House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) threatened former White House counsel Don McGahn during an appearance on CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time" Monday with contempt if he fails to testify in Congress Tuesday.
"The first thing we're going to have to do is hold McGahn in contempt. ... You are dealing with a lawless president who is willing to go to any lengths to prevent testimony that might implicate him — that does implicate him."
"The recalcitrance of the President and his lawless behavior is making it more and more difficult to ignore all alternatives including impeachment," says Judiciary Chair, Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler. "...The President cannot be above the law, no more than anyone else can." pic.twitter.com/T3LNQuGGXX
— Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) May 21, 2019
Why it matters: McGahn became the latest former White House official instructed by the Trump administration to defy a subpoena from a House committee and not testify. He was a key player in some of the most tumultuous episodes outlined in special counsel Robert Mueller's report, especially potential instances of obstruction of justice — something Nadler noted in a statement he issued earlier.
Read my statement on the White House blocking Don McGahn from testifying tomorrow to @HouseJudiciary on evidence of obstruction of justice by President Trump: pic.twitter.com/uipq2pIx4T
— (((Rep. Nadler))) (@RepJerryNadler) May 20, 2019
The big picture: The White House instructed McGahn this month not to provide documents requested under the House Judiciary's subpoena, later asserting executive privilege over the material.
Go deeper: The other Don: McGahn is one of the Mueller report's biggest stars
