WASHINGTON In President Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial, his lawyers seemingly reversed their position on whether its OK for Democrats to sue the administration over a subpoena.

Last year, House Democrats issued dozens of formal legal requests for documents and testimony from the Trump administration, and in a few cases they filed lawsuits after the administration refused to comply. The presidents counsel has argued that theres no constitutional or statutory basis for Congress to ask courts to enforce subpoenas.

Democrats have also issued several subpoenas as part of their investigation into the presidents Ukraine scandal, but instead of suing the administration for its blanket refusal to comply, they impeached the president for obstruction of Congress in addition to abuse of power.

In the Senate trial this week, Trumps lawyers are now arguing that Democrats should have gone to court rather than impeach the president.

If there is a dispute between the peoples House and the president of the United States over the availability of documents or witnesses and there is in each and every administration then go to court, Ken Starr, a guest lecturer for Trumps legal defense, said Monday, expanding on an argument the presidents team presented in its initial written response to the articles of impeachment last week.

It really is as simple as that. I dont need to belabor the point, Starr said, before repeating go to court two more times.