House Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., speaks during his opening statement during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on the constitutional grounds for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Earlier this week, I wrote about Rep. Doug Collins’ (R-GA) priceless reaction to House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler’s (D-NY) opening statement made Wednesday during the start of Phase 2 of the House’s show trial impeachment inquiry hearings.

The Usual Suspects including so-called “journalists” complained on social media about how Collins supposedly made a “mockery” of the hearings, but the “mockery” ship set sail long ago thanks to the despicable shenanigans Democrats have engaged in since Trump’s inauguration.

In addition to Collins speaking for a lot of his with his facial expressions Wednesday, he also had an ace up his sleeve regarding an option he says is in the rule book. It’s a card which he played Thursday – and he is publicly demanding Nadler and Co. acknowledge and honor it:

Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, along with all his Republican colleagues, demanded that Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., schedule a “minority day of hearings” to afford their party the opportunity to call their own witnesses to testify in President Trump’s impeachment inquiry, according to a letter sent to the chairman’s office Thursday.

During the first day of public hearings from the committee on Wednesday, Collins and Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner from Wisconsin goaded Nadler to provide details on when he planned on scheduling the requested hearing, and what his specific next steps were in the impeachment proceedings. But they were promptly shut down, as Nadler refused to recognize them during the hearings.

Sent to Nadler and copied to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the letter states, in part:

Clause 2(j)(1) of Rule XI is clear and unequivocal: Once the demand is made, Minority Members “shall be entitled to . . . call witnesses selected by the minority to testify with respect to that measure or matter during at least one day of hearing thereon.” As you have previously stated: “It is not the Chairman’s right to determine whether we “deserve” a hearing; it is not the Chairman’s right to decide whether his prior hearings were sufficient; it is not the Chairman’s right to decide whether what we say or think is acceptable; and it is certainly never the Chairman’s right to violate the rules in order to interfere with our right to conduct a hearing.”

Considering the haste with which this sham impeachment has been conducted, it is imperative that you contact me or my office as soon as possible to consult on scheduling the requested minority hearing day. The requested minority hearing day must take place before articles of impeachment are considered by the Committee.

Read the full copy of the letter below:

The minority hearing day must take place before the #JudiciaryCommittee considers articles of impeachment.

The demand has been made, and the rules are clear. pic.twitter.com/hDHpXNrxuB

— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) December 6, 2019

To date, Nadler has not responded to Collins’ request, but The Hill notes that at the rapid-fire rate House Democrats are now moving on the impeachment issue, that it is unlikely the GOP will get their minority hearing day:

The speed at which Democrats are moving makes it highly unlikely a GOP-focused hearing will be scheduled.

Regardless, Republicans would be smart to continue banging this drum, because at this stage in the game, they are winning the PR war as what little support Democrats have left on impeaching President Trump is fast eroding.

The relentless campaign from Trump on downward is causing nightmares for vulnerable House Democratic incumbents, and if it keeps up, more of them will be jumping off the “support” bandwagon and onto something more benign in the scheme of things (like censure).

Flashback –>> Watch: Crenshaw Busts Schiff, Points to Exact Rule in House Rules Book That Gives GOP Access to Impeachment Docs

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— Based in North Carolina, Sister Toldjah is a former liberal and a 16+ year veteran of blogging with an emphasis on media bias, social issues, and the culture wars. Read her Red State archives here. Connect with her on Twitter. –