Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have issued a subpoena to Energy Secretary Rick Perry as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine.
The chairmen of three House committees sent the subpoena to Perry on October 10 asking him to provide documents related to a Ukrainian state-owned oil and gas conglomerate, Naftogaz, as well as his involvement in a July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The demand by the leaders of the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight committees set a deadline of October 18 for Perry, who is currently traveling in Iceland.
Trump has said Perry encouraged him to make the July 25 call, in which Trump pressed Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden and his son, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.
Perry said he acknowledged he told Trump to call Zelenskiy but said he suggested they discuss energy issues and did not mention the Bidens.
"I asked the president multiple times, 'Mr. President, we think it is in the United States' and in Ukraine's best interest that you and the president of Ukraine have conversations, that you discuss the options that are there,'" Perry said.
Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring Zelenskiy to investigate the Bidens by threatening to withhold approved military aid if he did not.
Trump has denied he did anything wrong. There has been no evidence presented of wrongdoing by the Bidens.
The impeachment probe has expanded to include Perry’s dealings with Naftogaz and efforts to install a friendlier management team at the company. Perry has denied wrongdoing.
Democratic Lawmakers Subpoena U.S. Energy Secretary In Ukraine Probe
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
Inside The Ukraine-US Minerals Deal (It's Not What You Might Think)
2Will The US Leave NATO? Officials Push Back Against Rising Doubts
3Zelenskyy Says Relations With U.S. Salvageable Despite Heated Exchange In White House
4Analysis: 4 Takeaways From The Disaster In The Oval Office
5Pride, Horror, And Concern: What Ukrainians Think About The Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Office Standoff
6Taliban Declares End To Doha Agreement With The United States
7Europe Pushes For Lasting Peace, But Can Russia's Battlefield Momentum Be Halted?
8Russia's Foreign Mercenaries In Ukraine War: Military Leak Shows Bosnian Serb Fighter As GRU Officer
9Russia’s Invasion Plan Vs. Reality: A Map Of Miscalculations
10Starmer Says 'Time To Act' On Ukraine As Europe At Crossroads
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
