DOJ places new legal barrier between Democrats and Trump impeachment witnesses

So how can the DOJ dictate what happens in the House? I imagine this might not go over well.


DOJ places new legal barrier between Democrats and Trump impeachment witnesses
By John Kruzel - 11/05/19 11:35 AM EST


The Justice Department opened a new front in the legal battle between congressional impeachment investigators and the White House on Tuesday by announcing that Congress must allow government attorneys to accompany executive branch witnesses who testify about President Trump's relations with Ukraine.

In a newly released memo, the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel said “the assistance of agency counsel” is needed because testimony has the potential to disclose information “protected by executive privilege.”

The House Intelligence Committee, which has taken the lead on the impeachment inquiry, has heard from a number of witnesses whose personal lawyers have been allowed to attend depositions. But the Justice Department argued in its memo that the exclusion of government lawyers deprives Trump of his constitutional power to screen privileged information from lawmakers.

The department’s new legal posture is the latest development in the fight between Congress and the White House over access to information that House Democrats say is necessary to assess the strength of an impeachment case against Trump.


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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/469012-doj-places-new-legal-barrier-between-dems-and-trump-impeachment?fbclid=IwAR0HljRbN7uMVjFQNGwNpdQ-C0Zxuf2sbmRol1msBLP6km2_4HVGZmlfYvU#.XcINZmSRVqQ.facebook