The decision is expected to put pressure on other reluctant witnesses to also appear before Congress to discuss President Donald Trump’s behavior.
Don McGahn, the former top lawyer at the White House, must testify to congressional impeachment investigators, a federal judge ruled Monday.
In a decision that could reshape the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch, U.S. District Court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson ruled that McGahn, who spent 30 hours talking to special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, can’t hide behind President Donald Trump’s claim that he is “absolutely immune” from speaking to Congress.
The decision is expected to put pressure on other reluctant Trump administration witnesses to also appear before Congress as lawmakers prepare their articles of impeachment.
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Former White House counsel Don McGahn must testify to impeachment investigators, a judge ruled todayhttps://t.co/dq48fAVDZf
— POLITICO (@politico) November 25, 2019
“and per the Constitution, no one is above the law." Judge Jackson, ordering Trump lawyer McGahn to testify and rejecting Trump’s absurd legal argument
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) November 25, 2019
Key quote from Judge Jackson’s opinion: “It is clear to this Court for the reasons explained above that, with respect to senior-level presidential aides, absolute immunity from compelled congressional process simply does not exist.”
— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) November 25, 2019
Just today:
… federal subpoenas were issued in inquiry into Giuliani's consulting firm
… one judge ruled that the White House Counsel has to testify before Congress
… another judge ordered the release of administration documents on the stalled Ukraine aidThat's just today.
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) November 25, 2019
McGahn could potentially testify about (a) Trump telling him to fire Mueller, and (b) whether Trump lied in his written deposition about never talking to Roger Stone about WikiLeaks. And MAYBE more important, this could pave the way for others–such as John Bolton–to testify. https://t.co/rCyOXbzfGL
— Matt Lewis (@mattklewis) November 25, 2019
Important caveat. https://t.co/R1r3PYWcKj
— David French (@DavidAFrench) November 25, 2019
JUDGE JACKSON on Trump blocking McGahn from testifying: “the President does not have the power to excuse him or her from taking an action that the law requires. Fifty years of say so within the Executive branch does not change that fundamental truth.” pic.twitter.com/OpdBwNBadE
— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) November 25, 2019
True to form, Trump’s lackeys in the DOJ will appeal. Our tax dollars at work — funding Trump’s continued obstruction of justice.
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