Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have issued a subpoena to Energy Secretary Rick Perry as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump's dealings with Ukraine.
The chairmen of three House committees sent the subpoena to Perry on October 10 asking him to provide documents related to a Ukrainian state-owned oil and gas conglomerate, Naftogaz, as well as his involvement in a July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
The demand by the leaders of the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs, and Oversight committees set a deadline of October 18 for Perry, who is currently traveling in Iceland.
Trump has said Perry encouraged him to make the July 25 call, in which Trump pressed Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden and his son, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.
Perry said he acknowledged he told Trump to call Zelenskiy but said he suggested they discuss energy issues and did not mention the Bidens.
"I asked the president multiple times, 'Mr. President, we think it is in the United States' and in Ukraine's best interest that you and the president of Ukraine have conversations, that you discuss the options that are there,'" Perry said.
Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring Zelenskiy to investigate the Bidens by threatening to withhold approved military aid if he did not.
Trump has denied he did anything wrong. There has been no evidence presented of wrongdoing by the Bidens.
The impeachment probe has expanded to include Perry’s dealings with Naftogaz and efforts to install a friendlier management team at the company. Perry has denied wrongdoing.
Democratic Lawmakers Subpoena U.S. Energy Secretary In Ukraine Probe
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
North Korea's Kim Vows Continued Support For Russia's Military Amid Heavy Losses
2Trudeau Among Mourners At Aga Khan Memorial Service In Lisbon
3RFE/RL Journalist Kuznechyk Released After More Than 3 Years In Belarus Prison
4Wagner's Successors Wage Campaign Of Terror In Central African Republic
5'It Felt Like Something Bad Was Brewing': Voices Of Russians Who Fled
6Russian Musician's Fatal Plunge During Police Raid Triggers Doubt About Suicide
7Trump Order Cuts Aid For South Africa Over Land Law, Genocide Case Against Israel
8Hegseth Says Return To Ukraine's Pre-2014 Borders 'Unrealistic'
9Ukraine Live Briefing: Kyiv's Drones Strike Inside Russia
10What To Expect From Pete Hegseth's First Meeting At NATO
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
