House Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Former White House Counsel McGahn

The House Judiciary Committee on Monday issued a subpoena to former White House Counsel Donald McGahn requesting that he appear before the panel on May 7.

In a statement, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said he believes McGahn may be able to shed light on instances when President Trump may have sought to obstruct justice as Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation unfolded.

“Mr. McGahn is a critical witness to many of the alleged instances of obstruction of justice and other misconduct described in the Mueller report,” Nadler wrote. “His testimony will help shed further light on the President’s attacks on the rule of law, and his attempts to cover up those actions by lying to the American people and requesting others do the same.”

The subpoena also requests that McGahn come bearing scores of documents “related to the Committee’s ongoing investigation into obstruction of justice, public corruption and other abuses of power by President Trump, his associates and members of his Administration.”

These documents related to the Justice Department’s investigation into National Security Advisor Michael Flynn; any contemporaneous notes McGahn may have compiled related to Trump’s contacts with former FBI Director James Comey; documents and/or communications related to Comey’s firing; documents prepared by or about former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, whether about his recusal for the Russia investigation or his threats to resign his post.

The panel also seeks documents related to McGahn’s now widely publicized threat to resign as White House counsel, and two years worth of paperwork about Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election and contacts between Trump campaign officials and Russian nationals.

In short, the subpoena appears to cover any and all documents McGahn may have previously provided to Mueller and his investigators. It also includes a lengthy description of exactly how the committee wants the documents delivered.

Nadler said he wants to hear from McGahn just days after Attorney General William Barr is scheduled to testify before the panel.