Top Obama Aide Defies Congressional Subpoena, Skips House Hearing

"The purpose of the hearing is to gather facts about the White House Office of Political and Strategic Outreach. I would like to know for the record -- Mr. David Simas, Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach and Assistant to the President is, in fact, not present at the hearing today. Mr. Simas was invited to testify to give Committee members and the American people an opportunity to hear from the Head of an office that has, under several previous administrations, misused government resources for political purposes. Despite being under subpoena, Mr. Simas failed to appear at the hearing on July 16. I gave him a second chance to appear today to fulfill his obligation under a lawful subpoena."