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Updated October 16th, 2019 at 18:54 IST

Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani dismisses impeachment subpoena

Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani dismisses impeachment subpoena calling the inquiry "illegitimate" and "unconstitutional" refusing to turn over documents.

Reported by: Tanima Ray
Donald Trump
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As Democrats raise voices in support for President Donald Trump's impeachment, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani, on October 14 dismissed the subpoena from the congressional impeachment investigation. The political attorney called the inquiry "illegitimate" and "unconstitutional" refusing to turn over documents demanded by three Democrat-led committees. Reports cited that the Washinton Office of Management and Budget had also decided not to meet the October 14 deadline for turning over documents. It is still not decided and unclear who will hand over the documents - the Pentagon or Vice President Mike Pence.

Read: US: Democrats Answer Trump’s Ire And Name-calling With Subpoenas

Witnesses voice whistleblower complaint, Democrats support

Amongst the witnesses who voiced the whistleblower complaint was George Kent, a State Department official, who cited the administration's efforts to pressure Ukraine into investigating Biden earlier at the House Committee. He was the fifth person to join the witnesses. White House aide Fiona Hill testified during a 10-hour deposition that Giuliani was running a shadow foreign policy vis-a-vis Ukraine in order to help the president on October 13. One of the Democrats, congressman Eric Swalwell also told a TV channel that his party will be surgical about the case. 

"Every arrow continues to point in the same direction," he said. 

Read: Donald Trump's Lawyer Giuliani Subpoenaed By House Of Intelligence

Trump dismisses the investigation

Yet Trump accused the Democrats of holding the investigation behind closed doors saying, "Democrats are allowing no transparency at the Witch Hunt hearings. Let the facts come out from the charade of people, most of whom I do not know, they are interviewing for 9 hours each, not selective leaks."

Read: Democrats Move Ahead With Subpoenas, Trump Impeachment

Katie Hill's statement regarding John Bolton

Democrats have been trying to uncover facts about the whistleblower and his/her complaint ever since it came to light. They claim that Trump is the most corrupt President of modern times. In order to do so, they are pressing Ukraine, while allegedly conditioning almost $400 million in US military aid on that favour, cite reports and opposition. The current representative of the state of California, Katie Hill said her then-boss, former national security advisor John Bolton, grew alarmed by Giuliani's efforts, in conjunction with White House chief-of-staff Mick Mulvaney, to pressure Ukraine, reported US media. Katie is said to have testified that Bolton warned that Giuliani was a hand grenade who is going to blow everyone up.

"I am not part of whatever drug deal Rudy and Mulvaney are cooking up," said American attorney John Bolton said, referring to Hill's testimony.

Read: Democrats Issue Subpoenas, First Step Towards Trump Impeachment

The ongoing investigation

Former senior diplomat Michael McKinley was due to testify on Wednesday after Kent, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European appeared on Tuesday. Investigators will hear from US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. Gordon is a Trump appointee who allegedly worked with Giuliani to pressure Kiev on October 16. U.S. Representative for California's 15th congressional district Swalwell said the media that they will very shortly release the transcripts to the American people and then decide where do we go from there.

"We already have a motive, we have a crime, we have a confession and we have evidence," Democrat Mark Pocan said on Wisconsin Public Radio.

Read: Democratic Presidential Candidates Support Impeachment Of Donald Trump

(With inputs from PTI)

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Published October 16th, 2019 at 11:56 IST

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