THE WHITE HOUSE has torn into the House’s impeachment inquiry as “completely baseless” and a “reckless abuse of power”.
White House Counsel Pat Cipollone sent a letter to House Judiciary chairman outline the president’s sentiment towards the proceedings.
“As you know, your impeachment inquiry is completely baseless and has violated basic principles of due process and fundamental fairness,” the letter claimed.
“Adopting articles of impeachment would be a reckless abuse of power by House Democrats, and would constitute the most unjust, highly partisan, and unconstitutional attempt at impeachment in our nation’s history.”
Though not explicitly ruling out attendance a senior administration official has said that is now the intention.
“The letter communicates that we will not participate in this process,” the official said.
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler responded: “If the President has no good response to the allegations, then he would not want to appear before the Committee.
“Having declined this opportunity, he cannot claim that the process is unfair.
“The President’s failure will not prevent us from carrying out our solemn constitutional duty.”
The decision by the White House doesn’t come as a surprise given the President’s lawyers had already declined to participate in the judiciary committee’s first hearings.
The letter was sent from the White House after a deadline was set for confirmation of whether Trump’s lawyers would participate in the House impeachment proceedings beyond the first stage.
Republicans have argued that the process has only now offered the president due process at the very end of proceedings.
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