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| Trump impeachment: White House aides can be made to testify | Trump impeachment: White House aides can be made to testify |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A federal judge has ruled that White House staff can be made to testify before Congress, rejecting the Trump administration's claims of immunity. | A federal judge has ruled that White House staff can be made to testify before Congress, rejecting the Trump administration's claims of immunity. |
| The ruling specifically compels former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify to an inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 US election. | The ruling specifically compels former White House counsel Don McGahn to testify to an inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 US election. |
| But it also has major implications for the Democrat-led impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. | But it also has major implications for the Democrat-led impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. |
| The justice department says it will appeal against the ruling. | |
| The impeachment inquiry is trying to establish whether Mr Trump pressured Ukraine's president to investigate his political rival Joe Biden. The Trump administration has refused to co-operate with the impeachment inquiry and other Democrat-led investigations, directing current and former White House officials to defy subpoenas for testimony and documents. | |
| Mr McGahn, who left his post in October 2018, was called to appear before the House Judiciary Committee in May to answer questions about the president's alleged attempts to impede the now-concluded Mueller investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election. | |
| But in her ruling, US District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson said that "no one is above the law". | But in her ruling, US District Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson said that "no one is above the law". |
| "Executive branch officials are not absolutely immune from compulsory congressional process - no matter how many times the executive branch has asserted as much over the years - even if the president expressly directs such officials' noncompliance," she wrote. | "Executive branch officials are not absolutely immune from compulsory congressional process - no matter how many times the executive branch has asserted as much over the years - even if the president expressly directs such officials' noncompliance," she wrote. |
| Judge Jackson also explicitly said the president "does not have the power" to stop his aides from responding to subpoenas from Congress - adding that "presidents are not kings". | Judge Jackson also explicitly said the president "does not have the power" to stop his aides from responding to subpoenas from Congress - adding that "presidents are not kings". |
| "No one, not even the head of the Executive branch, is above the law," Judge Jackson said. | "No one, not even the head of the Executive branch, is above the law," Judge Jackson said. |
| But she did say that Mr McGahn could invoke executive privilege "where appropriate", to protect potentially sensitive information. | But she did say that Mr McGahn could invoke executive privilege "where appropriate", to protect potentially sensitive information. |
| Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler said that he expects Mr McGahn to "follow his legal obligations and promptly appear before the Committee". | Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler said that he expects Mr McGahn to "follow his legal obligations and promptly appear before the Committee". |
| Why is Congress investigating Trump? | Why is Congress investigating Trump? |
| Monday's ruling could have an effect on who testifies during the current impeachment hearings in Congress. | Monday's ruling could have an effect on who testifies during the current impeachment hearings in Congress. |
| Democrats may use it to summon figures such as former national security advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. | Democrats may use it to summon figures such as former national security advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. |
| The impeachment case centres on whether President Trump used the threat of withholding US military aid to pressure Ukraine into investigating a domestic political rival. | The impeachment case centres on whether President Trump used the threat of withholding US military aid to pressure Ukraine into investigating a domestic political rival. |
| At the heart of the impeachment inquiry is a phone call on 25 July this year between Mr Trump and Ukraine's newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky. | At the heart of the impeachment inquiry is a phone call on 25 July this year between Mr Trump and Ukraine's newly elected president, Volodymyr Zelensky. |
| During the call, Mr Trump urged his counterpart to look into unsubstantiated corruption claims against Democratic White House contender Joe Biden. | During the call, Mr Trump urged his counterpart to look into unsubstantiated corruption claims against Democratic White House contender Joe Biden. |
| Mr Trump's critics say this alleged political pressure on a vulnerable US ally amounted to abuse of power. | Mr Trump's critics say this alleged political pressure on a vulnerable US ally amounted to abuse of power. |
| The president has denied any wrongdoing and has called the inquiry a "witch hunt". | The president has denied any wrongdoing and has called the inquiry a "witch hunt". |
| What next with the impeachment inquiry? | What next with the impeachment inquiry? |
| The Judiciary Committee is expected to begin drafting articles of impeachment - which are the charges of wrongdoing against the president - in early December. | The Judiciary Committee is expected to begin drafting articles of impeachment - which are the charges of wrongdoing against the president - in early December. |
| After a vote in the Democratic-controlled House, a trial would be held in the Republican-run Senate. | After a vote in the Democratic-controlled House, a trial would be held in the Republican-run Senate. |
| If Mr Trump was convicted by a two-thirds majority - an outcome deemed highly unlikely - he would become the first US president to be removed from office through impeachment. | If Mr Trump was convicted by a two-thirds majority - an outcome deemed highly unlikely - he would become the first US president to be removed from office through impeachment. |
| The White House and some Republicans want the trial to be limited to two weeks. | The White House and some Republicans want the trial to be limited to two weeks. |
| Learn more about the impeachment inquiry | Learn more about the impeachment inquiry |