OnPolitics impeachment edition: New week, new developments
Happy Monday and welcome back to the news cycle, OnPolitics readers. If you're new to this newsletter, welcome! We'll be providing updates on the impeachment inquiry as they come — which has been daily, with no sign of slowing down.
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The news you need to know today
A first in the investigation: A former National Security Council expert on Russia became the first former White House official to testify in the House's formal impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump.
- Fiona Hill, who had been the National Security Council's senior director for Europe and Russia, resigned this summer.
- Her appearance came despite a White House vow to halt cooperation with what it termed the “illegitimate” impeachment probe.
Here's a handy list of everyone who has been subpoenaed so far.
What to expect this week
Tuesday:
- Rudy Giuliani was subpoenaed for documents and given a deadline of Tuesday. He hasn't said whether he will comply, though he tweeted that the subpoena "raises significant issues concerning legitimacy and constitutional and legal issues" on Sept. 30.
- It's also the deadline for subpoenas to the Pentagon and the White House Office of Management and Budget for documents detailing why military aid to Ukraine was frozen. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he will comply with the subpoena.
- House Democrats requested documents from Vice President Mike Pence relating to the inquiry, setting a deadline of Tuesday, but Pence might not comply.
- Scheduled to be deposed is George P. Kent, an expert on Ukraine and Russia who now serves as a deputy assistant secretary at the State Department.
Wednesday:
- The three committees subpoenaed documents with a deadline of Wednesday from two of Giuliani's clients, Ukrainian-born business partners Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman. The two Florida businessmen showered Republican campaign committees with contributions and introduced Giuliani to a prosecutor in Ukraine. Parnas and Fruman were arrested Oct. 9 and charged with U.S. campaign finance violations.
Thursday:
- Gordon Sondland, Trump ambassador to the European Union, is scheduled to return to Capitol Hill on Thursday. The State Department blocked him from testifying last week. Sondland, a wealthy former hotel magnate from Oregon, has emerged as a central player in the Ukraine affair.
Friday:
- Energy Secretary Rick Perry faces a subpoena deadline of Friday from the three committees for documents about Ukraine. Trump said he made the phone call July 25 at Perry’s suggestion.
— Until tomorrow, friends.