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| Impeachment calls grow amid revelation Trump ordered block on Ukraine aid | Impeachment calls grow amid revelation Trump ordered block on Ukraine aid |
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| Donald Trump ordered his staff to withhold nearly $400m in aid to Ukraine days before he repeatedly pressured the country’s president to investigate a political rival, it emerged on Monday night. | Donald Trump ordered his staff to withhold nearly $400m in aid to Ukraine days before he repeatedly pressured the country’s president to investigate a political rival, it emerged on Monday night. |
| Why is the Trump-Ukraine whistleblower scandal so serious? | Why is the Trump-Ukraine whistleblower scandal so serious? |
| The revelation, which Trump confirmed on Tuesday, has further intensified demands among Democrats for the president to be impeached. | |
| As news of Trump’s personal intervention broke, an influential group of seven Democrats, all first-term members of Congress with military or national security backgrounds, said that “if true”, the president’s actions regarding Ukraine, Joe Biden and the former vice-president’s son Hunter would “represent an impeachable offense”. | As news of Trump’s personal intervention broke, an influential group of seven Democrats, all first-term members of Congress with military or national security backgrounds, said that “if true”, the president’s actions regarding Ukraine, Joe Biden and the former vice-president’s son Hunter would “represent an impeachable offense”. |
| On Tuesday the Connecticut senator Chris Murphy, a member of the foreign relations committee, also backed impeachment for the first time. | On Tuesday the Connecticut senator Chris Murphy, a member of the foreign relations committee, also backed impeachment for the first time. |
| The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who has previously resisted calls to begin impeachment proceedings, will hold meetings with key committee chairs on Tuesday. | The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, who has previously resisted calls to begin impeachment proceedings, will hold meetings with key committee chairs on Tuesday. |
| Trump addressed the United Nations general assembly in New York but his remarks – which he has said will include a focus on Iran – were overshadowed by the roiling scandal. | |
| If a Republican ever did what Joe Biden did … they’d be getting the electric chair by right | If a Republican ever did what Joe Biden did … they’d be getting the electric chair by right |
| The Washington Post first reported Trump’s freezing of $391m in aid to Ukraine. Trump ordered his acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, it said, to suspend the payment “at least a week” before the 25 July call with Volodymyr Zelenskiy in which he reportedly asked the Ukrainian leader to investigate the Bidens – eight times, according to the Wall Street Journal. | The Washington Post first reported Trump’s freezing of $391m in aid to Ukraine. Trump ordered his acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, it said, to suspend the payment “at least a week” before the 25 July call with Volodymyr Zelenskiy in which he reportedly asked the Ukrainian leader to investigate the Bidens – eight times, according to the Wall Street Journal. |
| Biden is the frontrunner to win the Democratic nomination and take on Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The president has confirmed that he discussed corruption during the call, and said he mentioned Biden, but denies applying pressure. | Biden is the frontrunner to win the Democratic nomination and take on Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The president has confirmed that he discussed corruption during the call, and said he mentioned Biden, but denies applying pressure. |
| Article 1 of the United States constitution gives the House of Representatives the sole power to initiate impeachment and the Senate the sole power to try impeachments of the president. A president can be impeached if they are judged to have committed "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" – although the constitution does not specify what “high crimes and misdemeanors” are. | Article 1 of the United States constitution gives the House of Representatives the sole power to initiate impeachment and the Senate the sole power to try impeachments of the president. A president can be impeached if they are judged to have committed "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors" – although the constitution does not specify what “high crimes and misdemeanors” are. |
| The process starts with the House of Representatives passing articles of impeachment. A simple majority of members need to vote in favour of impeachment for it to pass to the next stage. With a full house, that requires 218 of the 435 representatives to vote. Democrats currently control the house, with 235 representatives. | The process starts with the House of Representatives passing articles of impeachment. A simple majority of members need to vote in favour of impeachment for it to pass to the next stage. With a full house, that requires 218 of the 435 representatives to vote. Democrats currently control the house, with 235 representatives. |
| The chief justice of the United States then presides over the proceedings in the Senate, where the president is tried, with senators acting as the jury. For the president to be found guilty two-thirds of senators must vote against them. Republicans currently control the Senate, with 53 of the 100 senators. | The chief justice of the United States then presides over the proceedings in the Senate, where the president is tried, with senators acting as the jury. For the president to be found guilty two-thirds of senators must vote against them. Republicans currently control the Senate, with 53 of the 100 senators. |
| Three presidents have previously been impeached, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Andrew Johnson in 1868, though neither were removed from office. Richard Nixon was also impeached, but resigned in 1974 before there was a formal vote. | Three presidents have previously been impeached, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Andrew Johnson in 1868, though neither were removed from office. Richard Nixon was also impeached, but resigned in 1974 before there was a formal vote. |
| Martin Belam | Martin Belam |
| He has also said there was no quid pro quo, although at the UN on Monday he told reporters: “If you don’t talk about corruption, why would you give money to a country that you think is corrupt?” | He has also said there was no quid pro quo, although at the UN on Monday he told reporters: “If you don’t talk about corruption, why would you give money to a country that you think is corrupt?” |
| It emerged recently that a US intelligence community whistleblower filed a report after becoming alarmed at Trump’s behaviour in the matter. | It emerged recently that a US intelligence community whistleblower filed a report after becoming alarmed at Trump’s behaviour in the matter. |
| The White House is refusing to release the substance of the whistleblower complaint, setting up a showdown with Congress. | The White House is refusing to release the substance of the whistleblower complaint, setting up a showdown with Congress. |
| The chairs of three House committees are threatening to subpoena Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, if he does not produce information about whether Trump and his personal lawyer, the former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, inappropriately tried to influence the government of Ukraine. | The chairs of three House committees are threatening to subpoena Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state, if he does not produce information about whether Trump and his personal lawyer, the former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, inappropriately tried to influence the government of Ukraine. |
| The committees first asked for the documents two weeks ago. Joseph Maguire, Trump’s acting director of national intelligence, is refusing to release the whistleblower complaint. | The committees first asked for the documents two weeks ago. Joseph Maguire, Trump’s acting director of national intelligence, is refusing to release the whistleblower complaint. |
| Giuliani has admitted asking the Ukrainians to investigate the Bidens. | Giuliani has admitted asking the Ukrainians to investigate the Bidens. |
| Before the Post reported Trump’s orders regarding aid to Ukraine, the president was defiant, lashing out at media coverage of the scandal. | Before the Post reported Trump’s orders regarding aid to Ukraine, the president was defiant, lashing out at media coverage of the scandal. |
| “Joe Biden and his son are corrupt, but the fake news doesn’t want to report it because they’re Democrats,” Trump said. | “Joe Biden and his son are corrupt, but the fake news doesn’t want to report it because they’re Democrats,” Trump said. |
| On 25 July the US president, Donald Trump, called Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy. During the course of the call he reportedly asked the Ukrainian leader eight times to investigate former vice-president Joe Biden and Biden’s son Hunter for corruption. It is additionally reported that Trump ordered his staff to withhold nearly $400m in aid to Ukraine days before the call took place. | On 25 July the US president, Donald Trump, called Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskiy. During the course of the call he reportedly asked the Ukrainian leader eight times to investigate former vice-president Joe Biden and Biden’s son Hunter for corruption. It is additionally reported that Trump ordered his staff to withhold nearly $400m in aid to Ukraine days before the call took place. |
| Biden is one of the frontrunners to win the Democratic nomination and take on Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Trump confirmed he discussed the Bidens with Zelenskiy, and accused the pair – without offering any evidence – of corruption. | Biden is one of the frontrunners to win the Democratic nomination and take on Trump in the 2020 presidential election. Trump confirmed he discussed the Bidens with Zelenskiy, and accused the pair – without offering any evidence – of corruption. |
| A US intelligence community whistleblower filed a report after becoming alarmed at Trump’s behaviour in the matter. The White House is refusing to release the substance of the whistleblower complaint, setting up a confrontation with Congress over the release of information. Complaints of this nature are usually reported to Congress within seven days. | A US intelligence community whistleblower filed a report after becoming alarmed at Trump’s behaviour in the matter. The White House is refusing to release the substance of the whistleblower complaint, setting up a confrontation with Congress over the release of information. Complaints of this nature are usually reported to Congress within seven days. |
| Trump’s personal lawyer, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, has admitted asking the Ukrainians to investigate the Bidens. It is illegal for a political campaign to accept a “thing of value” from a foreign government. Democrats say an investigation into a political opponent – for which Trump appears to have been pushing – would amount to a thing of value. | Trump’s personal lawyer, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, has admitted asking the Ukrainians to investigate the Bidens. It is illegal for a political campaign to accept a “thing of value” from a foreign government. Democrats say an investigation into a political opponent – for which Trump appears to have been pushing – would amount to a thing of value. |
| “If a Republican ever did what Joe Biden did, if a Republican ever said what Joe Biden said, they’d be getting the electric chair by right. Look at the double standards … You’ve got a lot of crooked journalists. You’re crooked as hell.” | “If a Republican ever did what Joe Biden did, if a Republican ever said what Joe Biden said, they’d be getting the electric chair by right. Look at the double standards … You’ve got a lot of crooked journalists. You’re crooked as hell.” |
| There is no evidence of corruption in the Ukraine by either Joe or Hunter Biden. | There is no evidence of corruption in the Ukraine by either Joe or Hunter Biden. |
| The US began providing military aid to Ukraine shortly after Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. With Ukraine’s new president still grappling with separatist rebels in the east, the aid has long been viewed as a measure of Washington’s determination to push back against the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. | The US began providing military aid to Ukraine shortly after Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. With Ukraine’s new president still grappling with separatist rebels in the east, the aid has long been viewed as a measure of Washington’s determination to push back against the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. |
| Our fundamental duty is to make sure we’re doing what we need to do to defend the country | Our fundamental duty is to make sure we’re doing what we need to do to defend the country |
| Trump has denied that any requests for help in procuring damaging information about Biden were tied to the aid freeze. | Trump has denied that any requests for help in procuring damaging information about Biden were tied to the aid freeze. |
| Trump’s vague claims of wrongdoing, echoed by rightwing media, concern Biden’s son, Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. As vice-president, Joe Biden pressured the Ukrainian government to fire its prosecutor general, seen by many as too soft on corruption. Trump has asserted without basis that the prosecutor, who had led an investigation into the company’s owner, “was after” Hunter Biden. | Trump’s vague claims of wrongdoing, echoed by rightwing media, concern Biden’s son, Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company. As vice-president, Joe Biden pressured the Ukrainian government to fire its prosecutor general, seen by many as too soft on corruption. Trump has asserted without basis that the prosecutor, who had led an investigation into the company’s owner, “was after” Hunter Biden. |
| The seven new Democrats, all with military and national security backgrounds, wrote in a Washington Post op-ed: “These allegations are stunning, both in the national security threat they pose and the potential corruption they represent.” | The seven new Democrats, all with military and national security backgrounds, wrote in a Washington Post op-ed: “These allegations are stunning, both in the national security threat they pose and the potential corruption they represent.” |
| The representatives are centrists who won previously Republican-held districts where Trump has been popular, victories key to the Democrats retaking the House last year. They are therefore influential with party leadership. | The representatives are centrists who won previously Republican-held districts where Trump has been popular, victories key to the Democrats retaking the House last year. They are therefore influential with party leadership. |
| The Trump-Ukraine scandal is a taste of how dirty the US elections will get | Richard Wolffe | The Trump-Ukraine scandal is a taste of how dirty the US elections will get | Richard Wolffe |
| “Our fundamental duty is to make sure we’re doing what we need to do to defend the country,” Jason Crow, a Colorado congressman, former army ranger and a co-signatory to the column, told CNN on Monday. | “Our fundamental duty is to make sure we’re doing what we need to do to defend the country,” Jason Crow, a Colorado congressman, former army ranger and a co-signatory to the column, told CNN on Monday. |
| “We need to see the complaint. The intelligence community has to give it out.” | “We need to see the complaint. The intelligence community has to give it out.” |
| In a statement, Murphy said he “had resisted calling for the House to begin impeachment proceedings, choosing instead to allow the House to consider its options free from senatorial advice. | In a statement, Murphy said he “had resisted calling for the House to begin impeachment proceedings, choosing instead to allow the House to consider its options free from senatorial advice. |
| “But circumstances have changed, and the seriousness of the moment requires all of us to speak out in order to preserve our nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” | “But circumstances have changed, and the seriousness of the moment requires all of us to speak out in order to preserve our nation’s commitment to the rule of law.” |
| Another sign of building momentum for impeachment came on Sunday, from the chair of the House intelligence committee, Adam Schiff. He told CNN: “We may very well have crossed the Rubicon here.” | Another sign of building momentum for impeachment came on Sunday, from the chair of the House intelligence committee, Adam Schiff. He told CNN: “We may very well have crossed the Rubicon here.” |
| Schiff’s committee will host Maguire in an open hearing on Thursday. | Schiff’s committee will host Maguire in an open hearing on Thursday. |
| If Democrats do go ahead, there is virtually no prospect of the Republican-controlled Senate convicting and removing the president before the 2020 election. | If Democrats do go ahead, there is virtually no prospect of the Republican-controlled Senate convicting and removing the president before the 2020 election. |
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