Trump calls impeachment ‘another Democrat Hoax’; WH officials shun requests to testify

US President Donald Trump has called the impeachment inquiry against him “just another Democrat Hoax.”

Trump also said Monday that there is “no reason” to call witnesses in the impeachment inquiry, as four White House officials were scheduled to testifying before House committees.

“What I said on the phone call with the Ukrainian President is ‘perfectly’ stated. There is no reason to call witnesses to analyze my words and meaning,” he tweeted.

“This is just another Democrat Hoax that I have had to live with from the day I got elected (and before!),” he added. “Disgraceful!”

In an earlier tweet on Monday Trump called the impeachment probe a “Witch Hunt.”

“Mark Levin, a great lawyer and scholar, said last night on his @marklevinshow, that all you have to do is read the transcript of the call, you do not need Never Trumpers or other witnesses to say what it means or says,” he tweeted.

“It is plainly and very well stated for all to see. Witch Hunt.”

Trump officials shun requests to testify to impeachment inquiry

Trump’s tweets came just before four White House officials were scheduled to appear before Democratic-led committees in the US House of Representatives on Monday to give depositions as part of the impeachment inquiry.  They did not show up, lawmakers said. 

Some Democrats said Trump, who has ordered his administration officials not to cooperate, should face an obstruction of justice charge among the impeachment counts they plan to consider against him.

The testimony of the four witnesses -- three White House budget officials and the White House National Security Council's top lawyer -- would have been part of the investigation into whether Trump used foreign aid to Ukraine as leverage to secure a political favor.

National Security Council lawyers John Eisenberg and Michael Ellis will not testify, CNN reported citing a source with knowledge of the situation.

The other two officials are Robert Blair, assistant to the President and senior adviser to the acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, and Brian McCormack, associate director for natural resources, energy & science at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

Also, an Energy Department spokesperson said Friday that Energy Secretary Rick Perry, who was scheduled to give depositions on Wednesday, will not turn up either.  

According to an administration official, Eisenberg is not showing up because of executive privilege, while Blair, Ellis and McCormack will not appear because they cannot have an administration lawyer present.

PressTV-Nearly half of Americans want Trump impeached, removed

Almost half of Americans want Trump to be impeached and removed from the White House, a new poll shows.

Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry in September after a whistleblower alleged the Republican president pressured Ukraine to investigate his main Democratic rival, former US vice president Joe Biden.

That request by Trump, and accusations he conditioned nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine on the political favor, form the basis of the impeachment inquiry that now threatens his presidency.

House Democrats say Trump has abused his office for personal gain and jeopardized national security by asking Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy to investigate Biden and his son, Hunter, who had served as a director for Ukrainian energy company Burisma.

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