(UTV|COLOMBO) – US President Donald Trump has lashed out at congressional Democrats after they vowed to issue legal summonses to the White House this week.
Committees are demanding documents relating to the administration’s dealings with Ukraine, which is now at the heart of an impeachment inquiry.
Using a vulgarity, the Republican president accused Democratic leaders of dishonesty and even treason.
Democrats have defended the inquiry, promising a fair process.
What’s the inquiry about?
The impeachment inquiry – which may seek to remove Mr Trump from office – stems from a whistleblower complaint about his 25 July phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In the call, Mr Trump pressed for an investigation of his Democratic political rival Joe Biden and his son, who worked for a Ukrainian gas firm. No evidence of wrongdoing by the Bidens has come to light.
Democrats have pointed out the call with the newly elected Mr Zelensky took place at the same time Mr Trump decided to withhold military aid from Ukraine.
Mr Trump’s opponents say he was pressuring a vulnerable US ally to interfere in the 2020 US election for the US president’s personal benefit.
What did President Trump say?
During a joint press conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Mr Trump called Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, “stone cold corrupt”.
Mr Trump directed much of his anger towards House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, calling him “shifty Schiff, “a lowlife” and saying he “should resign from office in disgrace”.
He added: “Frankly, they should look at him for treason.”
Mr Trump also stated that he believed Mr Schiff had “helped write” the whistleblower’s complaint, without offering evidence.
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