Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is vowing to block efforts by Congress to 'bully' State Department officials into testifying about President Trump's Ukraine phone call.
He accuses House Democrats of trying to 'intimidate' State Department officials, saying the way Congress made the request was as "an act of intimidation" which violated constitutional separation of powers.
"They contacted State Department employees directly, told them not to contact legal counsel at the State Department. That's been reported to us. They said that the State Department wouldn't be able to be present," he said.
Pompeo is pushing back on efforts to depose former and current State Department officials by committees involved in the impeachment inquiry into his boss President Trump.
The secretary tweeted that he's "concerned with aspects" of requests "that can be understood only as an attempt to intimidate, bully, and treat improperly distinguished professionals of the Department of State."
I’m concerned with aspects of the Committee’s request that can be understood only as an attempt to intimidate, bully, & treat improperly the distinguished professionals of the Department of State, including several career FSOs. pic.twitter.com/QRtMaXlhQM
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) October 1, 2019
He also added.
Let me be clear: I will not tolerate such tactics, and I will use all means at my disposal to prevent and expose any attempts to intimidate the dedicated professionals whom I am proud to lead and serve alongside at the Department of State.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) October 1, 2019
"Let me clear: I will not tolerate such tactics. I will use all means at my disposal to prevent and expose any attempts to intimidate the dedicated professionals whom I am proud to lead and serve alongside at the Department of State."
Two of those State Department employees will meet privately with the committee. Kurt Volker, the former envoy to Ukraine, is scheduled to testify Thursday.
It's reported Pompeo listened in on that July 25 phone call with Ukraine's president, where Trump asked for help to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden. Wednesday Pompeo confirmed that he was in fact on the call.
JUST IN: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirms that he was on the July 25 telephone call between President Trump and the Ukrainian president. Pompeo did not give details about the contents of the call that is at the heart of an impeachment inquiry.
— Ben Kennedy (@BenKennedyTV) October 2, 2019
President Trump was also on the defense Tuesday reiterating that his call with Ukraine was 'perfect,' 'nice and warm'.
The commander-in-chief's personal lawyer also faces scrutiny and a subpoena.
Democrats want Rudy Giuliani to turn over any Ukraine-related documents after he was implicated in the whistleblower complaint 30 times. It's unclear if he'll comply.
"I don't know. I'm weighing the alternatives," Giuliani said. "I'll kind of go through it. I'll get all my evidence together. I'll get my shards."
The president was back on Twitter Tuesday calling the entire ordeal "just another Democrat hoax!"
....the Whistleblower, and also the person who gave all of the false information to him. This is simply about a phone conversation that could not have been nicer, warmer, or better. No pressure at all (as confirmed by Ukrainian Pres.). It is just another Democrat Hoax!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2019
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