Political warfare: White House says it will not cooperate in impeachment inquiry against Trump

• White House counsel says inquiry lacks fundamental fairness and seeks to influence 2020 elections.
• Sondland has been asked to not appear for interview by House committees in relation to impeachment inquiry.
• Pelosi called the letter ‘manifestly wrong’ and described it as another unlawful act to hide the facts.

(Karachi) The White House has told the Democrats House that it will not cooperate in impeachment inquiry against US President Donald Trump, setting up a legal battle between two departments of the government, local media reported on Wednesday.

“You have designed and implemented your inquiry in a manner that violates fundamental fairness and constitutionally mandated due process," White House Counsel Pat Cipollone wrote in an eight-page letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of the committees leading the inquiry.

"Your inquiry lacks pretence of fairness, or even the most elementary due process protections," he stated.

Cipollone argued the investigation is "invalid" because there has not been a formal vote to open an impeachment inquiry. He said the inquiry clearly seeks "to influence the election of 2020" and has "no legitimate basis."

Meanwhile, US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, who was scheduled to be interviewed by House committees as part of the impeachment inquiry, was ordered not to appear for his deposition by the State Department, according to a statement issued by his attorney.

Meanwhile, Pelosi called the letter ‘manifestly wrong’ and described it as another unlawful act to hide the facts.

She maintained, “Mr president, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable.” Pelosi warned that efforts to hide the truth regarding president’s abuse of power from the American people will be regarded as evidence of obstruction.

Pelosi formally launched the impeachment inquiry last month after revelations that Trump pressured Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July 25 phone call. The standoff risks a Constitutional crisis with the potential for a court showdown just as US gears up for General Elections 2020.