The Senate Judiciary Committee has preapproved subpoenas to force former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and the presidents son Donald Trump Jr. to appear before the panel if they do not accept by Friday evening an invitation to appear next week.
Committee chairman Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said Thursday that Manafort, Trump Jr. and a third invited witness, Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson, have until Friday night to accept the invitation to testify in a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday. If they do not accept, Grassley said, subpoenas would be issued almost immediately.
Weve already authorized the orders, Grassley said, explaining that the committees top Democrat, Dianne Feinstein (Calif.), had also signed off on the orders in advance. She and I dont have to take any action its already been taken.
A member of Manaforts legal team said they are considering the Judiciary Committee request, understanding that they have until Friday afternoon to respond. Previously, a Manafort spokesman said the former Trump campaign chair was cooperating with the Senate and House Intelligence panels and had not decided which committee to respond to first. The lawyer for Trump Jr., Alan Futerfas, did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.