White House Letter To Nadler: Below is the letter from Pat A. Cipollone, Counsel to the President, written to New York Rep. Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing taking place on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. The letter regards the White House’s participation in the Judiciary Committee’s first impeachment hearing on Wednesday and the
THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON
December 1, 2019
The Honorable Jerrold Nadler
Chairman
Committee on the Judiciary
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
December 1, 2019
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Nadler:
I write in response to your letter of November 26, 2019, to President Trump regarding the purported “impeachment inquiry” currently being conducted by Democrats in the House of
Representatives (“House”). As you know, this baseless and highly partisan inquiry violates all
past historical precedent, basic due process rights, and fundamental fairness. Your letter asked
that the President notify the House Committee on the Judiciary (“Judiciary Committee” or
“Committee”) by December 1, 2019, whether the Administration intends to participate in a
hearing scheduled for December 4, 2019. You scheduled this initial hearing-no doubt
purposely-during the time that you know the President will be out of the country attending the
NATO Leaders Meeting in London.
Your letter provides little information about the upcoming hearing. It vaguely indicates
that you intend to hold a hearing to discuss the “historical and constitutional basis of
impeachment.” We understand from rumors and press reports (though not from any notice
provided in your letter or in the official notice of the hearing) that the hearing will consist of an
academic discussion by law professors. We understand this to mean that your initial hearing will include no fact witnesses at all.
