Donald Trump Jr. and GOP Sen. Richard Burr are locked in a subpoena stalemate
Contempt Round 2 might be around the corner. Only this time, it's Donald Trump Jr. who's proving a thorn in the side of Congress, and not Attorney General William Barr.
Trump Jr., who was subpoenaed last week by the Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee, might not comply with the order if he is asked about a 2016 meeting concerning a Trump Organization project in Moscow, CNN reports. His legal team argues that he already answered questions about the topic before three prior congressional committees. The two sides have reached a stalemate, though, because the committee will not agree to limit the number of topics brought up during the possible testimony.
Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), the chair of the Intelligence Committee, subpoenaed the president's son after he backed out of two voluntary interviews last year, which reportedly "rankled" Burr and led to their current stand-off, CNN reports. Trump Jr. might offer to supply the committee with written answers, but the committee has rejected those in the past.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Now Burr is left with a choice between giving Trump Jr. a "pass" or pushing to hold him in contempt of Congress and risk facing more backlash from the Trump administration and the Republican party. If he takes the latter course, it looks like some prominent members of the GOP would disapprove. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) has already advised Trump Jr. to ignore the subpoena. Read more at CNN. Tim O'Donnell
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
What Trump's win could mean for Big Tech
Talking Points The tech industry is bracing itself for Trump's second administration
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Europe roiled by attacks on Israeli soccer fans
Speed Read Israeli fans supporting the Maccabi Tel Aviv team clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters in 'antisemitic attacks,' Dutch authorities said
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Haiti council fires prime minister, boosting chaos
Speed Read Prime Minister Garry Conille was replaced with Alix Didier Fils-Aimé
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump tells next Senate GOP leader to skip confirmations
Speed Read The president-elect said the next Senate majority leader must allow him to make recess appointments
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Fed cuts rates, chair says he won't quit if Trump asks
Speed Read Jerome Powell was noncommittal on future rate cuts that were expected before Trump won the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge revives plea deal for 9/11 suspects
Speed Read A military judge has ruled to restore the plea deals struck by 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-conspirators
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Harris concedes as world prepares for Trump's return
Speed Read Vice President Kamala Harris told supporters it was important to 'accept the results of this election'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Abortion rights measures go 7 for 10
Speed Read Constitutional amendments to protect abortion passed in seven states but failed in three others: Florida, Nebraska and South Dakota
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking protests
Speed Read Yoav Gallant and Netanyahu have clashed for years. The Israeli prime minister first tried to fire the defense minister in 2023, but backed off following a public outcry.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump wins, GOP flips Senate, House a tossup
Speed Read The Republican candidate flipped back the swing states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published