The White House blocked the U.S. ambassador to the European Union from speaking with House investigators. The Trump administration directed Gordon D. Sondland, the United States ambassador to the European Union, not to speak with investigators for three House committees. The decision to block Mr. Sondland, a top American diplomat involved in its pressure campaign on Ukraine, hours before he was scheduled to sit for a deposition in the basement of the Capitol, is certain to provoke an immediate conflict. House Democrats have repeatedly warned that if the administration tries to interfere with their investigation, it will be construed as obstruction, a charge they see as potentially worthy of impeachment. In making the decision, the Trump administration appears to be calculating that it is better off risking the House’s ire than letting Mr. Sondland show up and set a precedent for cooperation with an inquiry they have strenuously argued is illegitimate.

Source: New York Times October 08, 2019 14:17 UTC