Trump Says he will “Strongly Consider” Testifying in Impeachment Inquiry

On Monday, President Trump responded to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s suggestion that he come to testify in front of the House Intelligence Committee, saying that he would “strongly consider” giving his testimony. So far the impeachment inquiry has operated behind closed doors, and White House Officials have been directed not to comply with the impeachment process.

Impeachment Inquiry

Shortly after the phone call between the Ukrain President and President Trump was beginning to be questioned, the House opened up an impeachment inquiry on the U.S. president. The allegations center around accusations of Trump abusing his power in office by pressuring Ukraine into investigating his political rivals- mainly Joe Biden, former Vice President and a top Democratic candidate for the 2020 election.

Very few presidents have been impeached in the past, and the grounds on which the House can impeach are gray and dark. Although their closed-door testimonies and specially selected committees might seem unlawful, there isn’t anything saying that they can’t proceed in this way.

Last week the House Intelligence Committee held its first public hearings of the impeachment inquiry. So far three current and former State Department officials have testified publicly, and eight more are scheduled to testify publicly later this week, including the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, who allegedly spoke to Trump about investigating Biden. ^[1]

Strongly Considering Testifying

Since the beginning, Trump has repeatedly called the impeachment proceedings “rigged” and a “hoax,” stating that the White House has not yet received proper due process. When Pelosi was asked about the White House due process on Sunday, she invited Trump to present testimony to the House. “The president could come right before the committee and talk, speak all the truth that he wants if he wants to … take the oath of office or he could do it in writing,” Pelosi said. “He has every opportunity to present his case.” ^[2]

….that I testify about the phony Impeachment Witch Hunt. She also said I could do it in writing. Even though I did nothing wrong, and don’t like giving credibility to this No Due Process Hoax, I like the idea & will, in order to get Congress focused again, strongly consider it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2019

Trump announced on Monday morning that he was considering Pelosi’s offer, “even though I did nothing wrong, and don’t like giving credibility to this No Due Process Hoax, I like the idea & will, in order to get Congress focused again, strongly consider it!”