White House vows total halt to impeachment probe cooperation

Oct 09, 20190

Doug Mills – New York Times count

FILE -- Gordon Sondland, third from right, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, trails President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump as they arrive in Brussels on July 10, 2018. The Trump administration directed Sondland, a top American diplomat involved in its pressure campaign on Ukraine, not to appear Tuesday morning, Oct. 8, 2019, for a scheduled interview in the House's impeachment inquiry.

WASHINGTON - The White House declared Tuesday it will halt any and all cooperation with what it termed the "illegitimate" impeachment probe by House Democrats, sharpening the constitutional clash between President Donald Trump and Congress.

Trump attorneys sent a lengthy letter to House leaders bluntly stating White House refusal to participate in the inquiry that was given a boost by last week's release of a whistleblower's complaint that the president sought political favors from Ukraine.

http://www.startribune.com/white-house-to-battle-impeachment-by-stalling-attacking/562489802/