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.
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
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.
-
‘Tariffs at their essence are an income transfer’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Why is Trump backtracking on the Hyundai immigration raid?
Today’s Big Question Backlash threatens investment in US manufacturing
-
The 9 restaurants to eat at this very moment
The Week Recommends They’re award-winning. Isn’t that reason enough?
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants