On Friday, House Democrats subpoenaed Mike Pompeo.
On Monday, it was Rudy Giuliani’s turn.
“Pursuant to the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry, we are hereby transmitting a subpoena that compels you to produce the documents set forth in the accompanying schedule by October 15, 2019”, a letter to Giuliani reads. “Our inquiry includes an investigation of credible allegations that you acted as an agent of the President in a scheme to advance his personal political interests by abusing the power of the Office of the President”.
It looks as though Giuliani’s habit of contradicting himself and inadvertently implicating his client on national television might have finally come back to haunt him. Adam Schiff, Eliot Engel and Elijah Cummings cite Rudy’s bungled appearance on CNN earlier this month in the letter.
“During an interview on CNN, Chris Cuomo asked you, ‘So, you did ask Ukraine to look into Joe Biden?’ You responded, ‘Of course I did.'” For those who need a refresher, here is that clip again:
House Democrats are also demanding Giuliani hand over any text messages, phone records or other communications that reveal who in the administration collaborated with him in this “scheme” to use Trump’s office to compel a foreign government to go after the Bidens.
Over the weekend, Ukraine’s former chief prosecutor Yuri Lutsenko (whose insinuations about the Bidens were at the heart of Giuliani’s allegations against the former vice president and his son Hunter) told the LA Times in an interview that he never had conclusive proof of wrongdoing by Biden. Lutsenko also described Giuliani as “obsessed”.
Later, Biden’s campaign sent a letter to America’s main cable news outlets demanding that Giuliani not be allowed on television after a series of wild interviews that found the former New York icon rambling at warp speed about conspiracies, spouting baseless allegations and insisting that Trump has been “framed”.
As for whether Giuliani will comply with the subpoena, it’s going to be a tough choice. Trump will doubtlessly insist that he doesn’t, but as Schiff warns in the letter, “your failure or refusal to comply with this subpoena, including at the direction or behest of the President or the White House, shall constitute evidence of obstruction of the House’s impeachment inquiry and may be used as an adverse interference against you and the President”.
It looks like Rudy is going to need a lawyer — might we suggest one that’s better than the guy the President currently retains. We hear he’s predisposed to folding under pressure, especially on television.
Read more:
Ukraine Prosecutor Who Liaised With Giuliani Now Says No Evidence Of Biden Wrongdoing
Biden Campaign Demands Rudy Giuliani Be Banned From TV For Being Nuts
Oh Rocket Polisher Rudy you will get to finish.
Let the games begin.