Curious indeed. Yesterday, House Democrats poo-poohed the idea of going through the subpoena process to get John Boltons testimony, claiming that they didnt want to play Donald Trumps delaying game. Overnight, however, NBC News reports that they now have subpoenaed Mick Mulvaney, even though its clear he wont show without a court order either:
The House Intelligence Committee has subpoenaed acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to testify Friday as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, an official working on the probe told NBC News.
Mulvaney, one of the highest-ranking officials subpoenaed in the inquiry to date, is expected to be a no-show, falling in line with several other officials who were ordered by the president not to cooperate with the investigation.
Theres no mystery as to why House Democrats want Mulvaneys testimony under oath on Ukraine-Gate. The multi-hatted Trump ally shot off his mouth about Ukraine and quid pro quos almost a month ago, telling everyone to get over it before walking it back later in the day. They want Mulvaney to repeat his public statement under oath to get to their impeachable act, and Mulvaney and the White House would prefer, lets say, that they dont get that chance.
But why bother with a subpoena now? House Democrats made it clear yesterday that they wont take the time to defend subpoenas in court, claiming that Trump was using executive privilege claims as obstruction. That argument implies that Bolton, who got fired by Trump in an acrimonious and public feud, is somehow coordinating with Trump on that alleged scheme. If thats the case and if thats the reason, though, why bother subpoenaing Mulvaney at this late stage, whos so #MAGA that hes doing three jobs or more simultaneously for Trump?
Its almost inexplicable, except to add it to House Democrats upcoming obstruction article in their impeachment bill. Mulvaneys claim on executive privilege over a public statement might be weak, but its not non-existent. Its a judicable claim even if the White House might end up losing the argument in the end, and the Trump administration is just as likely to fight it out to the end of the string as they were with Bolton. Maybe more so.
It could also be that House Democrats, looking at the depositions theyve already taken from Fiona Hill and Tim Morrison, probably realize that Bolton wont have anything to add to the quid pro quo argument. Mulvaney actually might but they dont have any time left to force his testimony. All that leaves Adam Schiff & Co is to put Mulvaneys subpoena and refusal on the record for show while they rush to their artificial deadline based on their own electoral-calendar needs. Its all just end-game posturing at this point.