The House Judiciary Committee filed a lawsuit Wednesday to get former White House counsel Don McGahn to appear before the panel, saying that his testimony would help determine whether the committee should consider articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump.
The lawsuit argues that the testimony would be of key importance to the House committee’s investigation as McGahn is the “most important witness.” It clearly details how the panel would use the former White House counsel’s testimony in an impeachment proceeding.
“The Judiciary Committee is now determining whether to recommend articles of impeachment against the President based on the obstructive conduct described by the Special Counsel. But it cannot fulfill this most solemn constitutional responsibility without hearing testimony from a crucial witness to these events: former White House Counsel Donald F. McGahn II,” the lawsuit reads.
CNN writes that the Wednesday lawsuit contains some of the strongest language yet before a judge that the House is working toward formal impeachment proceedings over whether Trump obstructed the Russia investigation.
William Burck, an attorney for McGahn, said that “people should not forget that Don McGahn is a lawyer and has an ethical obligation to protect client confidences,” adding that he does not “believe he witnessed any violation of law.”
Burck also said that his client had been instructed by Trump to “cooperate fully with the special counsel” but not to testify before Congress “unless the White House and the Committee reached an accommodation.”
The Trump administration has claimed McGahn and other close Trump advisers have “absolute immunity” from congressional testimony due to executive privilege.
The latest court fight, CNN writes, could set the stage for a plethora of House subpoenas seeking to obtain documents or compel testimony from a number of Trump administration officials. It comes at a time when the Judiciary Committee has escalated their investigations into President Trump and an increasing number of House Democrats have voiced support for beginning an impeachment inquiry.
Nadler said earlier this week that his committee may move to impeach the President by the end of this year. Democrats argue that McGahn’s testimony is an essential piece of that effort.
Be the first to comment