Top national security aide Robert Blair won't testify Monday, citing White House direction

One of many White Home’s prime national safety aides and a key ally to the appearing chief of employees won't seem on Capitol Hill on Monday to testify before House lawmakers, his lawyer confirmed late Saturday night time.

Robert Blair participated in the July 25 call between President Donald Trump and the Ukrainian president, which triggered sufficient concern among some national security officials that one filed a whistleblower grievance and set into movement the Democrats' impeachment proceedings.

Blair’s lawyer, Whit Ellerman, stated Blair wouldn't seem on Monday “pursuant to path from the White House, which is based mostly on recommendation from the Division of Justice.”

When asked if Blair would appear if Democrats subpoenaed him, Ellerman stated he would not and that “course from the White Home and recommendation from DOJ cover subpoena.”

Blair is one in every of a slew of White Home aides Democrats have referred to as to the Hill this coming week as impeachment proceedings encroach additional into the White Home following testimony from prime diplomats, State Department aides and officers with the National Security Council.

Officers additionally summoned to the Hill on Monday embrace John Eisenberg, deputy counsel to the president for nationwide security affairs, Michael Ellis, senior affiliate counsel to the president, and Brian McCormack, associate director for natural assets, power and science at the Workplace of Administration and Price range, based on an official accustomed to the impeachment inquiry.

It stays unclear which if any of those officers will show up. The White House has stated it won't cooperate with the Democrats’ investigation.

Blair was brought into the White House less than one yr in the past by appearing chief of employees Mick Mulvaney, together with several other prime staffers from the Workplace of Management and Finances. Although Blair specialised in national security coverage and spending and worked for several years on the Hill on appropriations, he worked out of the chief of employees’s workplace within the West Wing, where he served as a senior adviser to Mulvaney. In that capability, he clashed typically with the former Nationwide Safety Adviser John Bolton and his group, in response to a former senior administration official.

Article initially revealed on POLITICO Magazine

Src: Top national security aide Robert Blair won't testify Monday, citing White House direction
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