White House Orders McGahn Not To Comply With House Subpoena

The Trump administration is directing former White House counsel Don McGahn not to comply with a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee to turn over documents related to special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

“The White House provided these records to Mr. McGahn in connection with its cooperation with the Special Counsel’s investigation and with the clear understanding that the records remain subject to the control of the White House for all purposes,” White House counsel Pat Cipollone wrote Tuesday to Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the chairman of the committee.

“Because Mr. McGahn does not have the legal right to disclose these documents to third parties, I would ask the Committee to direct any request for such records to the White House, the appropriate legal custodian,” Cipollone said in the letter.

Earlier, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the administration would direct McGahn not to comply.

Nadler issued a subpoena to McGahn on April 22 after Mueller’s report showed that he played a pivotal role in President Trump’s efforts to have the special counsel fired.

McGahn faced a 10 a.m. Tuesday deadline to turn over the documents requested.