.jpg)
Instagram: @miyajones1996
Twitter: @miyajones1996
Facebook: Miya Jones
On Tuesday, the White House sent an eight-page letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of other committees leading the impeachment inquiry stating the inquiry has "no legitimate basis."
The letter, written by White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, said the investigation "violates fundamental fairness and constitutionally mandated due process," and that this is an attempt "to influence the election of 2020," and "overturn the results of the 2016 election and deprive the American people of the President they have freely chosen."
Cipollone said because a formal vote to open an impeachment inquiry hasn't happened that the investigation is "invalid."
The White House has further combated the inquiry by blocking U.S. ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, from testifying in congressional impeachment hearings.
Pelosi and the Democratic Party are not backing down.
“The White House should be warned that continued efforts to hide the truth of the president’s abuse of power from the American people will be regarded as further evidence of obstruction,” said Pelosi in a statement. “Mr. President, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable.”
Democrats are standing by their Oct. 14 deadline for Sondland to produce documents to the House Intelligence Committee. Sondland's deposition deadline is scheduled for Oct. 16.
"Your failure or refusal to comply with the subpoena, including at the direction or behest of the President, the White House, or the State Department, shall constitute further evidence of obstruction of the House's impeachment inquiry and may be used as an adverse inference against you and the President," wrote three committee chairs to Sondland.
For the first time, 2020 presidential nominee, Joe Biden, has even called for Trump to be impeached.
"Donald Trump has violated his oath of office, betrayed the nation, and committed impeachable acts," said Biden when speaking in New Hampshire. "To preserve our Constitution, our democracy, our basic integrity, he should be impeached."
The inquiry gained momentum after President Donald Trump made a call in July to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urging him to investigate Joe Biden and Biden's son, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas company. Trump confirmed this and also said he did slow-walk aid to Ukraine, but he claimed the two acts were unrelated.
Two anonymous whistleblowers have also come forward claiming to have knowledge of an alleged plot by Trump to extort Ukraine into producing dirt on Biden.
The president and his supporters claim Biden should be investigated for allegedly pushing for General Prosecutor Viktor Shokin to be removed because he was investigating the natural gas company connected to Biden's son.
We will continue to give updates on the situation.