The White House has ordered two former aides to President Trump
Donald John TrumpTed Cruz knocks New York Times for ‘stunning’ correction on Kavanaugh report US service member killed in Afghanistan Pro-Trump website edited British reality star’s picture to show him wearing Trump hat MORE to defy their subpoenas to appear at a House Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone said in a letter to the panel that the Justice Department recommended and Trump directed Rick Dearborn and Rob Porter to go against their subpoenas due to “constitutional immunity.”
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The letter said the two were told not to go “because of the constitutional immunity that protects senior advisers to the president from compelled congressional testimony, and in order to protect the prerogatives of the Office of President.”
Democrats are legally objecting to the ability to declare “absolute immunity” in a suit against former White House counsel Don McGahn.
The only expected witness for Tuesday’s hearing now is former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski
Corey R. LewandowskiThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: NY Times story sparks new firestorm over Kavanaugh This week: House jump-starts effort to prevent shutdown The Hill’s Morning Report — Biden steadies in third debate as top tier remains the same MORE. Cipollone instructed Lewandowski in another letter that he should not disclose private conversations with the president beyond what is public from special counsel Robert Mueller
Robert (Bob) Swan MuellerFox’s Cavuto roasts Trump over criticism of network Mueller report fades from political conversation Trump calls for probe of Obama book deal MORE‘s report, The Associated Press reported.
House Judiciary Chair Jerrold Nadler
Jerrold (Jerry) Lewis NadlerWords matter, except to Democrats, when it involves impeaching Trump Nadler: Impeachment inquiry a ‘made-up term’ but it’s essentially ‘what we are doing’ DOJ files brief arguing against House impeachment probe MORE subpoenaed all three to discuss what was reported by Mueller and to investigate whether Trump should be impeached.
Nadler said in a statement Monday night that the White House’s directions are a “shocking and dangerous assertion.”
“The President would have us believe that he can willfully engage in criminal activity and prevent witnesses from testifying before Congress — even if they did not actually work for him or his administration,” Nadler said.
