In the News

U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, has been tasked with bringing evidence of wrongdoing by President Donald Trump to the Judiciary Committee considering his impeachment.

Neal’s role and that of five other committee chairs was touched upon by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Tuesday in a televised address, where she accused Trump of betraying his oath of office, national security and the integrity of U.S. elections.

Following Pelosi’s announcement, the Springfield Democrat said he supported her call for a formal impeachment inquiry, adding "The American people expect truth and transparency from their government.”

“I believe we have now reached a tipping point,” Neal said. “The extraordinary reports this week that President Trump encouraged the Ukrainian president to investigate the son of Vice President Joe Biden, and withheld nearly $400 million in military aid in the process, has taken us to a new stage. It is time that President Trump be held accountable for his actions.”

Neal said he would vote Wednesday for a resolution in the House expressing disapproval of the administration’s “continuing effort to withhold urgent national security information from Congress.”

If the Democratic-controlled House were to vote in favor of impeachment, then the Republican-led Senate would conduct a trial.

Trump took to Twitter to dismiss the impeachment inquiry, calling it “Witch Hunt garbage."

Earlier, Trump tweeted that he had authorized the release of a declassified and un-redacted transcript of his conversation with the Ukraine president.

The whistleblower complaint involves communications with a foreign leader and a “promise” Trump made that alarmed a U.S. intelligence official who had worked at the White House, The Washington Post reported.

House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff revealed on Twitter Tuesday that his committee had heard the whistleblower was interested in testifying before Congress, adding it could take place “as soon as this week.”