The US House of Representatives adopted H. Res. 6 on January 9, 2019, setting forth the rules for the conduct of House business in the 116th Congress. H. Res. 6 dramatically expands committees’ investigative power by—in a stark departure from prior House rules—allowing committee staff to depose any business or individual, subject to the near plenary power of the federal government, without a member present. Anyone facing a congressional investigation (or even the prospect of one) would be wise to consider the tactical implications this rule change will have on managing and responding to congressional investigations.
