COURTS/DEMS/HOUSE OF REPS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “House Democrats have kicked and screamed about the White House’s refusal to allow key Trump officials to come before Congress. But they haven’t done the one thing they can do to force the issue: Go to court. Democrats have handed out procedural slaps on the wrist — from subpoenas to contempt citations — and all have been summarily blown off by a White House claiming ‘absolute immunity’ from congressional testimony. The seeming lack of results has fueled criticism among progressive lawmakers and activists. But there are real reasons for the go-slow approach: An overstretched team of House lawyers along with Democrats’ fear of an adverse court ruling that could have long-lasting ramifications. House Democrats say they are also focused on meticulously building a record of the Trump administration’s resistance to their investigations in order to help persuade a court to rule in their favor and break the White House blockade. Rushing into it, they say, could backfire — even as angst on the left has begun to swell.”
–Andrew Desiderio and Kyle Cheney, “Why Democrats’ oversight machine is moving so slowly against Trump,” Politico, July 17, 2019 5:03 am