A subpoena is defined as “a writ ordering a person to attend a court.” But apparently that definition is not writ large to everyone. Former White Houser lawyer Don McGahn is the latest Trump official to skip out on a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee. Chairman Jerrold Nadler held the hearings, leaving out an empty chair for its star witness, and explained: “Our subpoenas are not optional.” The question is what the Democrats can and will do in the face of delay tactics, stonewalling, and subpoena subjugation. From AP: McGahn defies subpoena for testimony, faces contempt vote.

+ Here’s the latest on the McGahn no-show.

+ In other stonewalling news, “a federal judge in Washington, D.C. declined to block a House subpoena to President Trump’s accounting firm, Mazars USA, for his financial records on Monday.” From Judge Amit Mehta: “It is simply not fathomable that a Constitution that grants Congress the power to remove a President for reasons including criminal behavior would deny Congress the power to investigate him for unlawful conduct.” The case has been appealed. Next stop, Merrick Garland’s court…

+ Meanwhile, the special counsel’s team is hesitant about Robert Mueller testifying publicly, because “Mueller does not want to appear political after staying behind the scenes for two years.” (There’s still one truth that is self evident: Everything is political.)