The leaders of the Russian investigation, Republican Congressman Mike Conaway of Texas and Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff of California issued a joint statement in a letter that makes it clear that if the White House fails to respond, then "the committee will consider using enforced process to ensure a satisfactory response."
Will White House respond positively to the subpoena threats?
The leaders of the House investigating into possible Russia collusion in 2016 general elections are threatening to summon the White House for records of President Trump’s discussions with James Comey.
On Thursday, Democrats drawn from the two house committees requested the justice department’s Inspector General to scrutinize if attorney general Jeff Sessions violated his recusal from the Russia probe by participating in Comey’s sacking in May.
The House intelligence committee had set June 23 as the deadline for Trump to release any tapes that might be in his possession. A day before the set deadline, Trump tweeted: "With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea...whether there are 'tapes' or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recording."
What is the mystery behind the secretive tapes?
President Donald Trump was the one who first came up with the issue about the likelihood of the tapes after he hastily dismissed Comey in May.
On May 12, the President wrote on Twitter: "[James Comey] better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!" On the 8th of June, James Comey told the Congress that he had met Trump on frequent occasions and believed in the presence of the tapes. He told the Senate Intelligence Committee: "I have seen the tweet about tapes." He added: "I believe there are tapes."
In his testimony before the Congress, Comey informed the Senate about his perception with regard to his sacking and its connection into probable ties between Trump’s campaign team and Russia.
Comey said that the endeavor was to change the way the Russia’s probe was being handled.
In an earlier appearance before the Senate intelligence committee, Sessions maintained that he had not violated his choice to recuse himself from any probe and investigations relating to Russia collusion in 2016 elections.
