US: House Democrats subpoena White House

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - The chairmen of three House of Representatives committees issued a subpoena to the White House on Friday to produce Ukraine-related documents as part of their impeachment investigation into U.S. President Donald Trump.

The House Oversight, Foreign Affairs and Intelligence committees sent a letter to Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney.

On Wednesday, in a memo notifying his committee of the intent to issue the subpoena, House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said the White House has repeatedly refused to comply with their earlier requests that began Sept. 9 to produce the documents.

"We deeply regret that President Trump has put us—and the nation—in this position, but his actions have left us with no choice but to issue this subpoena," Cummings wrote along with Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel.

The letter gives the White House until Oct. 18 to comply with the request.

The House began its impeachment investigation into Trump last week. At issue is a July 25 phone conversation the president had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which Trump repeatedly pressed him to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, over unsubstantiated claims of corruption.

The elder Biden is the leading Democratic candidate heading into next year's presidential elections, making him a clear political rival to Trump.

Soliciting the assistance of a foreign leader to investigate Biden has raised questions of election interference that have been the foundation for the House's impeachment investigation.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing, maintaining his call with Zelensky was "perfect" while seeking to undermine a whistleblower whose complaint brought the phone call and other related matters to the public's attention.