Hoekstra Does A Shimkus

Another Republican operating unilaterally on behalf of the committee he chairs without informing the Democratic Ranking member - just like Republican Shimkus spoke to Foley without informing Democrat Kildee - and with the same attending odor of attempted cover up. David Johnston for the NY Times reports: A report on whether a convicted former member of the House Intelligence Committee abused his position has remained under wraps for nearly four months, largely because of a battle between the committee’s leaders over issuing a subpoena in the matter, members of Congress say. Representative Jane Harman of California, the ranking Democrat on the committee, complained about the delay in a letter sent Thursday to the chairman, Representative Peter Hoekstra, Republican of Michigan. Ms. Harman protested what she said had been Mr. Hoekstra’s refusal to subpoena the former lawmaker, Randy Cunningham, a California Republican. (…) In the letter, Ms. Harman also expressed dismay over another issue. She said Mr. Hoekstra wrote her last month saying that he had been in direct contact with Mr. Cunningham — apparently to seek informally his appearance before the committee. “I am deeply disappointed that you contacted him unilaterally without notifying me,” Ms. Harman wrote. In her letter, Ms. Harman also said, “I again urge you to reconsider your decision not to subpoena him.” She also wrote about her concern that Mr. Hoekstra might try to visit Mr. Cunningham in prison, saying, “I believe this would be highly inappropriate.” Ms. Harman said the report should be released now because it was an unclassified document.