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Press Release Published: Feb 22, 2019

Ranking Member Jordan Requests Vote on Cummings’ Effort to Subpoena Cooperating Agencies

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform sent a letter to Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) requesting a vote on three subpoenas that the Chairman intends to send to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Health and Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) relating to the status of family separations at the border. The Departments have been voluntarily complying with the Chairman’s initial requests of February 5, 2019.

Excerpts from the letter:

“Based on the Departments’ efforts to voluntarily comply with your requests, I believe these subpoenas are premature at this time. As I understand it, the Departments have been in continuous contact with your staff about a production schedule as you requested in your February 5, 2019, letters. In fact, HHS produced 792 pages of documents in response to your request just today.”

“I hope you will allow the process of accommodation and compromise with the Departments to continue. As you have said in the past, ‘Sometimes we may be able to find common ground if we just have a chance to talk first. Often compromise enables us to reach a better solution.’ Here, there seems to be an opportunity for common ground. As I understand the facts, the Departments are responding voluntarily to your requests. I believe the Committee must allow the Departments sufficient time to provide responsive information voluntarily before we resort to the awesome power of the compulsory process.”

Full text of the letter can be viewed here.