US House Democrats subpoena White House as Trump's impeachment inquiry intensifies

Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have demanded that the White House provide documents related to allegations that President Donald Trump pressured Ukraine for political favors, an unprecedented move that will escalate the rapidly moving impeachment inquiry.

The House Oversight, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees, notified the White House Friday of the subpoena, which was addressed to White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.

US Representatives Elijah Cummings of the Oversight Committee, Adam Schiff of the Intelligence Committee and Eliot Engel of the Foreign Affairs Committee said they were forced to issue the subpoena after the White House failed to produce documents they requested in a September 9 letter.

“We deeply regret that President Trump has put us - and the nation - in this position, but his actions have left us with no choice but to issue this subpoena,” the three committee chairmen said.

The letter to Mulvaney also includes a warning should the White House not comply with the request: "

Your failure or refusal to comply with the subpoena, including at the direction or behest of the President or others at the White House, shall constitute evidence of obstruction of the House's impeachment inquiry and may be used as an adverse inference against you and the President," the letter said.

The White House has so far indicated that it will not cooperate with document requests unless and until the full House votes to authorize the impeachment inquiry, a move that Democratic leaders argue is not needed to launch an impeachment inquiry. 

The congressional committees leading the impeachment inquiry are increasing pressure on the White House as evidence mounted that Trump unlawfully used his office to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden, a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

Trump said Thursday he would formally object to Congress about the House impeachment inquiry, even as he acknowledged that Democrats “have the votes” to proceed.

The rapidly escalating impeachment inquiry against Trump is the latest and perhaps most serious threat to his presidency, and the White House is failing to contain the crisis.

House Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry in September after an unidentified whistleblower alleged Trump had sought to enlist Zelensky's help to dig up dirt on Biden in exchange for military aid.

During a July 25 call, Trump asked Zelenskiy to speak with Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani about whether Ukrainian officials improperly dropped an investigation of a company that hired Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.

PressTV-White House failing to contain Trump’s impeachment crisis

The rapidly escalating impeachment inquiry against US President Donald Trump is the latest and perhaps most serious threat to his presidency.

Trump's aggressive new strategy to thwart the Democrats' impeachment offensive is already breaking down under the weight of new revelations.

Text messages released on Thursday between US diplomats and a senior Ukrainian aide reveal that Zelensky was told he should open an investigation against Biden if he wanted an invitation to visit Washington.

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