House panel sues to force testimony from Mcgahn

WASHINGTON — The House Judiciary Committee took another step toward possible impeachment proceedings, filing a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday aimed at forcing former White House counsel Donald Mcgahn to testify about his interactions with President Donald Trump.

Mcgahn was a star witness in special counsel Robert Mueller’s report who — under Trump’s orders — has refused to testify before the panel. The Democratic lawsuit challenges the White House rationale that Mcgahn and other witnesses have “absolute immunity” from appearing and can defy subpoenas.

The legal action comes at a time when more than half of House Democrats have said they support beginning an impeachment inquiry. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has so far resisted that step, saying she wants to wait to see what happens in court.

In a letter to colleagues announcing the lawsuit was imminent, Pelosi said, “no one is above the law.”

The suit says Mcgahn is “the most important witness, other than the president, to the key events that are the focus of the Judiciary Committee’s investigation.”

Mcgahn’s lawyer, William A. Burck, said, “Mcgahn is a lawyer and has an ethical obligation to protect client confidences” and does not believe he witnessed any violation of law.