Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Lindsey Graham (R.-S.C.) has issued a formal invitation to former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has since become one of President Donald Trump’s attorneys, to testify before the Senate regarding his knowledge of the Ukraine ordeal, Politico reports.
Senator Graham vowed to bring Giuliani to testify regarding corruption in Ukraine from former Vice President Joe Biden, saying, “I have heard on numerous occasions disturbing allegations by Rudy Giuliani about corruption in Ukraine and the many improprieties surrounding the firing of former Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin.”
Graham is referring to the increasingly credible allegation that Biden, as vice president, used the power of his office to strongarm Ukraine into firing its top law enforcement official, who at the time was investigating an energy company for which Biden’s son Hunter worked. President Trump has since been seeking cooperation with Ukraine to look further into the matter, as Biden’s actions would constitute an abuse of power.
Giuliani already has declared that he will refuse to testify before the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives and their committees, and despite the friendlier environment of the Republican-controlled Senate, he implied that he most likely will turn down Graham’s offer as well.
Giuliani’s move is part of the White House’s broader strategy to defy any and all subpoenas and will not allow any witnesses to testify before Democrats, unless or until the House holds an official vote on impeachment. If such a vote was held and passed, then Republicans in the House would also be allowed to call witnesses and issue subpoenas; but as long as the process is not official, only Democrats can dictate who testifies.