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| Pelosi to reportedly announce Trump impeachment inquiry – live | Pelosi to reportedly announce Trump impeachment inquiry – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| A co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus confirmed that House Democrats are unlikely to abandon their impeachment demands, even if Trump releases the transcript from his call with the Ukrainian president. | |
| "It was never about the transcript. I think we need to get off the transcript," CPC co-chair @RepJayapal said just now, when asked if it could change her mind about impeachment. | |
| In his latest tweet, Trump accused Democrats of being fixated on impeachment, to the detriment of their constituents. | |
| The Democrats are so focused on hurting the Republican Party and the President that they are unable to get anything done because of it, including legislation on gun safety, lowering of prescription drug prices, infrastructure, etc. So bad for our Country! | |
| This charge seems a bit hypocritical, particularly on the issue of guns. Since last month’s three mass shootings that left dozens dead, Trump has dragged his feet on specifying what type of gun legislation he would support, even though Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said he won’t move forward without the president’s endorsement. | |
| Meanwhile, House Democrats have repeatedly held hearings on gun control and urged McConnell to take up a background checks bill they passed earlier this year. | |
| Nancy Pelosi said at the Atlantic Festival that Trump called her earlier today to discuss gun legislation but that the conversation veered into “other things.” The House speaker would not clarify what those “other things” were. | |
| Nancy Pelosi clarified in her appearance at the Atlantic Festival that she did not consider “quid pro quo” to be the bar when it came to Trump allegedly pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden. | |
| The House speaker argued that the request on its own constituted incredibly problematic behavior for a president. | |
| Big takeaway from Pelosi's Atlantic Q&A was that she felt that quid-pro-quo is not the bar to meet on the Ukraine scandal. She said that asking for foreign help to dig up dirt on domestic political opponent was her bar -- regardless of whether aid was part of the equation | |
| Trump has repeatedly emphasized in his comments to reporters that there was “no quid pro quo” in his conversation with the Ukrainian president. | |
| But if the transcript of the call reveals he did bring up Biden, as Trump had previously confirmed, that could be enough in the speaker’s mind to merit further investigation. | |
| The Senate intelligence committee is reportedly seeking its own interview with the whistleblower who kicked off the Ukraine controversy. | |
| Yahoo News reports: | |
| A letter seeking to question the still-anonymous whistleblower was sent Tuesday to Andrew Bakaj, the lawyer who represents the official. It was signed by committee chair Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., and Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. — signifying that the panel is pursuing the politically explosive issue on a bipartisan basis. | |
| ‘In order to ascertain the appropriate path forward for your client while protecting your client’s privacy, we are writing to request that you make your client available for a closed bipartisan interview with Committee counsel no later than Friday, September 27, 2019, in a mutually agreeable secure location,’ the letter reads. | |
| Members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a moderate group of House Democrats, are announcing their support for impeachment – a development that underscores how widespread these calls have become in the caucus. | |
| Constitution to levy formal charges against him.This is a very serious step, but the President’s continuing misconduct requires that Congress uphold our Constitution and the laws of the land. No one, not even the President, is above the law. | |
| Similar to how a select committee was established during Watergate, the Speaker should appoint a bipartisan select committee to immediately investigate abuse of executive power. We must uncover all the facts and provide answers to the American people. | |
| But the call for a select committee on impeachment is already being met with pushback from some House Democrats. | |
| Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned in a tweet earlier today that such a move would hinder the investigation and create tension with the panels already probing the president’s actions, namely the House judiciary committee. | |
| Nancy Pelosi appeared to hint at her leanings on impeachment when she told the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, “As soon as we have the facts, we’re ready. Now we have the facts. We’re ready.” | Nancy Pelosi appeared to hint at her leanings on impeachment when she told the Atlantic’s Jeffrey Goldberg, “As soon as we have the facts, we’re ready. Now we have the facts. We’re ready.” |
| The House speaker then pivoted to reiterating that she would make a statement on her position later today, after meeting with her caucus, but the comment seemed to indicate she was supportive of launching an inquiry. | The House speaker then pivoted to reiterating that she would make a statement on her position later today, after meeting with her caucus, but the comment seemed to indicate she was supportive of launching an inquiry. |
| Pelosi has previously been hesitant to back impeachment proceedings, arguing that Democrats needed to have the best possible case before moving forward. She now apparently thinks that they do. | Pelosi has previously been hesitant to back impeachment proceedings, arguing that Democrats needed to have the best possible case before moving forward. She now apparently thinks that they do. |
| Nancy Pelosi intends to announce a formal impeachment inquiry against Trump later today, according to the Washington Post. | Nancy Pelosi intends to announce a formal impeachment inquiry against Trump later today, according to the Washington Post. |
| The Post reports: | The Post reports: |
| The announcement later Tuesday from Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) comes amid reports that President Trump may have pressured a foreign leader to investigate former vice president and potential 2020 campaign rival Joe Biden and his family. | The announcement later Tuesday from Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) comes amid reports that President Trump may have pressured a foreign leader to investigate former vice president and potential 2020 campaign rival Joe Biden and his family. |
| A growing number of House Democrats are backing an impeachment inquiry as momentum shifts in the Democratic caucus. | A growing number of House Democrats are backing an impeachment inquiry as momentum shifts in the Democratic caucus. |
| Democratic officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly, said she would back the step. | Democratic officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak frankly, said she would back the step. |
| Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, said the whistleblower who first brought the Ukraine call into the news is open to testifying before Congress. | Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, said the whistleblower who first brought the Ukraine call into the news is open to testifying before Congress. |
| But the California Democrat added that the whistleblower is conferring with acting director of national intelligence on how to testify. | But the California Democrat added that the whistleblower is conferring with acting director of national intelligence on how to testify. |
| We have been informed by the whistleblower’s counsel that their client would like to speak to our committee and has requested guidance from the Acting DNI as to how to do so.We‘re in touch with counsel and look forward to the whistleblower’s testimony as soon as this week. | We have been informed by the whistleblower’s counsel that their client would like to speak to our committee and has requested guidance from the Acting DNI as to how to do so.We‘re in touch with counsel and look forward to the whistleblower’s testimony as soon as this week. |
| Nancy Pelosi similarly just confirmed, while speaking at the Atlantic Festival, that Trump releasing the transcript from the Ukraine call would not satisfy Democrats’ investigation demands. | Nancy Pelosi similarly just confirmed, while speaking at the Atlantic Festival, that Trump releasing the transcript from the Ukraine call would not satisfy Democrats’ investigation demands. |
| Nancy Pelosi has appeared at the Atlantic Festival, but the House speaker is still clearly hesitant to invoke the i-word with Trump. | Nancy Pelosi has appeared at the Atlantic Festival, but the House speaker is still clearly hesitant to invoke the i-word with Trump. |
| She said she has tried to “avoid” an impeachment inquiry because it’s a “divisive” issue. She would only say that, if Trump did pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden, then he was “wrong.” | She said she has tried to “avoid” an impeachment inquiry because it’s a “divisive” issue. She would only say that, if Trump did pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden, then he was “wrong.” |
| The California Democrat added to applause from the audience: “The president is making lawlessness a virtue.” | The California Democrat added to applause from the audience: “The president is making lawlessness a virtue.” |
| The release of the Ukraine call transcript is unlikely to quell Democrats’ demands to launch an impeachment inquiry, given that they have also insisted on getting access to the initial whistleblower complaint that kicked off the controversy. | The release of the Ukraine call transcript is unlikely to quell Democrats’ demands to launch an impeachment inquiry, given that they have also insisted on getting access to the initial whistleblower complaint that kicked off the controversy. |
| Unless Trump also hands over that information, which seems unlikely, House Democrats will likely say that an inquiry is still necessary to get to the bottom of the controversy. | Unless Trump also hands over that information, which seems unlikely, House Democrats will likely say that an inquiry is still necessary to get to the bottom of the controversy. |
| Trump, who is attending the UN General Assembly in New York, has just announced on Twitter that he has authorized the release of the transcript from his phone call with the Ukrainian president. | Trump, who is attending the UN General Assembly in New York, has just announced on Twitter that he has authorized the release of the transcript from his phone call with the Ukrainian president. |
| ....You will see it was a very friendly and totally appropriate call. No pressure and, unlike Joe Biden and his son, NO quid pro quo! This is nothing more than a continuation of the Greatest and most Destructive Witch Hunt of all time! | ....You will see it was a very friendly and totally appropriate call. No pressure and, unlike Joe Biden and his son, NO quid pro quo! This is nothing more than a continuation of the Greatest and most Destructive Witch Hunt of all time! |
| During the phone call, Trump allegedly pressured the Ukrainian president to launch an investigation into Joe Biden, a charge the US president has denied. | During the phone call, Trump allegedly pressured the Ukrainian president to launch an investigation into Joe Biden, a charge the US president has denied. |
| Trump’s reelection campaign is now fundraising off the escalating calls among House Democrats for his impeachment. | Trump’s reelection campaign is now fundraising off the escalating calls among House Democrats for his impeachment. |
| “The Democrats know they have no chance of winning in 2020, so now they are crying, ‘Impeachment!’” Trump’s 2020 campaign wrote in an email to supporters. | “The Democrats know they have no chance of winning in 2020, so now they are crying, ‘Impeachment!’” Trump’s 2020 campaign wrote in an email to supporters. |
| It continued: “There are now over 150 House Democrats who back Impeachment. We CANNOT let these hateful and baseless attacks go on any longer.” | It continued: “There are now over 150 House Democrats who back Impeachment. We CANNOT let these hateful and baseless attacks go on any longer.” |
| The effort to capitalize on Democrats’ demands underscores Nancy Pelosi’s concerns that moving forward with impeachment will spark public opposition and energize the right. | The effort to capitalize on Democrats’ demands underscores Nancy Pelosi’s concerns that moving forward with impeachment will spark public opposition and energize the right. |
| Nancy Pelosi will soon appear at the Atlantic Festival, but the House speaker’s deputy chief of staff also confirmed she would make a statement at 5 p.m. EST after meeting with her caucus. | Nancy Pelosi will soon appear at the Atlantic Festival, but the House speaker’s deputy chief of staff also confirmed she would make a statement at 5 p.m. EST after meeting with her caucus. |
| Speaker Pelosi will make a statement at 5 p.m. following the House Democratic Caucus meeting. Advisory coming... | Speaker Pelosi will make a statement at 5 p.m. following the House Democratic Caucus meeting. Advisory coming... |
| Bernie Sanders, who is campaigning in Iowa today, stopped short of calling for Trump’s impeachment but reiterated his support for launching an inquiry. | Bernie Sanders, who is campaigning in Iowa today, stopped short of calling for Trump’s impeachment but reiterated his support for launching an inquiry. |
| "Enough is enough."“I hope very much that the Judiciary Committee will go forward with an impeachment inquiry," Bernie Sanders says. https://t.co/QhYtn6xtuF pic.twitter.com/euxxWq7Us3 | "Enough is enough."“I hope very much that the Judiciary Committee will go forward with an impeachment inquiry," Bernie Sanders says. https://t.co/QhYtn6xtuF pic.twitter.com/euxxWq7Us3 |
| “Enough is enough,” Sanders said. “And today, I hope very much that the judiciary committee will go forward with an impeachment inquiry.” | “Enough is enough,” Sanders said. “And today, I hope very much that the judiciary committee will go forward with an impeachment inquiry.” |
| The Vermont senator still said impeachment was “likely.” | The Vermont senator still said impeachment was “likely.” |
| House Democrats are reportedly planning to introduce a resolution tomorrow that would condemn Trump for allegedly trying to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden. | House Democrats are reportedly planning to introduce a resolution tomorrow that would condemn Trump for allegedly trying to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden. |
| But the resolution would not call for Trump’s impeachment, an issue that Nancy Pelosi is discussing today with Democratic committee chairs and leaders, per Politico’s congressional bureau chief. | But the resolution would not call for Trump’s impeachment, an issue that Nancy Pelosi is discussing today with Democratic committee chairs and leaders, per Politico’s congressional bureau chief. |
| House Dems are moving toward a vote Wednesday on a resolution condemning Trump's Ukraine call, but it won't call for his impeachment yet, per Dem sources. Impeachment/investigations will be the focus of a Pelosi-Dem cmte chairmen mtg later today, followed by a full Dem Caucus | House Dems are moving toward a vote Wednesday on a resolution condemning Trump's Ukraine call, but it won't call for his impeachment yet, per Dem sources. Impeachment/investigations will be the focus of a Pelosi-Dem cmte chairmen mtg later today, followed by a full Dem Caucus |
| Nancy Pelosi has reportedly been exploring the creation of a select committee to investigate impeachment. | Nancy Pelosi has reportedly been exploring the creation of a select committee to investigate impeachment. |
| The Washington Post reports: | The Washington Post reports: |
| The California Democrat has spoken to key allies in recent days about establishing a special panel rather than leaving the task with the House Judiciary Committee, said several Democratic officials. Nothing has been decided, the individuals cautioned, but some members are expected to publicly endorse the move soon. ... | The California Democrat has spoken to key allies in recent days about establishing a special panel rather than leaving the task with the House Judiciary Committee, said several Democratic officials. Nothing has been decided, the individuals cautioned, but some members are expected to publicly endorse the move soon. ... |
| The creation of a special committee is expected to come up at a series of Democratic meetings planned for Tuesday afternoon, when Pelosi will address her caucus on impeachment for the first time since the news about Trump’s conversations with Ukraine broke. | The creation of a special committee is expected to come up at a series of Democratic meetings planned for Tuesday afternoon, when Pelosi will address her caucus on impeachment for the first time since the news about Trump’s conversations with Ukraine broke. |
| But some members of Pelosi’s caucus, including representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are already pushing back against the possible creation of a select committee. They fear such a move could delay the investigation process and create friction with the committees already probing Trump’s actions. | But some members of Pelosi’s caucus, including representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are already pushing back against the possible creation of a select committee. They fear such a move could delay the investigation process and create friction with the committees already probing Trump’s actions. |
| Yes, this is an emergency. We don’t have the luxury of time w/ another committee.Judiciary has been investigating& putting the pieces together for months. Impeachment belongs there.We must honor jurisdiction, historical precedent,& work done + allow Judiciary to move forward. https://t.co/CM0gXN7T1i | Yes, this is an emergency. We don’t have the luxury of time w/ another committee.Judiciary has been investigating& putting the pieces together for months. Impeachment belongs there.We must honor jurisdiction, historical precedent,& work done + allow Judiciary to move forward. https://t.co/CM0gXN7T1i |