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Tense stand-off escalates between Democrats and President Trump over McGahn subpoena
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Tense stand-off escalates between Democrats and President Trump over McGahn subpoena

Tuesday will be the latest deadline in the feud

Democrats and President Trump are hurtling towards a tense stand-off on Tuesday after the administration tried to block the president's former attorney from appearing before Congress, and Democrats refused.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) implied that the president was acting criminally when the administration said Monday that Don McGahn would not be testifying before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday.

"The Mueller Report documents a shocking pattern of obstruction of justice," said Nadler in his statement. "The President acted against and again — perhaps criminally — to protect himself from federal law enforcement. Don McGahn personally witnessed the most egregious of these acts. President Trump knows this. He clearly does not want the American people to hear firsthand about his alleged misconduct, and so he has attempted to block Mr. McGahn from speaking in public tomorrow.

"This move is just the latest act of obstruction from the White House that includes its blanket refusal to cooperate with this Committee," he added. "It is also the latest example of this Administration's disdain for law.

"It is absurd for President Trump to claim privilege as to this witness's testimony when that testimony was already described publicly in the Mueller Report," Nadler continued. "Even more ridiculous is the extension of the privilege to cover events before and after Mr. McGahn's service in the White House."

Nadler added that the committee hearing will continue as scheduled on Tuesday and they expect McGahn to testify "as legally required."

The White House has instructed McGahn to ignore the subpoena from the committee and skip the committee hearing.

"The Department of Justice has provided a legal opinion stating that, based on long-standing, bipartisan, and constitutional precedent, the former counsel to the president cannot be forced to give such testimony, and Mr. McGahn has been directed to act accordingly," said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders Monday.

"This action has been taken in order to ensure that future presidents can effectively execute the responsibilities of the Office of the Presidency," she added.

The president himself mocked Nadler in a tweet on Monday over Congressional investigatory efforts.

"Why are the Democrats not looking into all of the crimes committed by Crooked Hillary and the phony Russia Investigation?" asked Trump. "They would get back their credibility."

"Jerry Nadler, [Rep. Adam] Schiff [D-Calif.], would have a whole new future open to them," he joked. "Perhaps they could even run for President!"

Nadler has threatened to hold McGahn in contempt if he refuses to testify.

Here's the latest in the McGahn standoff:

White House Directs Don McGahn Not To Testify To House Judiciary Cmte. | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBCwww.youtube.com

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