A Defense Department official who testified in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump did so in defiance of the Pentagon, which told her not to cooperate.
A letter to Laura Cooper’s attorney obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday cites an administration-wide policy against participating in the impeachment probe.
The directive underscores Trump administration efforts to discourage or prevent some executive branch employees from cooperating with House Democrats, who are investigating Trump’s prodding of his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden. The administration this month blocked Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, from testifying, though he ultimately did so under subpoena.
The letter cites concerns about whether the House is authorized to conduct an impeachment inquiry without a formal vote and about what it says is a “blanket refusal” to permit Defense Department lawyers from being present for the interviews. Excluding department lawyers, the letter says, “violates settled practice and may jeopardize future accommodation.”
“To reiterate, the Department respects the oversight role of Congress and stands ready to work with the Committees should there be an appropriate resolution of outstanding legal issues,” reads the Defense Department letter to Cooper’s lawyer, Daniel Levin.
But, it adds, “Any such resolution would have to consider the constitutional prerogatives and confidentiality interests of the co-equal Executive Branch … and ensure fundamental fairness to any Executive Branch employees involved in this process, including Ms. Cooper.”
Several witnesses, including Cooper, have appeared for closed-door interviews after receiving subpoenas from the House.
Cooper, who oversees Ukraine policy at the Defense Department, had to wait hours for her interview to begin on Wednesday after Republicans stormed the secure room being used for depositions. The act of protest brought the proceedings to a halt. The interview began about five hours late and ended after roughly four hours.
The New York Times was the first to report on the letter.
(AP)
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4 Responses
What is the President afraid of? If he’s innocent, he has nothing to fear. The more he tries to block the investigation, the guiltier he looks. Mafia tactics to keep witnesses from testifying aren’t in the interests of the US and democracy, and makes our friends and allies abroad just wonder what he’s really up to.
The idea of President Pence looks more and more appealing.
The smarter approach for the official would be to ask the District Court to issue a declaratory judgment as to whether she is, or is not, required to testify (she files one motion, and let’s everyone else’s lawyers slug it out, while her “behind” is covered).
Why won’t the Democrat leadership follow due process and vote to begin the impeachment inquiry, so that it can be done following the Constitution?
No Pentagon lawyer present? So now they risk divulging military secrets? For all we know they could be asking for nuclear launch codes.