The three Democratic committee chairs overseeing closed-door impeachment proceedings into President Trump warned the State Department they are obstructing Congress by refusing to turn over documents and emails relating to Ukraine.
“The Committees consider the refusal to comply with a duly authorized congressional subpoena as obstruction of the lawful functions of Congress and of the impeachment inquiry,” said House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, of California, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel of New York, and acting Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney.
Democrats are demanding emails, cables, readouts, and other documents relating to Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry.
They have warned refusing to turn over material could result in an impeachment article based on obstruction.
Democrats demanded Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan turn over the material they say has increased in importance thanks to new witness testimony.
Democrats said they heard incriminating testimony Tuesday from Ukraine envoy Bill Taylor, who believes Trump specifically required Ukraine to pledge to investigate 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden in exchange for critical security money.
“As part of the House of Representative’s ongoing impeachment inquiry, our Committees have now obtained detailed information identifying specific documents in the possession, custody, or control of the Department of State that are directly and highly relevant to the inquiry,” the three Democrats wrote to Sullivan.
Democrats on Wednesday planned to depose Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper but were delayed when GOP lawmakers stormed the hearing and demanded hearing transparency.
