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An
eight-page letter signed by White House counsel Pat Cipollone
was sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the top U.S. Democrat,
and the Democratic chairs of the House intelligence, foreign
affairs and oversight committees.
Pelosi argues the impeachment inquiry she launched is
constitutional and that no House vote is necessary at this
juncture.
The inquiry was started based on accusations from a government
whistleblower that President Donald Trump sought Ukraine's help
in investigating Democratic rival Joe Biden.
The White House argued that the three other impeachment
inquiries in American history, against presidents Andrew
Johnson, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, all included House
votes, and that this should serve as precedent for the
impeachment of President Donald Trump.
"Proceeding without a House vote is unprecedented in the history
of our nation. In every prior occasion for a presidential
impeachment inquiry there has been a vote of the House," said a
senior administration official, speaking as the letter was
released.
The letter said Trump has been denied basic due process rights,
such as to cross-examine witnesses, call witnesses to testify,
receive transcripts of testimony, and have access to evidence.
"All of this violates the Constitution, the rule of law, and
every past precedent," the letter said.
It said the Supreme Court has recognized that due process
protections apply to all congressional investigations.
The letter was the result of an intense behind-the-scenes effort
in recent days by White House lawyers to respond to the
Democrats' impeachment bid.
One concern the White House has involves the whistleblower.
House Democrats are working to protect the identity of the
person who has accused Trump of impropriety in his dealings with
Ukraine.
"There shouldn't be a situation where you can have a primary
witness, an accuser in an impeachment inquiry, and the president
never able to know who the accuser is and never able to cross
examine him," said the senior administration official.
Trump has called the inquiry a partisan "witch hunt," and
released a summary transcript of his July 25 phone call with
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a bid at damage
control.
The letter argues - a contention denied by the Democrats - that
the impeachment effort is simply aimed at reversing the result
of the 2016 presidential election and influencing the 2020
election.
"The decision as to who will be elected president in 2020 should
rest with the people of the United States, exactly where the
Constitution places it," said the letter.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Richard Chang)
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