Hill staffers secretly worked on Trump's immigration order

[kevindavis007]

Several House Judiciary Committee aides helped craft the controversial directive without telling Republican leaders.


Senior staffers on the House Judiciary Committee helped Donald Trump's top aides draft the executive order curbing immigration from seven Muslim-majority nations, but the Republican committee chairman and party leadership were not informed, according to multiple sources involved in the process.


The news of their involvement helps unlock the mystery of whether the White House consulted Capitol Hill about the executive order, one of many questions raised in the days after it was unveiled on Friday. It confirms that the small group of staffers were among the only people on Capitol Hill who knew of the looming controversial policy.


Kathryn Rexrode, the House Judiciary Committee’s communications director, declined to comment about the aides’ work. A Judiciary Committee aide said Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) was not "consulted by the administration on the executive order."


The work of the committee aides began during the transition period after the election and before Donald Trump was sworn in. The staffers signed nondisclosure agreements, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Trump's transition operation forced its staff to sign these agreements, but it would be unusual to extend that requirement to congressional employees. Rexrode declined to comment on the nondisclosure pacts.


It’s extremely rare for administration officials to circumvent Republican leadership and work directly with congressional committee aides. But the House Judiciary Committee has some of the most experienced staffers when it comes to immigration policy.


Read More: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-immigration-congress-order-234392


If this was good, why the secrecy??

[Sanguine]

...
If this was good, why the secrecy??

Because some of the House republicans would have obstructed it?

[LonestarDream]

Because some of the House republicans would have obstructed it?

Bingo.  Instead, Post Turtle Mitch and Paulie Ryan should be slamming the gavel.

[NavyCanDo]

They failed to tell the airlines, airports, airport security, and travelers as well. It could have been rolled out much more professionaly. Instead a gift was handed to the media.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

It’s extremely rare for administration officials to circumvent Republican leadership

There is not much meat to this story.  Trump circumvented Majority Leader McConnell and Speaker Ryan.  Not shocking.  I can't truthfully blame Trump for that.  If I put myself the shoes of the Beast (that's my pet name for President Trump) I'd do the same thing.

[libertybele]

It’s extremely rare for administration officials to circumvent Republican leadership and work directly with congressional committee aides. But the House Judiciary Committee has some of the most experienced staffers when it comes to immigration policy.

[/quote]

It may be extremely rare, but obviously very necessary.

[Sanguine]

They failed to tell the airlines, airports, airport security, and travelers as well. It could have been rolled out much more professionaly. Instead a gift was handed to the media.

No, they didn't - they told them when the order was issued. 

[Cripplecreek]

So basically Trump went to the most unelected insider establishment types he could find rather than going to the elected representatives of the people.