White House vows to fight 'baseless' impeachment inquiry against Trump


FE Team | Published: October 09, 2019 11:56:05 | Updated: October 12, 2019 21:10:07


US President Donald Trump seen in this undated Reuters photo

The White House has officially refused to co-operate with the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

A letter sent to Democratic leaders rejected it as "baseless" and "constitutionally invalid", according to a BBC report Wednesday.

Three Democratic-led House committees are investigating Mr Trump.

The inquiry is trying to find out if the president held back aid to Ukraine to push it to investigate Joe Biden, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The White House letter comes hours after the Trump administration blocked the US ambassador to the European Union from appearing before a congressional impeachment investigation.

What does the letter say?

White House counsel Pat Cipollone addressed the eight-page letter to the leading Democrat and House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and the three chairmen of the Democratic committees.

He accused the leaders of setting up an inquiry "that violates fundamental fairness and constitutionally mandated due process" - specifically by not holding a vote on launching the inquiry.

The letter accuses Democrats of trying to change the 2016 election result, and attacks the investigation as "constitutionally invalid and a violation of due process".

"In order to fulfil his duties to the American people... President Trump and his Administration cannot participate in your partisan and unconstitutional inquiry under these circumstances."

In response, Ms Pelosi called the letter "manifestly wrong" and accused Mr Trump of trying to "normalise lawlessness".

"Mr President, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable."

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