This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
US President Donald Trump has been at the center of a growing impeachment inquiry, with Democrats accusing him of abusing his office by seeking dirt from Ukraine on a 2020 election rival.
On October 1, 2019, Trump took to Twitter to denounce the inquiry, calling it a 'coup' and claiming it was an attempt to take away the power of the people, their vote, and their freedoms.
Trump's comments came after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pressed to prevent or delay five former or current State Department staffers from testifying in the investigation.
"As I learn more and more each day, I am coming to the conclusion that what is taking place is not an impeachment, it is a COUP," Trump tweeted.
Democrats, however, accused Pompeo of 'stonewalling' the investigation and scheduled interviews with at least two of the diplomats who had direct involvement in the Ukraine matter.
The impeachment inquiry, which was launched on September 24, 2019, is the first major clash of the days-old probe, pointing to a dramatically mounting political and legal siege as Trump battles to save his presidency.
Trump faces the possibility of becoming only the third president ever impeached by Congress, which could lead to his going on trial in the Senate.
