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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 12 November 2019

Mulvaney to file his own impeachment lawsuit, lawyers say

By ERIC TUCKER for a scheduled interview Kupperman and Mulvaney
Associated Press last week and has not been both have arguments at
WASHINGTON (AP) — White subpoenaed. their disposal that the other
House acting Chief of Staff Lawyers for Mulvaney had might not be able to ex-
Mick Mulvaney plans to said their arguments raised ploit.
file his own lawsuit over similar issues that belong Mulvaney, for instance,
testimony in the House im- in the Kupperman lawsuit, still works for Trump, while
peachment inquiry, with- since they both have been Kupperman does not. That
drawing his bid to join a close advisers to the presi- means that even if Kupper-
separate case filed last dent and in regular con- man were to be directed
month by a former Trump tact with him. to testify, Mulvaney, as a
adviser, his attorneys said But in a court filing Mon- current White House em-
Monday. day, Charles Cooper, who ployee, could nonethe-
The plans were revealed in represents Kupperman less look to shield himself
a court filing that withdrew and Bolton, said there behind a Justice Depart-
Mulvaney's earlier request In this Oct. 17, 2019 file photo, acting White House chief of staff were important distinctions ment legal opinion that
to become part of a suit Mick Mulvaney speaks in the White House briefing room in between Mulvaney and says close advisers to the
by Charles Kupperman, the Washington. Kupperman's situations, in- president should not have
president's former deputy Associated Press cluding that Mulvaney has their attention diverted "at
national security adviser. already spoken publicly the whim of congressional
Lawyers for Mulvaney had tion from lawyers for both compliance with congres- about issues central to the committees."
asked Friday evening to join Kupperman and House sional subpoenas and to impeachment inquiry from But Cooper also suggests
that lawsuit, saying his case lawmakers in his bid to join resolve conflicting direc- the podium of the White his clients may have oth-
presented similar legal is- the lawsuit, underscoring tives from the White House House briefing room. er, stronger arguments for
sues to that of Kupperman. the lack of a unified ap- and Congress. He asked a "Plaintiff, in contrast, has immunity than Mulvaney
But they switched course proach from Trump admin- judge to determine which never publicly disclosed in- since all their duties "con-
following a conference call istration officials in respond- branch of government formation relating to any of cerned advising the Presi-
with a federal judge. They ing to the impeachment should prevail. his official duties, including dent on highly sensitive
said they instead plan to inquiry, which enters a criti- Like Kupperman, Mulvaney the matters under investi- matters of national security
file their own lawsuit asking cal public phase this week. has defied a subpoena gation by the House," Coo- and foreign affairs."
a court to rule on whether Several people have testi- from impeachment in- per wrote of Kupperman. House Democrats sepa-
Mulvaney must follow a fied in defiance of White vestigators. Kupperman's The attorney said there was rately opposed Mulvaney's
subpoena from Congress House orders, while others subpoena has since been a "serious question" as to effort to join the suit. They
directing him to testify or an have skipped their sched- withdrawn. His lawyer also whether Mulvaney waived said Kupperman's case is
order from the White House uled appearances. represents former nation- the immunity protection moot since the subpoena
that he not appear. Kupperman's lawsuit aims al security adviser John with his public comments. directing him to appear
Mulvaney faced opposi- to have a court decide on Bolton, who did not appear Cooper also suggested has been withdrawn.q
Pentagon chief says Vindman should not fear Army retaliation

WASHINGTON (AP) — De- transcript of the exchange basis of the impeachment
fense Secretary Mark Esper released by online publica- inquiry.
said Monday that an Army tion Defense One. According to the Defense
officer has no reason to Vindman is the Ukraine spe- One transcript, Esper was
fear retribution for testifying cialist at the White House's asked what he would tell
before Congress in the im- National Security Coun- service members who
peachment inquiry of Presi- cil who was on the July might wonder if Vindman's
dent Donald Trump. 25 phone call between career is in jeopardy and
Esper was asked about po- Trump and Ukrainian Presi- whether their own careers
tential retribution for Lt. Col. dent Volodymr Zelenskiy. would be at risk if they
Alexander Vindman during Vindman testified about blew the whistle on waste,
a trip to New York City. The concerns that Trump was fraud or abuse. Esper re-
defense secretary said the delaying military aid to the sponded by saying the
Former National Security Council Director for European Affairs Pentagon "has protections Eastern European country Pentagon "has protections
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, center, leaves after reviewing his for whistleblowers" who re- while pressing the country for whistleblowers -- they're
testimony from a closed-door interview on Capitol Hill in Wash- port waste, fraud or abuse. to investigate his political guaranteed in law. And he
ington, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019, in the impeachment inquiry on He said Vindman or rivals. shouldn't have any fear of
President Donald Trump's efforts to press Ukraine to investigate any other whistleblower That phone call, and retaliation. That's DoD's po-
his political rival, Joe Biden. "shouldn't have any fear of Trump's request for a "fa- sition," referring to the De-
Associated Press
retaliation," according to a vor" from Ukraine are the partment of Defense.q