GOP’s Clinton testimony will come back to haunt Trump: experts

Experts are certain that Democrats will do everything in their power to force President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, to testify before the House Oversight and Reform Committee about their relationship with trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

The iPaper reported Friday that Dr. David Andersen, an associate professor of U.S. politics at Durham University, sees the subpoena and testimony from former President Bill Clinton as adding pressure on Republicans to treat Trump the same.

“Having them forced to testify now sets a dangerous precedent for the future that is going to put Trump in jeopardy,” he said.

“If and when Democrats recapture the House, they will certainly use this as a precedent to compel Trump, Melania, and the rest of the Trump family to testify before them, particularly after Trump leaves office," he added.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calf.) made it clear that the Democrats on the committee want to see Trump and the first lady appear before their committee. It implies that if Democrats were to win the majority in the House in November, they would issue subpoenas of their own.

“We’re demanding immediately that we ask President Trump to testify in front of our committee and be deposed in front of Oversight Republicans and Democrats,” he said in a Thursday press conference.

“Democrats will revel in the opportunity to drag President Trump before a committee that will systematically go through the various scandals that Trump has been able to remain immune from currently," Andersen continued. “They will see this as revenge… but it sets up a dynamic where all future presidents may have to fear their post-presidency and the investigations they will face.”

The problem with that, however, is that even if the House were to pass a contempt of Congress resolution, the branch of government that would prosecute is Trump's Justice Department. Congress doesn't have the power to hire or appoint a special prosecutor.

They could, however, pass a law that would create a framework for an independent council or special prosecutor. It was done in 1978, under the Ethics in Government Act. In that case, Congress authorized the appointments. They said that the attorney general must request a three-judge panel to appoint an outside individual, the congressional website explained. The one thing that has changed substantially since 1978, however, is that Trump has appointed his own former lawyer to the bench and other close allies as well.

Both Dr. Fabian Hilfrich, a senior lecturer in American history at the University of Edinburgh, and Dr. Mark Shanahan, associate professor of political engagement at the University of Surrey, agreed that there is no chance Trump gets a subpoena as long as Republicans are in power in the House.

Oversight Committee chairman, Rep. James “Comer (R-Ky.) is Trump’s guardian on the Hill. While it clearly nags at his morality, he has pledged unquestioning fealty to the president and definitely has his back on all things Epstein. Morality is trailing in a distant second place," Shanahan said.

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