House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., demanded Thursday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suspend the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump until she established more "transparent and equitable rules and procedures."
"Unfortunately, you have given no clear indication as to how your impeachment inquiry will proceed — including whether key historical precedents or basic standards of due process will be observed," McCarthy wrote in a letter to Pelosi, D-Calif.
"In addition, the swiftness and recklessness with which you have proceeded has already resulted in committee chairs attempting to limit minority participation in scheduled interviews, calling into question the integrity of such an inquiry," McCarthy said.
Pelosi announced last week that six House committees would investigate Trump regarding his July 25 telephone call with Ukrainian President TK and whether he suggested an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden.
Republicans have insisted that a full vote of the House is needed for the inquiry, Democrats have said it is not.
The U.S. Constitution gives the House the authority to impeach a president, though it does not specify the process for carrying it out.
Besides raising the issue of whether Pelosi planned a vote on the inquiry, McCarthy asked whether the speaker would "involved the full House in each critical step of this inquiry" and whether she would grant "co-equal subpoena power" to the ranking Republicans on the six committees along with the Democratic chairs.
McCarthy also asked whether Pelosi would provide President Trump's counsel the right to attend all hearings and depositions, as well as to recommend and cross-examine witnesses.
"By answering 'no' to any of the above, you would create a process completely devoid of any merit or legitimacy," McCarthy wrote.