DEFENSE/FOREIGN AID/IMPEACHMENT/NATIONAL SECURITY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/UKRAINE: “The House on Monday [10-7-19] expanded its sprawling impeachment inquiry, issuing subpoenas to the Defense Department and the Office of Management and Budget for documents that could solve lingering mysteries about whether President Trump’s decision to withhold security aid for Ukraine was tied to his efforts to pressure the government there to investigate his political rivals. The action kicked off what was expected to be another busy week of investigation in Washington, where questions related to Ukraine appear increasingly likely to result in a vote on Mr. Trump’s impeachment. Two senior American diplomats caught up in the scandal are scheduled to speak to investigators before the week is through, while a third who was scheduled to be deposed on Monday failed to show up. And lawmakers appeared to be in the final stages of arranging a highly secure interview with the anonymous C.I.A. whistle-blower whose complaint prompted the inquiry.”
–Nicholas Fandos, “Seeking Ukraine Aid Records, House Subpoenas White House Budget Office and Pentagon,” The New York Times online, October 7, 2019