WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 23rd April, 2019) US House of Representatives Judiciary Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said in a letter on Tuesday that he plans to hold a contempt vote against former White House Personnel Security Director Carl Kline for failing to appear for a requested deposition before the panel on the issue concerning security clearances.
"I intend to consult with House counsel and [Judiciary] Committee members about scheduling a vote on contempt," Cummings said in the letter. "I hope that Mr. Kline, in close consultation with his personal attorney, will carefully review his legal obligations, reconsider his refusal to appear and begin cooperating with the Committee's investigation."
On Monday, the White House directed Kline to not comply with the Judiciary Committee's subpoena. Later in the day, Kline's attorneys notified the Judiciary Committee that he would not appear for the deposition.
The Judiciary Committee is investigating allegations that the Trump administration issued security clearances to more than two dozen individuals despite recommendations to deny their applications.
Kline, who now works at the Defense Department, was the first individual to receive a subpoena from the Judiciary Committee.
On February 28, media reported that President Donald Trump ordered senior White House officials to grant top-level security clearance to his senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner despite concerns raised by the intelligence community and the White House counsel. Trump previously denied any personal involvement in securing Kushner's clearance, according to the media reports.
