House committees subpoena Giuliani associates
By Cristina Marcos - 10/10/19 12:33 PM EDT
House Democrats on Thursday issued subpoenas to two Florida businessmen who worked with President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on his efforts to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden.
The subpoenas to Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman for documents by Oct. 16 came hours after reports emerged that the two were arrested on campaign finance charges.
Parnas and Fruman are expected to appear in a Virginia court later Thursday.
The chairmen of the three committees leading the House impeachment inquiry -- Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight -- argued in a letter to the men's lawyer, John Dowd, that they must comply despite the White House's blanket refusal to allow Trump administration officials to testify.
“Your clients are private citizens who are not employees of the Executive Branch," the chairmen wrote.
"They may not evade requests from Congress for documents and information necessary to conduct our inquiry. They are required by law to comply with the enclosed subpoenas. They are not exempted from this requirement merely because they happen to work with Mr. Giuliani, and they may not defy congressional subpoenas merely because President Trump has chosen the path of denial, defiance, and obstruction."
--This developing report will be updated.
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/465215-house-committees-subpoena-giuliani-associates
