A New Scandal? White House Defies Congressional Subpoena, Keeps Top Obama Aide from Testifying

July 16, 2014 By Greg Campbell

 

 SHARES

Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter

As the Obama administration remains mired in countless scandals of varying severities, one would presume they would try to fly below the radar of the American people who have grown alarmed at the increasingly unilateral direction presidency is taken in recent years.

 

While President Obama operates outside the lawn repeatedly, apparently, the law holds no relevance for his subordinates either as the White House has refused to produce a top Obama aide who has been subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee.

 

The White House argues that David Simas, a top political director for President Obama, is immune from being forced to testify before the House Oversight Committee even though the committee is currently investigating the House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, an office which Simas directs.

 

The committee is investigating the possibility of taxpayer money being used by the office to support Democrat candidates during elections, including this year’s midterm elections. Democrats have kept with their go-to reaction by claiming that Republicans are making much ado about nothing.

 

However, this reaction becomes less and less meaningful as time goes on as Democrats have continually maintained that there were no scandals to be found in Benghazi, NSA, AP, Fast and Furious, IRS and a litany of other outrages perpetrated by this administration.

 

White House counsel Neil Eggleston said in a letter to Chairman Issa that the subpoena for Simas,

 

“threatens longstanding interests of the executive branch in preserving the president’s independence and autonomy, as well as his ability to obtain candid advice and counsel to aid him in the discharge of his duties.”

 

Issa was not swayed and informed Eggleston, “Mr. Simas is still under subpoena and is expected to appear at tomorrow’s hearing.”

 

Earlier this week, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest boldly doubled-down and claimed on CNN that this administration is “the most transparent administration in history,” an oft-repeated campaign promise that has left many Obama supporters feeling cheated as this administration has operated with a level of secrecy that has been unprecedented in American history while maintaining a fiercely hostile relationship with the free press and any outlets that challenge the official Obama Administration narratives.  

 

This latest dust-up has the early signs of a scandal as Obama has been criticized for his continued willingness to simply disregard laws he does not favor and create and implement laws that he does. Many have taken to label this presidency as the “imperial presidency” for the monarchial fashion in which this regime rules.

 

This latest refusal to produce a public official to a Congressional committee is likely to only strengthen Obama critics’ arguments.