Officials Trade Warnings Over Inquiry

October 2, 2019 4:17 am

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Democrats have set up closed-door depositions from two former U.S. officials who represented the Trump administration in Ukraine.  The plan to draw their testimony Thursday comes in spite of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s effort to delay former and current officials from providing documents and testimony in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.  House Democrats warn that blocking congressional access to impeachment witnesses could itself be an impeachable offense.  Pompeo said Tuesday the Democrats are trying to “intimidate” and “bully” career officials into appearing and claims it would be “not feasible” as demanded. House investigators counter that it would be illegal for the secretary to try to protect Trump by preventing the officials from talking to Congress.  Trump took to Twitter to brand the impeachment inquiry a “coup.”