WASHINGTON – Day 5 of the impeachment inquiry public hearings wrapped up this week and now Congress heads into recess as the House Intelligence Committee puts together its reports.
But while the public hearings were going on, the other 400 House members, who aren’t a part of the live televised hearings said they’ve had deadlines to meet.
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Representative Mark Takano, D-CA, said other members, including himself, are trying to juggle their own hearings while trying to keep up with the inquiry.
“The plot thickens,” said Takano. “[The inquiry] gets more complicated.”
Congressman Takano said there’s a lot to take in as he recounts the long week of public hearings in the impeachment inquiry.
“[The testimonies] go on for hours, like 8-10 hours of testimony,” said Takano.
While all eyes are on the live testimonies, Takano was busy rushing from the House floor to hearings to meetings, working urgently on legislation to pass before the end of the year.
Takano represents parts of Riverside County, where constituents have reached out to him about a number of issues like veterans and immigration.
He is currently working to pass bills to reduce veteran suicides and prevent immigrant veterans from getting deported, which he said is happening often in southern California.
He chairs the House Veterans Affairs committee.
“I shuttled from that hearing,” said Takano. “Went over to a hearing with Education and Labor.”
Takano also focused on oversight in the Education and Labor Committee this week. He’s planning a trip to Texas soon to visit a VA facility. In the midst of all of this, Takano said his part is to try and make time to watch and review the impeachment hearings.
“Serious, serious betrayals of our constitution, involving abuse of power, involved in bribery and extortion,” said Takano. “I have to get into my office here, I have to leave you here.”
He said his part in the inquiry is to stay informed and keep his constituents informed as well.