As an impeached president, Donald Trump has been running loose across the national security. He sat watching a televised football game as he tweeted dire threats against the Iranians. Something is really wrong with this picture.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a letter announcing that the House will vote on a War Powers Resolution this week. She noted, according to CBS News:
‘The House will introduce and vote on a War Powers Resolution” in order “to limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran.’
The Speaker defined the resolution as “similar to the one introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) in the Senate.” Kaine ran as Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016.
The Democrats in Congress have been loudly vocal since Trump took the action against Iranian General Qassem Soleimani without even notifying them, let alone consulting with them. Although POTUS must notify at least the Gang of Eight top lawmakers, only Congress has the ability to declare war.
Trump told Congress about killing the general within the 48-hour deadline that the War Powers Act requires of him. However, the formal document had been totally classified, so there was no public version.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ben Cardin (D-NJ) released a letter Monday morning that asked Trump to declassify the War Powers Notification.
Former CIA and Defense Department analyst specializing in Shia militias Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-NY) will lead the House resolution.
Pelosi wrote in her letter that Trump’s murder of the Iranian general was “provocative and disproportionate:”
‘Last week, the Trump Administration conducted a provocative and disproportionate military airstrike targeting high-level Iranian military officials. This action endangered our service members, diplomats and others by risking a serious escalation of tensions with Iran.’
She continued, noting that Congress must “keep the American people safe:”
‘As Members of Congress, our first responsibility is to keep the American people safe. For this reason, we are concerned that the Administration took this action without the consultation of Congress and without respect for Congress’s war powers granted to it by the Constitution.’
The Speaker continued by addressing the “vote on a War Powers Resolution:”
‘This week, the House will introduce and vote on a War Powers Resolution to limit the President’s military actions regarding Iran. This resolution is similar to the resolution introduced by Senator Tim Kaine in the Senate. It reasserts Congress’s long-established oversight responsibilities by mandating that if no further Congressional action is taken, the Administration’s military hostilities with regard to Iran cease within 30 days. ‘
Then, Pelosi announced Slotkin would lead the House Resolution. The representative “served multiple tours in the region:”
‘The House Resolution will be led by Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin. Congresswoman Slotkin is a former CIA and Department of Defense analyst specializing in Shia militias. She served multiple tours in the region under both Democratic and Republican Administrations.’
Pelosi added her gratitude for the representatives’ “solemnity.” She also explained that the”patriotic leadership’s” job was to “protect American lives and values:”
‘I greatly appreciate the solemnity with which all of our Members are working to honor our responsibility to protect American lives and values. Thank you for your patriotic leadership during this difficult time.’
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.
