This archive report was first published on 27 October 2019.
October 27, 2019, marked a significant day in the ongoing impeachment inquiry as the White House invoked a claim of absolute immunity to block Charles Kupperman's testimony. In response, Kupperman filed a lawsuit, seeking a federal judge's ruling on the matter. This move has sparked concerns that other senior White House officials may follow suit.
House Democrats have rejected the White House's legal claims, ordering Kupperman to testify on Monday or face evidence of obstruction of Congress. The Democrats' stance has been met with resistance from President Trump, who has continued to dismiss the inquiry as 'just as Corrupt and Fake as all of the other garbage that went on before it.'
Trump also took aim at Speaker Nancy Pelosi, accusing her of neglecting her San Francisco district, which he described as a 'hellscape' of environmental and sanitary violations. This latest salvo comes as the administration faces mounting pressure to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry.
Despite the White House's efforts to block testimony, several witnesses have come forward, including a dozen or so who have defied administration orders and complied with subpoenas. One such witness, Philip Reeker, testified that President Trump had relied on Gordon D. Sondland and Kurt D. Volker to carry out his policy toward Ukraine.
Reeker's testimony also shed light on the administration's efforts to discredit Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, with critics accusing her of being disloyal to the president. However, Reeker considered these charges to be completely spurious.
