As expected, the Justice Department is appealing a federal judge's order that the department must hand over previously withheld grand jury evidence from former Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into 2016 Russian election interference by Oct. 30, as the House conducts its impeachment inquiry.

Additionally, the department asked Monday for a stay of the order until a federal appeals court reviews the case. The department argued that if the grand jury testimony is released to the House Judiciary Committee, it "cannot be recalled, and the confidentiality of the grand jury information will be lost for all time."

The Justice Department also asks for a stay of the order in part because the House could, with a simple majority vote, decide to publicize the grand jury materials. pic.twitter.com/ClRqIObbRK — Todd Ruger (@ToddRuger) October 28, 2019

This wasn't a surprise to most observers, though it has been argued that the White House may be overreaching.

Predictable. But, inconsistent. If a president can’t be indicted, because the only remedy for abuse committed by him is impeachment, then it must be the case that Congress is entitled to access to investigative materials for use in impeachment. https://t.co/zYJN98aMDM — Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) October 28, 2019

Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell initially ruled Friday that the Justice Department was required to produce the material because it could contain evidence that affects the impeachment inquiry. In her ruling, she noted the White House's refusal to comply with the investigation only strengthened the Democrats' impeachment arguments. Tim O'Donnell