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| Nancy Pelosi expected to announce formal impeachment inquiry into Trump – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| House Democrats have now gathered for their caucus meeting to discuss impeachment, and Nancy Pelosi will deliver a statement at 5 pm EST on the matter. | |
| But Pelosi is not expected to hold a press conference after making the statement, so she is unlikely to take questions on her position. | |
| Nancy Pelosi recently concluded a closed-door meeting with the Democratic chairs of six House committees: judiciary, intelligence, oversight, ways and means, financial services and foreign affairs. | |
| It appeared that the House speaker endorsed each of the committees continuing their investigations of Trump to determine whether to file articles of impeachment against the president, according to a CNN reporter. | |
| NEW: Emerging from Pelosi’s office, House Ways and Ways Chairman Richard Neal says each of the six chairmen will continue to investigate under the umbrella of an impeachment inquiry. “The other committees are going to act under the umbrella of formal inquiry,” Neal told us | |
| So what Pelosi seems to be endorsing is essentially what already has been happening - but now she’s signaling she’s supportive of calling it impeachment inquiry with the goal to determine whether to impeach TrumpNeal for one said he would continue his effort to get Trump taxes | |
| Joe Biden made a point in his statement on the Ukraine controversy to emphasize that Congress should only launch impeachment proceedings if Trump continues to obstruct House Democrats’ investigations. | |
| “The president should stop stonewalling this investigation and all the other investigations of his wrongdoing,” Biden said. “Using its full Constitutional authority, Congress should demand the information it has a legal right to receive. | |
| “And if the President does not comply — if he continues to obstruct Congress and flout the law — Donald Trump will leave Congress no choice but to initiate impeachment.” | |
| This is a step short of calling for immediately initiating impeachment, and although it seems virtually certain that Trump will continue to obstruct the investigations, it will be interesting to see if Biden then forcefully comes out to demand that House Democrats follow through on his request. | |
| Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer have just confirmed that the House will vote on a resolution tomorrow condemning Trump’s efforts to block the release of a whistleblower complaint about his call with the Ukrainian president. | |
| The House speaker and majority leader said in a statement: “Allegations that the President of the United States sought to enlist a foreign government to interfere in our democratic process by investigating one of his political rivals – and may have used the withholding of Congressionally-appropriated foreign assistance days earlier as intimidation – are deeply alarming. ... | |
| “On Wednesday, the House will vote on a resolution making it clear Congress’s disapproval of the Administration’s effort to block the release of the complaint and the need to protect the whistleblower. | |
| “This is not a partisan matter, it’s about the integrity of our democracy, respect for the rule of law and defending our Constitution. We hope that all Members of the House – Democrats and Republicans alike – will join in upholding the rule of law and oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution as Representatives of the American people.” | |
| Reporters are already gathering en masse outside Nancy Pelosi’s office on Capitol Hill, hoping to get early confirmation that the House speaker is indeed launching a formal impeachment inquiry. | Reporters are already gathering en masse outside Nancy Pelosi’s office on Capitol Hill, hoping to get early confirmation that the House speaker is indeed launching a formal impeachment inquiry. |
| The stakeout outside pelosi’s office right now. And so it begins.... pic.twitter.com/bgZShIFmPC | The stakeout outside pelosi’s office right now. And so it begins.... pic.twitter.com/bgZShIFmPC |
| Joe Biden has just finished issuing his statement on the Ukraine controversy, and, as expected, he said Congress would have “no choice” but to initiate impeachment proceedings if Trump continued to obstruct their investigations. | Joe Biden has just finished issuing his statement on the Ukraine controversy, and, as expected, he said Congress would have “no choice” but to initiate impeachment proceedings if Trump continued to obstruct their investigations. |
| Joe Biden: "We have a president who believes there is no limit to his power. We have a president who believes he can do anything and get away with it. We have a president who believes he is above the law." https://t.co/bWmdwHRo4B pic.twitter.com/Mfa9YrzFPn | Joe Biden: "We have a president who believes there is no limit to his power. We have a president who believes he can do anything and get away with it. We have a president who believes he is above the law." https://t.co/bWmdwHRo4B pic.twitter.com/Mfa9YrzFPn |
| Biden criticized the “baseless” corruption claims Trump has leveled against him, but he emphasized the true danger in the president’s actions were to the nation as a whole. | Biden criticized the “baseless” corruption claims Trump has leveled against him, but he emphasized the true danger in the president’s actions were to the nation as a whole. |
| “I can take the political attacks. They’ll come and they’ll go, and in time they’ll soon be forgotten,” the former vice president said. “But if we allow a president to get away with shredding the United States constitution, that will last forever.” | “I can take the political attacks. They’ll come and they’ll go, and in time they’ll soon be forgotten,” the former vice president said. “But if we allow a president to get away with shredding the United States constitution, that will last forever.” |
| Biden concluded by saying that if Trump did not comply with the congressional requests, lawmakers would have “no choice” but to initiate impeachment proceedings. | Biden concluded by saying that if Trump did not comply with the congressional requests, lawmakers would have “no choice” but to initiate impeachment proceedings. |
| “That would be a tragedy, but a tragedy of his own making,” Biden said. “We know who Donald Trump is. It is time to let the world know who we are.” | “That would be a tragedy, but a tragedy of his own making,” Biden said. “We know who Donald Trump is. It is time to let the world know who we are.” |
| The chair of the progressive group Democracy for America called on Nancy Pelosi to cancel the House recess next week and schedule an immediate vote on articles of impeachment against Trump. | The chair of the progressive group Democracy for America called on Nancy Pelosi to cancel the House recess next week and schedule an immediate vote on articles of impeachment against Trump. |
| The chair, Charles Chamberlain, said in a statement: “Donald Trump has committed clearly impeachable offenses and admitted to them in public. No further investigation is needed, and Trump’s brazenly corrupt acts in the White House make it clear that he’s an on-going threat to our national security. | The chair, Charles Chamberlain, said in a statement: “Donald Trump has committed clearly impeachable offenses and admitted to them in public. No further investigation is needed, and Trump’s brazenly corrupt acts in the White House make it clear that he’s an on-going threat to our national security. |
| “We urge Speaker Pelosi to cancel next week’s recess, and schedule a vote on Articles of Impeachment immediately.” | “We urge Speaker Pelosi to cancel next week’s recess, and schedule a vote on Articles of Impeachment immediately.” |
| 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. | 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. | "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. | 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! | 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. | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | The Senate intelligence committee is reportedly seeking its own interview with the whistleblower who kicked off the Ukraine controversy. |
| Yahoo News reports: | 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. | 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. | ‘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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |