US Energy Secretary WILL NOT Participate in Impeachment Investigations

Energy Secretary Rick Perry is reportedly not willing to participate in a closed-door deposition with impeachment investigators, but would consider testifying in an open hearing.

Department of Energy spokesperson said: "The Secretary will not partake in a secret star chamber inquisition where agency counsel is forbidden to be present."

An official statement isseued Friday added: "If the committee is interested in conducting a serious proceeding they are welcome to send for the Secretary's consideration an invitation to participate in an open hearing where the Department's counsel can be present and the American people can witness."

Earlier, Perry was asked to appear before the three committees conducting the impeachment inquiry, amid white house insistence not to cooperate via any official in the ongoing investigations.

According to CNN, Perry, who plans to leave his post at year's end, had been under scrutiny over his role in the Trump administration's dealings with Ukraine.

A whistleblower complaint about the content of a presidential call which took place in July 25th between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, has prompted the House impeachment inquiry.

Democrats are investigating whether Trump abused his official powers "to solicit interference" from Ukraine in the upcoming 2020 election, and that the White House took steps to cover it up. Trump has denied doing anything improper.

Ealier, a White House-released rough transcript of a July 25 call showed that Trump had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden, who had been on a board of a Ukrainian natural gas company.

In a past hearing, Perry was described by US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland as one of the "three amigos" leading US relations with Ukraine. Perry has met with Zelensky atleast three times while in office — including when he replaced Vice President Mike Pence in leading a US delegation to Zelensky's inauguration in May.