- Charles Kupperman was scheduled to appear before the impeachment inquiry on Monday but filed a lawsuit asking the courts what he should do
- Kupperman was subpoenaed to appear but told by the White House to disregardÂ
- He filed a lawsuit on Friday asking for guidance
- His lawyer said he will not appear until there is a court ruling
- ‘Witnesses like Dr. Kupperman need to do their duty and show up,’ House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said of his no-showÂ
- Kupperman, a former deputy national security adviser, was on the July 25 phone call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
- He is a longtime Republican aide with deep ties to John Bolton
- He was Bolton’s deputy in White House and left shortly after Bolton was fired
A former White House aide and deputy to John Bolton refused to turn up to testify before Congress on Monday as he is waiting on the courts to tell him whether or not he can speak to the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump.
Charles Kupperman was scheduled to appear before the committees conducting the inquiry was a no-show, despite the panel chairmen warning him his absence could result in a contempt of Congress citation.
Kupperman, the former deputy national security adviser who was on Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian president, was subpoenaed by lawmakers but told by the White House to disregard the summons, citing executive privilege.
‘Witnesses like Dr. Kupperman need to do their duty and show up,’ House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said of his no-show. ‘A private citizen cannot sue the Congress to try to avoid coming in when they’re served with a lawful subpoena. And we expect that the court will make short shrift of that argument. But nonetheless we move forward.’