The Committees’ purported “impeachment inquiry,” however, presents at least two issues of great importance. The first issue is the Committees’ continued, blanket refusal to allow Department Counsel to be present at depositions of Department employees. The second issue is the absence of authority for the Committees to conduct an impeachment inquiry. This letter informs you and Ms. Cooper of the Administration-wide direction that Executive Branch personnel “cannot participate in [the impeachment] inquiry under these circumstances” [Tab C]. After receiving one, she went on to testify to the committee anyway — as have several State Department employees.

Source: New York Times October 24, 2019 19:18 UTC