lengthy “Dear Colleague” letter sent to members of the House Democratic Caucus, Schiff said evidence collected through 17 closed-door depositions and five open hearings “conclusively shows” President Donald Trump engaged in a months-long effort to encourage foreign interference in the 2020 elections.

“As the evidence conclusively shows,” Schiff continued, “President Trump conditioned official acts—a White House meeting desperately desired by the new Ukrainian president and critical U.S. military assistance—on Ukraine announcing sham, politically-motivated investigations that would help President Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign.”

The committee chairman went on to say “the corrupt intent made plain in the record of the July 25 call between Presidents Trump and Zelensky has been supplemented by significant evidence showing the extent of the President’s abuse of power both before and after the July 25 telephone call.

“This conduct directed by the President not only became more ‘insidious’ over time, but was known to the vice president, the president’s chief of staff, the Secretary of State, and others down the line,” Schiff said.

The chairman did not rule out the possibility of additional hearings or depositions, but he said investigators did not want to allow the administration to delay the probe through legal challenges.

He also noted at least a dozen witnesses defied subpoenas, the result, he said, of “an unprecedented campaign of obstruction” by the White House.

The probe will move to the House Judiciary Committee in December, where lawmakers will decide whether to write articles of impeachment.