US lawmakers are investigating whether the White House tried to pressure the Ukrainian government to dig up dirt on top Democrat Joe Biden.
Three US House of Representatives panels are looking into the alleged efforts by US President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
The Democratic committee chairmen have requested records from the White House and Department of State.
The White House has not yet commented on the investigation.
The Democratic-controlled intelligence, foreign affairs and oversight committees launched the inquiry on Monday into possible “politically motivated investigations under the guise of anti-corruption activity”.
Their joint statement said they had “demanded records relating to President Trump’s and Mr Giuliani’s attempts to manipulate the Ukrainian justice system to benefit the President’s re-election campaign and target a possible political opponent”.
Mr Giuliani has previously acknowledged lobbying a Ukrainian official about Mr Biden.
The president’s attorney last month told US media he had asked a Ukrainian presidential representative to look into claims that Mr Biden, while US vice-president, had sought to help his son Hunter Biden’s business interests in the former Soviet republic.
In May, Ukraine’s prosecutor general said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Joe or Hunter Biden.
