Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Guilty of Obstruction of Justice?

image
Shawn M GriffithsShawn M Griffiths
Published: 26 May, 2017
1 min read

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAHGsyt2kZA&t=2m43s

Debbie Wasserman Schultz was caught on tape earlier this week threatening the D.C. Capitol Police chief with "consequences" if his department did not return equipment that was part of an ongoing investigation into Pakistani staffer, Imran Awan.

“My understanding is the the Capitol Police is not able to confiscate Members’ equipment when the Member is not under investigation,” said the former DNC chair in the annual police budget hearing.

“We can’t return the equipment,” replied Police Chief Matthew R. Verderosa.

“I think you’re violating the rules when you conduct your business that way and you should expect that there will be consequences,” said Wasserman Schultz.

Police Chief Verderosa explained to the Florida congresswoman that the equipment was important to the investigation into Imran Awan, who is accused of stealing data from members of Congress and taking it offsite. Blackmail may also be involved.

The Daily Caller was the first to report the video:

"The investigation is examining members’ data leaving the network and how Awan managed to get Members to place three relatives and a friend into largely no-show positions on their payrolls, billing $4 million since 2010."

The video has largely gone unreported in the national and mainstream press, something that didn't escape Tim Canova. Canova is a former candidate for U.S. Congress and founder of the group, Progress for All.

Is Wasserman Schultz guilty of obstruction of justice? Should she recuse herself from the committee that controls the Capitol Police's budget? What do you think?

IVP Donate

Photo Source: AP

You Might Also Like

Woman walking away with a I voted sticker on.
Hey New York Times, Your Party Voter Registration Story is Pretty Bad
The press has a problem with independent voters. Specifically, the historic growth seen in independe...
20 Aug, 2025
-
6 min read
Hand in ballot that says independent on it.
Why 1.2 Million California Independents Are The Biggest Wild Card in American Politics Today
The fate of Proposition 50, California’s proposed redistricting measure, may come down to voters who have declined to join one of the two major political parties....
22 Aug, 2025
-
5 min read
Redistricting fight.
The 10 Worst Gerrymandered States in the Country
Monday marked another escalation in the mid-cycle redistricting fight between Republicans in Texas and Democrats in California – with one in another special session to add 5 more GOP seats, and the other maneuvering to counter this with 5 new Democratic seats....
18 Aug, 2025
-
7 min read