The White House has refused any cooperation by President Donald Trump in the Democrats' impeachment investigation, saying the efforts being made by the opposition is unconstitutional and an attempt to overturn the democratic process.
Speaking to reporters, White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham said that the impeachment probe against President Trump is purely political.
“The President has done nothing wrong and the Democrats know it. For purely political reasons, the Democrats have decided their desire to overturn the outcome of the 2016 election allows them to conduct a so-called impeachment inquiry that ignores the fundamental rights guaranteed to every American,” she said.
‘Baseless’ Allegations Against Trump
Democrats in the US House of Representatives are examining whether there are grounds to impeach Trump, a Republican, based on a whistleblower's account that said he asked Ukrainian President Zelenskiy in a 25 July phone call to help investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden.
In the letter, White House counsel Pat Cipollone rejected the allegations against President Trump terming it baseless and unconstitutional.
President Trump and his Administration reject your baseless, unconstitutional efforts to overturn the democratic process, he said in his letter dated 8 October , a copy of which was released to the press.
Cipollone said Trump is focused on fulfilling his promises to the American people.
“He (Trump) has important work that he must continue on their behalf, both at home and around the world, including continuing strong economic growth, extending historically low levels of unemployment, negotiating trade deals, fixing our broken immigration system, lowering prescription drug prices, and addressing mass shooting violence,” he said.
The letter, Grisham said, demonstrates that the Democrats' inquiry lacks any legitimate constitutional foundation, any pretense of fairness, and even the most elementary due process protections.
Democrats are pursuing purely partisan goals, including influencing the upcoming 2020 election. In the process, they are violating civil liberties and the separation of powers, threatening Executive Branch officials with punishment simply for exercising their constitutional rights and prerogatives, she alleged.
Later a senior administration official told reporters that for the first time in America's history, the House of Representatives is now purporting to proceed on an impeachment inquiry against the President without conducting a vote on the House floor.
This has never happened in the history of the country. There's always been, in every prior inquiry into a presidential impeachment, a vote on the House floor, the official asserted.
The House is purporting to proceed simply on the basis of a news conference that the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, had, the official said.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)