Top Democrat: White House defiance of subpoenas could lead to further charges but ‘we’re going to remain focused on the abuse of power’

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said on Sunday that House impeachment proceedings could incorporate potential White House defiance of subpoenas.

“We’re going to remain focused on the abuse of power. There’s  evidence that is hiding in plain sight of that fact, including the rough transcript” told host Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday, referring to a White House memo of a call between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

{mosads}However, he added, “to the extent that there is continued obstruction, to the extent that there is a continued coverup, that could provide potential grounds for an obstruction of Congress charge.”

“We hope that the administration will cooperate, that certainly hasn’t been the case up to date,” Jeffries said, adding that “there is some reason to believe that moving forward, given the seriousness of this allegation, that there will be some cooperation from Secretary [of State Mike] Pompeo.”

Wallace also questioned Jeffries on characterizations of the call involving “pressure” by Trump to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son, noting that Zelenskiy said he was not pressured.

“He can say that nobody pushed him but understand that the United States is the most powerful country on earth … When the president of the United States withholds military aid that had been duly authorized by Congress and then on the July 25 phone call says ‘do us a favor’ — four words, Chris that will likely live in infamy…. That is what you call a high-pressure tactic and of course the Ukrainian president got the message,” Jeffries responded.

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