Judge schedules hearing for ex-Trump aide who refused to appear in inquiry

A judge scheduled a Thursday hearing for a former aide to President Trump who refused to appear for his deposition Monday in the House’s impeachment inquiry, The Washington Post reported.

Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to former national security adviser John Bolton, refused to comply with his subpoena to testify Monday. Kupperman was a witness to the July 25 phone call between Trump and the Ukrainian president that sparked the impeachment inquiry.

{mosads}Kupperman had filed a lawsuit Friday asking a federal judge whether he should comply with the House’s subpoena or listen to the White House, who requested he not testify. He did not testify after no decision was made Monday morning. 

D.C. District Judge Richard J. Leon, a President George W. Bush appointee, scheduled the hearing for 3 p.m. because of “the time-sensitive nature of the issues raised in this case,” the Post reported.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) had said earlier Monday that Kupperman had “no basis in law” to not show at the impeachment hearing and threatened to charge him with contempt of court. 

House Democrats announced later Monday that they will schedule a vote on Thursday on the impeachment inquiry to “ensure transparency and provide a clear path forward.”