The Department of Energy indicated it does not plan to comply with subpoenas from three House committees overseeing the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
In a letter sent to the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Assistant Secretary of Energy Melissa Burnison said that the department is “unable to comply with your request for documents and communications at this time.”
The letter continues on to argue against the validity of the inquiry, saying the request is for confidential communications “that are potentially protected by executive privilege and would require careful review.” Burnison, however, did say that the Energy Department “remains committed to working with Congress.”
NEW: @SecretaryPerry WILL NOT comply with congressional subpoena in impeachment probe.
Public link soon. https://t.co/i9llyOZK4C pic.twitter.com/ubCJTrzbab
— Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) October 18, 2019
House Democrats subpoenaed Perry last week, demanding that he provide documents related to Trump’s discussions with Ukraine. The request came after Trump told GOP lawmakers that Perry had asked him to make the July 25 phone call with the leader of Ukraine, which was the subject of a whistleblower complaint and paved the way for the impeachment inquiry.
While Perry later clarified that he encouraged Trump to make the call to discuss energy policy, the House is looking to find out if he was involved in Trump’s request that Ukraine investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and Hunter Biden. According to the whistleblower complaint about the call, the president requested the investigation in exchange for U.S. military aid.
On Thursday, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney confirmed that a quid pro quo was involved during the call, but he later walked back his remark. That same day, Perry announced his intention to resign from his position and exit the Trump administration at the end of the year. Trump announced his nominee to replace Perry on Friday.
