“The President has chosen the path of defiance, obstruction, and cover-up.”

Washington, D.C. (Oct. 4, 2019)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and Rep. Eliot L. Engel, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, sent a letter conveying a subpoena to White House Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney for key documents as part of the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.

“During a press conference on Wednesday, President Trump was asked if he would cooperate with the House impeachment inquiry.  He responded, ‘I always cooperate.’  President Trump’s claim is patently false.  The White House has refused to engage with—or even respond to—multiple requests for documents from our Committees on a voluntary basis.  After nearly a month of stonewalling, it appears clear that the President has chosen the path of defiance, obstruction, and cover-up,” the Chairmen wrote.

On September 9, 2019, the Committees sent a letter asking the White House to voluntarily produce documents by September 16, 2019.  The White House did not produce any documents, did not send any reply letter, and did not acknowledge receipt of the request.

On September 24, 2019, the Committees sent a follow-up letter warning that the Chairmen would be forced to consider compulsory process if the White House continued to disregard the request, and they set a new deadline of September 26, 2019.  Again, the White House ignored the request.

On October 2, 2019, Chairman Cummings sent a memo to Members of the Oversight Committee explaining that he intended to issue a subpoena today if the White House continued to disregard the requests.  The White House has not produced any documents and has not sent any reply.

“We deeply regret that President Trump has put us—and the nation—in this position, but his actions have left us with no choice but to issue this subpoena,” the Chairmen wrote. 

Letter to White House Subpoenaed in House Impeachment Inquiry