THE AGENDA -- Why Democrats Should Hire Michael Fanone & Harry Dunn

Democrats Need to Start Game-Planning Right Now

Every Monday, The Watchdog Report publishes THE AGENDA, a blueprint for Democrats in Congress to reassert themselves as a coequal branch of government. A lot of conversations are taking shape about what the Democrats’ Oversight/Corruption agenda should look like IF they take back the House or Senate in November. That conversation usually centers on the investigative targets they would/should pursue. But just as, if not, more important than identifying what to investigate is how they actually intend to achieve cooperation with their investigations. That’s what we dive into in this week’s edition of THE AGENDA.

Last week, we talked about why Democrats need to be prepared to invoke “inherent contempt” if they want to have any shot at getting their subpoenas enforced. This power allows the Legislative Branch to direct the House or Senate Sergeant-at-Arms to take into custody a person who has resisted a Congressional subpoena. But this also raises a crucial personnel decision that a Democratic Majority needs to be prepared to act on - who should be the Sergeant-at-Arms - because it has to be someone who is able to withstand the enormity of the moment. Someone willing to do the job and to act on powers that haven’t been utilized in a century.

That’s why the first hires of the new Democratic Majority should be a pair of former US Capitol Police Officers (who also were serving and protecting on January 6th) — Michael Fanone & Harry Dunn. Make one of them the new Sergeant-at-Arms and the other his chief Deputy, and you will have a duo unafraid to hold those who defy Congressional authority accountable. Democrats will be sending a FAFO message to all who think they aren’t to be taken seriously. For too long, Republicans have acted as if they believe Democrats don’t have the balls to hold them accountable. That they don’t have the stomach for the real fights. To this point, Democrats have proven them right. By hiring Fanone & Dunn, Democrats will be able to rewrite the narrative on their willingness to fight and defeat those determined to evade checks and balances.