President Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday outlined his potential conditions for cooperating with House Democrats in their impeachment inquiry into Trump.
Giuliani said in an interview with Hill.TV that he may try to invoke attorney-client privilege if the House moves forward with impeachment and holds a formal vote.
“I would sit down with my client and with the other lawyers and we’d discuss attorney-client privilege,” Giuliani said on Hill.TV’s “Rising.”
“Most are not going to be bullied by them,” he added, referring to House Democrats. “‘We’ll hold you in contempt if you don’t comply’— when do they ever hold a lawyer in contempt for asserting the attorney-client privilege?”
The latest remarks come after the former New York City mayor blasted Democrats in comments to The Washington Post, suggesting they could move to “hold me in contempt.”
Giuliani told the Post on Tuesday that he would not testify before the House Intelligence Committee as long as Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) leads the panel as chairman.
“I wouldn’t testify in front of that committee until there is a vote of Congress and he is removed,” Giuliani said, referring to Schiff. “Let them hold me in contempt.”
The White House announced Tuesday that it would not cooperate with the House impeachment inquiry, deeming it illegitimate.
In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) and Democratic leaders, White House counsel Pat Cipollone accused Democrats of making “legally unsupported demands” and violating the Constitution.
The White House has also blocked Trump administration officials, including U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, from testifying before Congress.
The effort is part of Republicans’ plan to stonewall Democrats’ impeachment investigation, which was sparked by Trump’s call with Ukraine. During that call, Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden.
Trump in turn has repeatedly lashed out against Democrats over the impeachment inquiry, accusing Schiff and Pelosi of committing treason.
—Tess Bonn
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