Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi flatly rejected a multi-page letter from the White House indicating their refusal to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry.
“This letter is manifestly wrong, and is simply another unlawful attempt to hide the facts of the Trump Administration’s brazen efforts to pressure foreign powers to intervene in the 2020 elections,” Pelosi said in a Tuesday evening statement. “Despite the White House’s stonewalling, we see a growing body of evidence that shows that President Trump abused his office and violated his oath to ‘protect, preserve and defend the Constitution.’”
.@realDonaldTrump, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable. #TruthExposed https://t.co/elMCHdLYlK
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) October 9, 2019
The letter from the White House dared Pelosi to hold a full House vote and claimed the inquiry was illegitimate. “Your unprecedented actions have left the president with no choice,” wrote White House counsel Pat Cipollone. “In order to fulfill his duties to the American people, the Constitution, the Executive Branch and all future occupants of the Office of the Presidency, President Trump and his administration cannot participate in your partisan and unconstitutional inquiry under these circumstances.”
Pelosi’s response, sent just hours after Trump’s letter was made public, concluded by signaling that she would move forward with the impeachment inquiry. “Mr. President, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable.”
