On the legitimacy of the closed-door depositions

Every time I see Republicans mention the fact that “House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) held secretive closed-door depositions” I want to scream. These closed-door depositions were essentially the same a a grand jury hearing.

Grand jury hearings are always secret here in the United States.

See Federal Grand Jury Secrecy: Legal Principles and Implications for Congressional Oversight for details.

The following is a key excerpt from the “Federal Grand Jury Secrecy: Legal Principles and Implications for Congressional Oversight” document.

Traditionally, the grand jury has conducted its work in secret. Secrecy prevents those under scrutiny from fleeing or importuning the grand jurors, encourages full disclosure by witnesses, and protects the innocent from unwarranted prosecution, among other things.

– Federal Grand Jury Secrecy: Legal Principles and Implications for Congressional Oversight

In other words, every time a Republican brings up these secretive closed-door depositions they are just twisting the facts and trying to deceive people by claiming that the process was not legitimate when it is just how things are done here.