Respond to prefers-color-scheme dark in app web views

Follow section front redirects in Spectrum

Enable NLP source in PCS for load testing

Switch off the News Alerts Survey Widget when we have enough responses

Poll to determine if new LUF updates are available

Allows the winning A/B test variant to be turned on without Spectrum deployment

Show infinite scrolling sections in Assembler MultiView

Show option for NLP article summaries in Action Bar

Show NLP summaries collection recirc on article pages

A general feature flag for Recipe Features that aren't yet released

Feature flag for media team features that aren't yet released

Use new Orca video player for preroll plugin in Spectrum

Show the snow tracker (instead of the heat tracker) on Spectrum

Biden team braces for upcoming trials of Hunter Biden

Why Biden is underperforming Democratic Senate candidates

Marco Rubio and the inverted reality of the Trump VP shortlist

Carolyn Hax: Is it selfish or self-care to cancel plans, ‘etiquette be damned’?

Ask Amy: I don’t feel connected to my late birth mom’s family

Miss Manners: My husband ignored another Mother’s Day and my birthday

Would you eat this weird sandwich? Barry Enderwick would. 

She finished chemo then got a medical degree: ‘The dream is real now’

Puppy abandoned with heart-rending note is adopted, named Minerva

In Class AAA, ‘Big James’ waits for his big league moment to arrive

Washington Commanders continue transforming their front office

Nationals limp home after 11-5 loss to Phillies extends skid to five

Life in Taiwan is rowdy and proud, never mind China’s threats

In photos: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi dies at 63

In photos: The 149th running of the Preakness Stakes

Microsoft will build AI into new laptops, firing shot at Apple

Burned out on screens, people are sending lengthy voice notes instead

Blue Origin to fly again as space tourism struggles to get off the ground

As India votes, a streetwise pol proves pragmatism often trumps ideology 

Maps show where Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter was found

Trump is making a strategic pitch to Arab Americans who feel betrayed by Biden

The race up a Hong Kong tower covered in 40 feet of steamed buns

The world’s coolest hotels want to tell you a story

6 Airbnb red flags to spot before you make a booking mistake

How Jim Jordan tried to connect the dots on Biden’s $8 million book deal

Biden’s false claim that inflation was 9 percent when he took office

Did Obamacare ‘massively’ increase the cost of health care?

The problem with diversity statements — and what to do about them

Russia shows resilience. There is more to do for Ukraine.

Trump promises tax cuts and fewer rules. CEOs shouldn’t fall for it.

US President Joe Biden departure

Manuel Balce Ceneta

Nancy Pelosi has rebuffed pressure to initiate an impeachment inquiry by arguing that there are other means of holding President Trump accountable for his corruption and wrongdoing — a goal that the House speaker herself has cast as imperative for protecting our democracy.

“We all firmly agree that we should proceed down a path of finding the truth,” the House speaker recently wrote in a letter to House Democrats. “It is also important to know that the facts regarding holding the President accountable can be gained outside of impeachment hearings.”

That’s true. But what happens if the White House will not allow Congress to get access to the “facts” that are necessary to carry out the task of “holding the President accountable”?

Trump, in a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-says-he-is-opposed-to-white-house-aides-testifying-to-congress-deepening-power-struggle-with-hill/2019/04/23/0c7bd8dc-65e0-11e9-8985-4cf30147bdca_story.html?utm_term=.6ab21ad4e9ce">new interview with The Post</a>, just made it overwhelmingly clear that he will henceforth treat the House and its reasonable oversight efforts as fundamentally illegitimate.

“There is no reason to go any further, and especially in Congress where it’s very partisan — obviously very partisan,” Trump said, referring to the latest round of oversight requests House Democrats have made.

Trump’s justification: The White House already fully cooperated with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation (Trump actually refused to testify and tried to get Mueller fired), so there’s no reason to cooperate “any further” with Congress.

Danielle Kunitz

Kate Woodsome

Joshua Carroll

Thus, the Treasury Department <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/treasury-likely-to-defy-tuesday-deadline-to-turn-over-trump-tax-returns/2019/04/23/daa7da46-653e-11e9-82ba-fcfeff232e8f_story.html?utm_term=.3a1fd66e5ef9">just informed House Democrats</a> that it will not meet the deadline of their request for Trump’s tax returns. While it’s still possible that this could change, this looks extremely unlikely, as long as Trump does not want his returns disclosed, which he adamantly does not.

Meanwhile, the White House is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/white-house-plans-to-fight-house-subpoena-of-former-counsel-donald-mcgahn-for-testimony-on-mueller-report/2019/04/23/2d48732a-65f1-11e9-83df-04f4d124151f_story.html?utm_term=.8a2acca91a31">preparing to lean on</a> former White House counsel Donald McGahn to defy a subpoena to testify before the House Judiciary Committee, to elaborate on the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/04/23/why-is-trump-raging-again-because-don-mcgahn-will-further-expose-his-corruption/?utm_term=.2011705a0fb0" target="_blank">extensive testimony</a> he gave to Mueller supporting the case that Trump obstructed justice. The White House may assert executive privilege.

But here’s the thing: If the White House continues down this path, it will make it still harder for House Democrats to resist an impeachment inquiry. Because if they launch one, their legal case for doing things such as compelling McGahn’s testimony and getting Trump’s returns will get even stronger than it already is.

Impeachment inquiry could strengthen Democrats’ hand

In <a href="https://waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/Neal%20Letter%20to%20Rettig%20%28signed%29%20-%202019.04.03.pdf">requesting</a> the last six years of Trump’s personal and business tax returns, Rep. Richard Neal (D-Mass.), the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, noted that Congress needs them to conduct oversight into whether the IRS is auditing and enforcing tax laws against the president, and to inform relevant legislation.

The legal case for getting Trump’s returns is <a href="https://waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/Rosenthal%20Testimony.pdf">already strong</a>. If a tax-writing committee requests an individual’s tax returns — say, those of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/individual-1-trump-emerges-as-a-central-subject-of-mueller-probe/2018/11/29/e3968994-f3f7-11e8-80d0-f7e1948d55f4_story.html?utm_term=.7b5008df7cbe">Individual-1</a> — then the Treasury Department “shall” furnish them. Neal additionally provided a legislative purpose.

In rebuffing this request, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/Secretary-Mnuchin-Response-to-Chairman-Neal-Plus-Appendix-A.pdf">argued</a> that this legislative purpose was a sham. Mnuchin said the returns must be “pertinent” to an inquiry that is “within the jurisdiction of the committee” and furthers a “legitimate task of the Congress.”

In saying this, Mnuchin actually revealed that an impeachment inquiry — which would constitute a legitimate congressional task — would strengthen that case, legal experts tell me.

“The response is that this request doesn’t relate to a legitimate inquiry,” Randall Eliason, who teaches white-collar crime law at George Washington University, told me. “If you had an impeachment hearing underway, and the focus was whether the president has financial conflicts or ties with foreign powers that are influencing his policies or compromising him in some way, then his tax returns become very relevant.”

This is also the case when it comes to McGahn’s testimony, legal experts say.

Georgetown Law professor Joshua Matz, who co-wrote a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/End-Presidency-Power-Impeachment-ebook/dp/B075CSX4WP/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=laurence+tribe+joshua+matz&qid=1556114770&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spell" target=_blank>good book on impeachment</a> with law professor Laurence Tribe, told me that the House’s oversight role already provides a strong basis for subpoenaing McGahn. But if the White House asserts executive privilege, Matz said, an impeachment inquiry would constitute an even more powerful case for the courts to override it.

“There’s no doubt that the President has an important, legitimate interest in executive privilege,” Matz told me. “But in our constitutional structure, the impeachment power is mightier and more fundamental than virtually any interest that the President might raise against it.”

McGahn provided <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/04/23/why-is-trump-raging-again-because-don-mcgahn-will-further-expose-his-corruption/?utm_term=.2011705a0fb0" target="_blank">granular dramatization</a> of Trump’s obstruction. Among other things, he recounted that Trump ordered him to fire Mueller, then directed McGahn to lie about it and create a paper trail covering it up.

Obstruction of justice has historically been an impeachable offense, confirming, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/us/politics/obstruction-impeachable-offense.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage">as Adam Liptak puts it</a>, that the “Constitution cannot tolerate” the “corrupt use of power to frustrate lawful investigations,” because this threatens “the constitutional order.”

Mueller did not indict, as per Justice Department policy. But his report identified <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/us/politics/trump-mueller-obstruction.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Fcharlie-savage&action=click&contentCollection=undefined&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection">repeated cases of obstructive conduct that Trump undertook with improper intent</a>, especially including those involving McGahn.

The case for launching an impeachment inquiry is already strong based on what we know. If Democrats want to take intermediate steps like hearing from McGahn first, but the White House blocks them, an impeachment inquiry would then be the last resort — for sound structural reasons.

“The entire premise of the impeachment power is that in truly extreme cases of wrongdoing, Congress is our ultimate check on a rogue president,” Matz told me. “In carrying out this mandate, Congress has near-unlimited authority to engage in whatever fact-finding it deems necessary.”

Perhaps Trump views an impeachment inquiry as a less bad outcome than releasing his tax returns. Or perhaps he hopes to run out the clock, gambling that Democrats won’t have the guts to pull the trigger.

If so, that creates a torturous dilemma. Democrats themselves say the full truth must be pursued, for the sake of the country. But if Trump blocks them from doing that, it would seem to force their hand and require an impeachment inquiry.

It really might come down to a choice between that and allowing Trump to neuter them entirely, in a way that — by their own lights — puts the country and the rule of law in extreme peril.

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/04/24/trump-is-cynically-defying-law/?utm_term=.71cf021f8150" target="_blank">Jennifer Rubin: Trump is cynically defying the law</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/04/23/mcgahns-testimony-should-rock-trumpland/?utm_term=.8b500e00ebcf">Jennifer Rubin: McGahn’s testimony should rock Trumpland</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/04/23/why-is-trump-raging-again-because-don-mcgahn-will-further-expose-his-corruption/?utm_term=.c0f118936548">Greg Sargent: Why is Trump raging again? Because Don McGahn will further expose his corruption.</a>

An Uncivil War: Taking Back Our Democracy in an Age of Trumpian Disinformation and Thunderdome Politics

Hunter College, BA in English

Greg Sargent was a columnist. He joined The Washington Post in 2010, after stints at Talking Points Memo, New York Magazine and the New York Observer.

Greg Sargent

washpost

the-washington-post

Pablo Martinez Monsivais

Donald Trump

Editorials

Columns

Guest opinions

Cartoons

Submit a guest opinion

Today's Opinions newsletter

Opinions

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/law/civil_law

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/judiciary

iptc-media/politics/government_policy

iptc-media/politics/government

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/judiciary/court

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/law/civil_law/regulation

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/judiciary/prosecution

iptc-media/politics

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/judiciary/court/trial_(court)

iptc-media/politics/government/impeachment

iptc-media/politics/government/constitution_(law)

iptc-media/society/values/ethics

iptc-media/economy_business_and_finance/economic_sector/construction_and_property

iptc-media/society/values

iptc-media/economy_business_and_finance

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/crime

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/law

iptc-media/society

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/crime/corruption

client-blocklists/Client List: Morgan Stanley KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Becton Dickinson KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Boeing KWs 2021 - EXCLUDE ALL 

client-blocklists/CLIENT LIST: Nomura KWs 2021 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Microsoft KWs 2 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Exxon Mobil  - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/GEICO KWs - INCLUDES ANY_4.26.21

client-blocklists/Client List: T. Rowe Price KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/T. Rowe Price KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/HBO KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: ExxonMobil 03312021 KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Ford/Lincoln KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Bank of America KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/WaPo: Combined Disaster Keyword List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs 2 - EXCLUDES ALL - 12.23.20

client-blocklists/Client List: Eli Lily KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Purina KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/BP KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: GEICO KWs

client-blocklists/Client List: KPMG KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/WaPo: Human Disaster

client-blocklists/Client List: Novo Nordisk KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Siemens KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Cisco KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T ALT KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Mercedes KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/FX Excludes All Disney

client-blocklists/Client List: Citibank KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Boeing KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Inpixon KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Aetna KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Philip Morris KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Google KWs - INCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T KWs 2021 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Dupixent neg kws - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Capital One KWs 2 - INCLUDES ANY - 1.4.21

client-blocklists/Bank of America Merrill Lynch KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/CME KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Google PG KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Chase KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Office Depot KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: ETrade KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

prism://prism.query/site,/opinions/plum-line?limit=20

The Plum Line

Opinions from Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman.

Sign up for the Prompt 2024 newsletter for opinions on the biggest questions in politics

Washington Post Opinions

The Washington Post Opinions section features opinion articles, op-eds, editorials by the Editorial Board, global opinions and letters to the editor on the issues of the day. Offerings include columns by Washington Post opinion writers, political cartoons by editorial cartoonists Ann Telnaes and Michael de Adder and podcasts by Jonathan Capehart.

Sign up for a weekly roundup of thought-provoking ideas and debates