Lest We Forget

I once was cited for speeding in Georgia. I showed up for my court date as scheduled but the Police Officer did not. The Magistrate summarily dismissed the violation and I went back home. If I had not appeared and the Officer had, the Magistrate would have ruled me guilty and mailed me the fine documents to pay. I would have abandoned my rights to a hearing and accepted the penalty.

Pursuant to documentation requests in court hearings there is the possibility of penalty from the court for failure to submit, but the investigation or trial would proceed without them. There are other avenues of information collection in such cases. Here is an example of the overlooked fact: Every text or email message has a sender and a recipient. If the recipient refuses to provide the demanded message content, the Sender certainly might still have the message and could provide it. This fact applies in the opposite direction too.

At this time, November 2019, the House Impeachment Inquiry has the depositions and documentation from a sufficient number of people with which to proceed to the next phase. In the case of this President, every conversation, every phone call, etc. is attended by numerous staff, security personnel and participants who can be called upon to testify to what they know. Donald Trump's refusal to participate is inconsequential since he is the Defendant and has the right to not speak in his defense or to aid the Prosecution. His documents, though are government property and withholding them yet another impeachable offense. His silence on direct accusations is damning in and of itself.

They Inquiry Committees need to keep asking for the information to preserve their rights to ask.  Trump can maintain his silence and resistance, but that won't save him.