Schiff seems to have known ahead of time that Duffey had a tale to tell.
White House officials defy subpoenas, refuse to testify about Ukraine
By: Jamie Dupree Updated: November 5, 2019 - 7:25 AM A day after four White House officials refused to show up for closed door depositions on Capitol Hill, two more White House aides were expected to do the same on Tuesday, as Democrats said it was yet another example of the President stonewalling the Congress on questions involving Ukraine and Russian interference in the 2016 elections.
"This will be further evidence of an effort by the Administration to obstruct the lawful and constitutional duties of Congress," said Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), as Democrats noted similar actions were part of impeachment charges drawn up against President Richard Nixon.
"We may infer by the White House obstruction here, that their testimony would be further incriminating of the President," Schiff told reporters on Monday.
Content Continues Below "We have a series of shifting, ever-changing rationales for this campaign of obstruction," Schiff added.
World News Tonight ? @ABCWorldNews NEW: Rep. Adam Schiff says the White House officials who have "defied congressional subpoenas and refused to appear" for depositions will "further add to the body of evidence on a potential obstruction of Congress charge against the president." http://abcn.ws/2Cal0Of
Embedded video 10.1K 12:47 PM - Nov 4, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 4,024 people are talking about this "What are these @WhiteHouse officials hiding from the American people?" tweeted Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA).
"Also, this is yet more evidence of Obstruction of Congress, which is an impeachable offense," Lieu added.
The officials who did not come to Capitol Hill for questioning on Monday are:
+ John Eisenberg, the top lawyer on the National Security Council
+ Michael Ellis, the top deputy to Eisenberg
+ Robert Blair, a top adviser to acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney
+ Brian McCormack, a senior official in the White House budget office.
The Tuesday witnesses who likely won't appear:
+ Wells Griffith, a White House energy expert
+ Michael Duffey, an official in the White House budget office.
nstead of getting testimony from White House officials, Democrats are ready to release another pair of transcripts from earlier closed door proceedings.
One transcript released on Monday from the former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, showed that she was tipped off by Ukraine government officials to the work of President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani.
"I do not know Mr. Giuliani's motives in attacking me, Yovanovitch told investigators on October 11, as the former Ambassador said she first learned Giuliani was up to something in Ukraine in late 2018.
Yovanovitch said 'senior Ukrainian officials' were worried by Giuliani, telling her 'I really needed to watch my back,' the former ambassador added.
Asked about the testimony from his former Ambassador, President Trump offered little to reporters.
"I really don’t know her," Mr. Trump said, not mentioning that he said Yovanovitch was 'bad news' during his July 25 call with the leader of Ukraine.
Two more depositions are due out on Tuesday, from the acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor, and the special U.S. envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker.
Market Data 
Markets 
AI
