The legal fight over impeachment continues

WASHINGTON (SBG) - The legal fight over an impeachment inquiry continued to escalate Wednesday as both sides fought over what should or can happen next.

Behind the closed doors and others around Capitol Hill, the action, legal fights and strategizing continue to form.

What happens next in this stalemate? Neither side appears to be blinking.

Top Republicans who held an impromptu 90-minute meeting Wednesday backed President Donald Trump's letter demanding a full House vote immediately outlining the rules, scope and potential charges, before they can proceed.

“They’re not asking for any special privileges,” argued Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C. “What they’re [Republicans] asking for is to follow the norms that this body has followed for a long time.”

Rep. Peter Welch of New Hampshire countered, “The president doesn’t make the rules for the House of the Representatives. That’s the whole point here. Our objective is a necessity that we go through this carefully and develop the evidence.”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo ignored questions Wednesday about future cooperation.

“Will Ambassador Yovanovitch be allowed to appear for deposition on Friday?” asked one reporter as Pompeo walked away from the podium quietly.

That’s a reference to scheduled testimony by the former ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, after the State Department already prevented the ambassador to the European Union from testifying on Tuesday.

A subpoena is a very serious document, it literally means under penalty. If you don't show up, there is a penalty, jailing and fines that and sort of thing,” warned Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn.

Democrats says Republicans should listen to their own words about how President Richard Nixon refused to cooperate, as they circulated old footage of South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, then a member of the House, in 1998.

“The day Richard Nixon failed to answer that subpoena is the day he was subject to impeachment because he took the power from Congress over the impeachment process away from Congress and he became the judge and jury,” said Graham.

Republicans say they should have their attorneys present at these proceedings and have subpoena powers. Democrats have resisted. How far this will go, is anyone’s guess.