The former deputy national security adviser who worked under John Bolton will not appear on Capitol Hill Monday to speak with Democrats conducting an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump.
According to CBS News, Charles Kupperman worked in the White House starting in January and left in September, shortly after Bolton departed his post as national security adviser. He was subpoenaed by the House committees investigating Trump's actions around a phone call over the summer and was supposed to face questioning Monday, but after looking at the court system for guidance on whether he should appear he will not show up.
The White House instructed Kupperman not to appear, CBS reported. Facing the difficult choice of whether to comply with the White House or lawmakers, Kupperman took no position on the matter and instead filed a District Court lawsuit and asked the judicial branch if he "should comply with the House's subpoena or with the president's assertion of immunity and instruction that he not appear and testify," CBS reported.
The court has yet to issue a ruling, which means Kupperman will not comply with the congressional subpoena.
Democrats are investigating whether Trump used his office for political gain, a probe that stems from his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Kupperman was on the call, and Democrats are anxious to hear his thoughts on what took place.
Bolton has not committed to testifying in the probe, but Democrats would like him to.