As the clash over the brewing Ukraine scandal and the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump intensifies between the administration and House Democrats, the chairs of three House committees have urged the State Department and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to “halt all efforts to interfere” in their investigations. Any effort by the department or Pompeo “to intimidate or prevent witnesses from testifying or withhold documents from the Committees” is a criminal violation, warned the chairs of the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees in a letter Tuesday. Such behavior would also “constitute evidence of obstruction of the impeachment inquiry.”

Any effort by Sec. Pompeo to intimidate or prevent witnesses from testifying will add to evidence that the Trump Admin is obstructing Congress.



Given Pompeo's own potential role in the affair, it will also create the inference that he is trying to cover up illicit activity. https://t.co/rtniky524i — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) October 1, 2019

The Democrats’ stern warning was written in response to a fiery letter by Pompeo sent earlier in the day to Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. In his letter, Pompeo objected to attempts by House committee leaders to depose five current and former State Department officials, arguing that the timeline proposed for the depositions was “unfeasible.” House Democrats were attempting to “intimidate” and “bully” officials, Pompeo said. “I will not tolerate such tactics,” he said.

I’m concerned with aspects of the Committee’s request that can be understood only as an attempt to intimidate, bully, & treat improperly the distinguished professionals of the Department of State, including several career FSOs. pic.twitter.com/QRtMaXlhQM — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) October 1, 2019