Washington (CNN) The Justice Department has informed the House Oversight Committee that it will not comply with a subpoena demanding the appearance of an official as part of the Democrats' probe into the addition of a citizenship question on the census, according to a letter obtained by CNN. But Cummings, citing committee rules, denied that demand and said he would allow a department attorney to sit in a separate room during the deposition, which was scheduled for Thursday. The Justice Department said that offer was insufficient. "In keeping with longstanding Department of Justice policy, neither Mr. Gore nor anyone else in the Department will be forced to testify in their capacity as a DOJ official on DOJ matters without DOJ counsel," Justice Department spokesperson Kerri Kupec said. Speaking on background, a Justice Department official added Gore has Attorney General William Barr's "unqualified support in this matter."

Source: CNN April 24, 2019 15:51 UTC