House Democrats pick Jamie Raskin to be ranking member on Oversight committee

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland has received the highest Democratic job on the Home Oversight Committee after a closed-door election with the Democratic caucus Thursday morning.

Raskin ran in opposition to Virginia Rep. Gerry Connolly, besting him within the ultimate vote of 133-75, sources within the room confirmed.

“I used to be recruited to this Committee by Consultant Elijah Cummings on my first day of my first Time period and it’s overwhelming to assume I’ll now be one in all his successors. I’m fascinated with him rather a lot immediately” Raskin, who was first elected in 2016, mentioned in an announcement Thursday. “I stay up for championing our Democratic priorities on the Home’s lead investigative committee and drawing on the outstanding skills and voices of our Democratic Members.”

The Maryland Democrat has served on the choose committee investigating the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol and because the lead supervisor within the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

Because the rating Democrat on the Oversight panel, Raskin will grow to be the chief Home defender of the Biden administration when Republicans, who’ve vowed to analyze the president’s son Hunter Biden and the Biden administration, take over the chamber within the subsequent Congress. Raskin will probably be within the line of protection in opposition to Republicans, who had little capacity to implement their doc requests whereas they have been within the minority however will achieve subpoena energy as soon as within the majority.

Final month, Republican Rep. Jim Comer – the anticipated subsequent chairman of the Oversight Committee – outlined a broad vary of investigative targets targeted on President Joe Biden and his household’s enterprise dealings. Comer mentioned that there are plans to subpoena Hunter Biden.

“Within the 118th Congress, this committee will consider the standing of Joe Biden’s relationship together with his household’s overseas companions and whether or not he’s a President who’s compromised or swayed by overseas {dollars} and affect,” the Kentucky Republican mentioned. “I need to be clear: That is an investigation of Joe Biden, and that’s the place the committee will focus on this subsequent Congress.”

New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney, the present chairwoman of the Oversight panel, is leaving Congress subsequent month after dropping a member-versus-member Democratic major to Rep. Jerry Nadler this yr.

“I’m assured that Rep. Raskin is the chief the American individuals must defend our democracy and champion an efficient authorities at this vital second in our nation’s historical past,” Maloney mentioned in an announcement Thursday after the vote.