US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo subpoenaed by Democrats over Trump-Ukraine scandal
The US Secretary of State has been subpoenaed by the House Democrats as the impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump escalate.
Mike Pompeo has been ordered to turn over documents relating to Trump’s dealings with Ukraine.
The heads of three House committees have formerly written to Pompeo to demand he produce the documents within a week.
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The joint letter was issued by heads of foreign affairs, intelligence and oversight committees.
In the letter it says the subpoena is a result of Pompeo failing to comply with previous demands to hand over the documents. He will now be legally obligated to do so.
“Your continued refusal to provide the requested documents not only prevents our committees from fully investigating these matters, but impairs Congress’ ability to fulfil its constitutional responsibilities to protect our national security and the integrity of our democracy,” the letter said.
The letter also informed Pompeo they planned to request testimonies from five officials in the next two weeks, including Kurt Volker, the US special envoy for Ukraine negotiations who resigned on Friday according to US media, and the former US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch.
It comes amid an investigation into Trump for allegedly applying pressure on Ukraine’s new President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate rival Joe Biden during a phone call in July.
Trump alleges that Biden pressed for Ukrainian prosecutor Vikto Shokin to be sacked in 2016 to protect Burisma energy company, which his son, Hunter Biden, was on the board of.
Trump has also denied the allegations against him.
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For Trump to be removed from office he would have to be impeached by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The latter is controlled by Republicans and thus unlikely to support the bid to impeach him.
Secretary of State Pompeo has so far made no public comments on the subpoena.