Former Ukraine special representative Volker to front 3 House committees

Former US Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker will appear in front of three Democrat-dominated House committees today as part of an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump.

Volker resigned from his position last Friday after being named in a whistleblower complaint about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. He will face questioning over his involvement in the controversy, which alleges the White House covered up elements of a call made by Trump to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The testimony comes as Democrats in Congress continue to struggle balancing impeachment with other policy priorities ahead of the 2020 election. Even as surveys show 55% of Americans support impeachment, some Democrats in swing districts have refrained from supporting the move—choosing instead to focus on issues such as healthcare and the economy.

It is unclear if the White House will seek to use executive privilege to constrict Volker’s testimony. Nonetheless, the decision to undertake an impeachment investigation, which has already upended the presidential campaigns of both Trump and former vice president Joe Biden, threatens to cause uncertainty in the Democrats’ effort to retain the House. Democrats will return to their districts for a two-week recess next week, which will double as a time to frame the debate over impeachment and gauge constituents’ support of the investigation.