Pence declines to share documents with House impeachment inquiry – counsel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on Tuesday they will not cooperate with a U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry into Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival.

The decision to defy congressional subpoenas opens the two men to possible contempt of Congress charges and illustrates Republican Trump's determination to stonewall the Democratic-led impeachment effort, which threatens to consume his presidency.

The refusal to cooperate could be considered as evidence of obstruction of justice, which would substantiate suspicions about Trump's misconduct, according to an official working on the inquiry who communicated on condition of anonymity.