Republicans Continue Abusive Investigation in Violation of House Rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Democratic Members of the Select Investigative Panel sent a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan calling on him to end Chair Blackburn’s abusive investigation, which is being conducted in violation of House and Committee rules and practice and putting doctors and researchers in danger.
“The Republicans continue to be complicit in this coordinated attack on abortion and women’s health care providers,” said Ranking Member Jan Schakowsky. “They have repeatedly targeted doctors and clinics in their witch hunt, putting patients and providers at risk. Chair Blackburn’s action yesterday goes beyond the pale, by issuing a press release naming a health care provider – whom the Panel has never reached out to – and making inflammatory accusations with no evidence of wrongdoing. This reckless panel is acting as judge, jury, and executioner and endangering lives. This goes beyond McCarthyism because now lives, not simply livelihoods are at risk. It is time for Speaker Ryan to shut down this dangerous witch hunt without delay.”
In the letter the members write, “Just last week, for example – and after Chair Blackburn and her staff repeatedly promised Ranking Member Schakowsky that they would provide a complete list of the individuals or entities being subpoenaed but then refused to do so – the Chair issued nineteen unilateral subpoenas. Of the nineteen entities and individuals served, seventeen were never afforded an opportunity to comply voluntarily before receiving a subpoena.” These subpoenas are in addition to fifteen unilateral subpoenas issued previously.
The letter continues, “Just yesterday, for example, the Chair issued a press release naming a doctor as now under investigation by the Panel. Republicans have not shared with Democrats any objective basis for targeting this individual, who has been the subject of anti-abortion violence for decades, including a 1991 fire that destroyed his family farm, killing his dog, cat, and seventeen horses in claimed retaliation for the care that he provides for women in this country. The Chair’s complete disregard for this doctor’s safety, particularly in light of the long history of targeted harassment and violence directed against him, is further evidence that this dangerous witch hunt must end.”
“One deponent has already appealed to the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee and to you, Speaker Ryan, in an effort to get basic protection for individual privacy and safety. Those requests have been refused or met with deafening silence. Facing the threat of contempt, that person appeared before the Panel last week. During eight hours of questioning, she was asked to “name names” by Republican staff who refused to explain how their requests bore any relation to a legitimate investigative aim. The Republican demand that people appear and name other individuals when they do so is reminiscent of Senator Joe McCarthy, whose bullying behavior ultimately resulted in censure by the U.S. Senate but not before he had damaged many American’s lives and careers with unfounded accusations.”
The letter concludes, ”This investigation has uncovered no evidence of wrongdoing and Chair Blackburn’s unjustified witch hunt against researchers and doctors is putting life-saving research and health care at risk. This investigation has never been – and has no hope of becoming – fair or fact-based and we call on you to disband it.”
The letter was signed by Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Jerrold Nadler, Diana DeGette, Jackie Speier, Suzan K. DelBene, and Bonnie Watson Coleman.