Larson Introduces Resolution Making Defiance of Congressional Subpoenas by the President an Impeachable Offense

Hartford, CT – Today, Rep. John B. Larson (CT-01) introduced a concurrent resolution to establish deliberate defiance of congressional subpoena by the President, Vice-President and other civil officers an impeachable high crime and misdemeanor.

"It is Congress's Constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. Our government was founded on a system of checks and balances. If a member of the Executive Branch defies Congressional subpoenas, that should be an impeachable offense. The Trump Administration has pursued an unprecedented campaign of obstruction to prevent Congress from carrying out its constitutional oversight duty. In fact, the President ordered witnesses and executive branch agencies to defy lawful subpoenas.

"Stonewalling by any President, including the current one, has the potential to cripple our ability to check the executive and poses a great threat to our democracy. This cannot be allowed to happen again. That's why I introduced this concurrent resolution to clearly establish that attempts to obstruct congressional oversight duties constitutes an impeachable offense and enables Congress to reassert its Article I powers to legislate and conduct oversight," said Larson.