The Justice Department (DOJ) has said it will be appealing a federal court decision to require former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify before the House Judiciary Committee.
U.S. District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson rejected the White House’s “absolute immunity” argument to prevent McGahn from appearing to testifying, saying that McGahn is required to appear before the House Judiciary Committee for testimony but is allowed to assert privilege on questions asked during a hearing, where appropriate.
“This Court holds that individuals who have been subpoenaed for testimony by an authorized committee of Congress must appear for testimony in response to that subpoena—i.e., they cannot ignore or defy congressional compulsory process, by order of the President or otherwise,” Jackson, an Obama appointee, wrote in her opinion.
The Monday ruling is widely viewed as a setback for President Donald Trump who has been resisting House Democrat’s efforts to subpoena aides and members of the executive branch from testifying before Congress as part of a slew of investigations aimed at finding information to impeach Trump. The White House was also closely watching this case as the administration has used the same “absolutely immunity” argument to prevent potential witnesses from testifying in the House impeachment inquiry.
In response to the ruling, the Justice Department said they will appeal the decision. “We will appeal,” a Justice Department spokeswoman said.
The White House confirmed that the administration will also appeal the ruling, adding that they were “confident that the important constitutional principle advanced by the Administration will be vindicated.”
“This decision contradicts longstanding legal precedent established by Administrations of both political parties,” White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
McGahn, who was viewed as a key witness in former special counsel’s Robert Mueller’s investigation, was subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee in April to provide documents and appear before lawmakers as part of their investigation of possible obstruction of justice by Trump—something that Mueller did not conclude in his report. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
The White House blocked his appearance in May, asserting privilege over the documents. This prompted House Democrats to subsequently sue McGahn in August in an attempt to enforce the subpoena.
“The White House records remain legally protected from disclosure under longstanding constitutional principles, because they implicate significant Executive Branch confidentiality interests and executive privilege,” Cipollone wrote.
During her ruling, Jackson said whether an official withholds documents requested by a congressional committee citing executive privilege is a separate question to whether they expected to appear for testimony. She added that executive branch officials are “not absolutely immune” from the compulsory congressional process even if the president expressly directs the officials’ non-compliance.
“This Court adds that this conclusion is inescapable precisely because compulsory appearance by dint of a subpoena is a legal construct, not a political one, and per the Constitution, no one is above the law,” Jackson wrote.
“That is to say, however busy or essential a presidential aide might be, and whatever their proximity to sensitive domestic and national-security projects, the president does not have the power to excuse him or her from taking an action that the law requires,” she added.
