A top aide to former White House national security adviser John Bolton
John BoltonWhat to watch for on Day 3 of Senate impeachment trial Nadler gets under GOP's skin 'Emotion' from Trump's legal team wins presidential plaudits MORE will not testify before Congress on Monday as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Trump
Donald John TrumpMnuchin knocks Greta Thunberg's activism: Study economics and then 'come back' to us The Hill's Morning Report - House prosecutes Trump as 'lawless,' 'corrupt' What to watch for on Day 3 of Senate impeachment trial MORE, his lawyer has told Democratic investigators.
Charles Cooper, the attorney for former Bolton aide Charles Kupperman, said his client will not testify until a court rules on a lawsuit surrounding his appearance, according to a letter delivered Sunday to Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee.
"If your clients' position on the merits of this issue is correct, it will prevail in court, and Dr. Kupperman, I assure you again, will comply with the Court's judgment," Cooper wrote to Daniel Noble, a Democratic attorney for committee.
Kupperman, the former deputy to Bolton, has been caught in a legal tug of war between a White House trying to block his testimony, citing executive privilege, and Democrats who have subpoenaed Kupperman to appear on Monday in the Capitol before the three House committees leading the impeachment probe.
On Friday, Kupperman filed a lawsuit, essentially asking the courts to rule on which side had the more compelling legal argument.
Democrats on the three committees fired back on Saturday, warning that Kupperman — now a private citizen — has a legal obligation to appear before Congress. A failure to do so, the committee chairs warned, could lead to charges of contempt of Congress.
“Notwithstanding this attempted obstruction, the duly authorized subpoena remains in full force and Dr. Kupperman remains legally obligated to appear for the deposition on Monday,” the letter by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff
Adam Bennett SchiffThe Hill's Morning Report - House prosecutes Trump as 'lawless,' 'corrupt' What to watch for on Day 3 of Senate impeachment trial Democrats' impeachment case lands with a thud with GOP — but real audience is voters MORE (D-Calif.), House Oversight and Reform Committee acting Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney
Carolyn Bosher MaloneyOvernight Energy: Appeals court tosses kids' climate suit | California sues Trump over fracking | Oversight finds EPA appointees slow-walked ethics obligations Oversight finds EPA political appointees slow-walked ethics obligations Pelosi taps Virginia Democrat for key post on economic panel MORE (D-N.Y.) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel
Eliot Lance EngelUS officials, world leaders arrive in Israel for World Holocaust Forum House Democrats may call new impeachment witnesses if Senate doesn't Overnight Defense: Book says Trump called military leaders 'dopes and babies' | House reinvites Pompeo for Iran hearing | Dems urge Esper to reject border wall funding request MORE (D-N.Y.) said.
“The deposition will begin on time and, should your client defy the subpoena, his absence will constitute evidence that may be used against him in a contempt proceeding."
Cooper, in his letter to Noble, said "it is not Dr. Kupperman who contests" the Democrats' legal claim.
"It is President Trump, and every President before him for at least the last half century, who have asserted testimonial immunity for their closest confidential advisors," Cooper wrote.
Hope Charlotte HicksTrump must be removed — for more than reasons offered in impeachment 2019 in Photos: 35 pictures in politics Justice Dept releases another round of summaries from Mueller probe MORE also limited her testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on instructions from White House lawyers that she was immune from testifying on her work in the West Wing. Kupperman was reportedly on the July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that is at the center of the impeachment investigation into allegations that Trump solicited foreign leaders to help his reelection in 2020.
Schiff said Sunday that Bolton is also a “very important” witness and House Democrats want him to testify. But he's already anticipating another standoff with the White House.
“My guess is they're going to fight us having John Bolton in,” Schiff said on ABC's “This Week.”
Morgan Chalfant contributed to this report, which was updated at 1:00 p.m.
