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A4 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 5 June 2019

White House tells 2 ex-aides to defy congressional subpoena

By MARY CLARE JALONICK enforce subpoenas. But
and LISA MASCARO House Speaker Nancy Pe-
Associated Press losi has been reluctant to
WASHINGTON (AP) — The launch impeachment pro-
White House on Tuesday ceedings, despite a grow-
again directed former em- ing number in her caucus
ployees not to cooperate who have called for it.
with a congressional inves- On Tuesday, progressive
tigation, this time instructing groups expressed "deep
former aides Hope Hicks disappointment" over Pelo-
and Annie Donaldson to si's unwillingness and called
defy subpoenas and refuse on her to act, according to
to provide documents to a letter obtained by The As-
the House Judiciary Com- sociated Press. The groups
mittee. said in the letter that voters
The letters from the White gave Democrats control of
House to the Judiciary pan- the House "because they
el are the latest effort by wanted aggressive over-
the White House to thwart sight of the Trump adminis-
congressional investiga- tration."
tions into President Donald In this March 24, 2019, file photo, a copy of a letter from Attorney General William Barr advis- Pelosi says impeachment
Trump . Trump has said he ing Congress of the principal conclusions reached by special counsel Robert Mueller, is photo- requires more public sup-
graphed in Washington. Barr is defending his short summary of special counsel Robert Mueller's
will fight "all of the subpoe- report on his Russia investigation. port and would detract
nas" as Democrats have Associated Press from the legislative agen-
launched multiple probes da. She has instead fa-
into his administration and what to do with his findings. "institutional interests at how much material the vored a slower, more me-
personal financial affairs. In a letter to Nadler, White stake." committee would receive. thodical effort.
House Judiciary Chair- House counsel Pat Cipol- Trout said they would pro- The committee is arguing As part of that approach,
man Jerrold Nadler issued lone said Hicks and Don- vide documents from Hicks' that the documents would the House is expected next
subpoenas for documents aldson "do not have the time on the Trump cam- not be covered by execu- week to hold McGahn
and testimony from Hicks, legal right" to disclose paign, however, and said tive privilege if they left the and Attorney General Wil-
former White House com- White House documents to she had also previously White House months ago. liam Barr , who has refused
munications director, and the panel. Cipollone said provided some documents "The president has no lawful to turn over the full Muel-
Donaldson, a former aide requests for the records in March, after Nadler sent basis for preventing these ler report, in contempt of
in the White House coun- should be directed to the out his original requests for witnesses from complying Congress. The resolution
sel's office, last month. Both White House, adding that information. with our request," Nadler scheduled for a June 11
are mentioned frequently they remain "legally pro- In directing witnesses not to said. "We will continue to vote will allow the Judiciary
in special counsel Robert tected from disclosure un- comply, the White House seek reasonable accom- Committee to seek court
Mueller's report , along with der longstanding constitu- has frequently cited execu- modation on these and all enforcement of its subpoe-
former White House coun- tional principles, because tive privilege, or the power our discovery requests and nas.
sel Donald McGahn. The they implicate significant to keep information from intend to press these issues With that vote approach-
White House has also di- executive branch confi- the courts, Congress and when we obtain the testi- ing, the Justice Depart-
rected McGahn to refuse dentiality interests and ex- the public to protect the mony of both Ms. Hicks and ment sent a letter to Nadler
to provide documents or ecutive privilege." confidentiality of the Oval Ms. Donaldson." Tuesday with a final offer to
testify before the commit- In a letter obtained by The Office decision-making The subpoenas also de- resume negotiations over
tee. Associated Press, Hicks' law- process. manded that Hicks appear access to redacted por-
Mueller's investigation con- yer wrote Nadler on Tues- But that only extends so far. for a public hearing on tions of the Mueller report
cluded that Russia inter- day and confirmed that Nadler said in a statement June 19 and that Donald- and underlying documents
fered in the 2016 election she would be withholding that while the White House son appear for a deposi- — but only if the Judiciary
in hopes of getting Trump documents in her posses- had instructed the former tion on June 24. They have panel nullifies its May vote
elected, though his report sion, as well as her lawyers' aides not to turn over ma- not yet said whether they to recommend contempt
said there was not enough possession, from her tenure terials, Hicks has agreed to will appear. for Barr and cancels the
evidence to establish a at the White House as well turn over some documents As the White House has June 11 vote in the full
conspiracy between Russia as some from the transition related to her time on pushed back on the in- House.
and the Trump campaign. period. The lawyer, Robert Trump's presidential cam- vestigations, some Demo- Nadler rejected that of-
Last week Mueller empha- Trout, said in the letter that paign. Those materials are crats have ramped up their fer, saying: "We urge you
sized he had not exoner- they would not provide not covered by executive calls for Nadler to open to return to the accom-
ated Trump on the question those materials because privilege. an impeachment inquiry, modation process without
of whether he obstructed they were not authorized Nadler said he thanked arguing it would improve conditions. We are ready
justice — in effect leaving by the White House or the Hicks for "that show of good congressional standing in to begin negotiating imme-
it to Congress to decide transition and there were faith." But it was unclear the courts as they try to diately." q