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Trump's intelligence chief to testify to Congress over whistleblower complaint – live Whistleblower accuses Trump of soliciting foreign aid to meddle in 2020 election – live
(32 minutes later)
The whistleblower’s account of Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president aligns with many of the details included in the White House memo on the leaders’ conversation.
Namely, the whistleblower writes that Trump “pressured” Volodymyr Zelenskiy to “initiate or continue an investigation into the activities of former Vice President Joseph Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.”
The whistleblower added that Trump urged Zelenskiy to locate servers used by he Democratic National Committee and confer with his personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, and the attorney general, William Barr.
The whistleblower writes that Trump used his call with the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to “advance his personal interests.”
“Multiple White House officials with direct knowledge of the call informed me that, after an initial exchange of pleasantries, the President used the remainder of the call to advance his personal interests,” the whistleblower writes.
“Namely, he sought to pressure the Ukrainian leader to take actions to help the President’s 2020 reelection bid.”
The whistleblower said in the complaint that Trump has used the weight of his office to request that foreign powers interfere in the 2020 election.
“In the course of my official duties, I have received information from multiple U.S. Government officials that the President of the United States is using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the 2020 U.S. election,” the whistleblower writes.
The whistleblower notes that while the person did not witness most of the events described, they were consistently recounted by multiple people, and those accounts fit a fact pattern that has also been reported publicly.
The whistleblower writes in the letter that Trump has used the presidency to pressure foreign leaders to meddle in the 2020 election.
The whistleblower argues that these efforts “pose risks to U.S. national security” and represent a serious abuse of power.
The House intelligence committee has posted the complaint written by the whistleblower here. The whistleblower’s seven-page, unclassified letter can be read in its entirety, but an attached appendix includes redactions.
Trump has already sent about three dozen tweets and retweets this morning claiming that Democrats’ impeachment inquiry is a “scam” and that the White House memo on his Ukraine call was not at all incriminating.
So, you know, he’s clearly not nervous about today’s hearing ...
So bad for our Country! https://t.co/BzICeKn8hY
Maguire will testify publicly before the House intelligence committee in about 30 minutes and later speak privately to the Senate intelligence committee, where he will be joined by intelligence community inspector general Michael Atkinson.Maguire will testify publicly before the House intelligence committee in about 30 minutes and later speak privately to the Senate intelligence committee, where he will be joined by intelligence community inspector general Michael Atkinson.
The intelligence committees received a partial, classified version of the whistleblower complaint yesterday, leading to complaints from some Democrats that they had not been provided enough information.The intelligence committees received a partial, classified version of the whistleblower complaint yesterday, leading to complaints from some Democrats that they had not been provided enough information.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement this morning that it has provided lawmakers with a declassified version of the report to use in today’s hearing.The Office of the Director of National Intelligence said in a statement this morning that it has provided lawmakers with a declassified version of the report to use in today’s hearing.
“Consistent with the accommodations process, last night ODNI formally transmitted a properly classified version of the complaint to the congressional intelligence committees,” the statement read. “We also provided Congress a redacted version of the complaint that Members can bring to an open hearing. ODNI is not planning to release the redacted version of the complaint at this time.”“Consistent with the accommodations process, last night ODNI formally transmitted a properly classified version of the complaint to the congressional intelligence committees,” the statement read. “We also provided Congress a redacted version of the complaint that Members can bring to an open hearing. ODNI is not planning to release the redacted version of the complaint at this time.”
Trump is offering some counterprogramming to Maguire’s hearing this morning by disparaging Democrats’ impeachment inquiry and retweeting allies who have tried to minimize the White House memo on the president’s call with the leader of Ukraine.Trump is offering some counterprogramming to Maguire’s hearing this morning by disparaging Democrats’ impeachment inquiry and retweeting allies who have tried to minimize the White House memo on the president’s call with the leader of Ukraine.
THE GREATEST SCAM IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS!THE GREATEST SCAM IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN POLITICS!
Thank you Jim! https://t.co/9ldr6iSdplThank you Jim! https://t.co/9ldr6iSdpl
So cute! Her father is under siege, for no reason, since his first day in office! https://t.co/8wtB3H4fthSo cute! Her father is under siege, for no reason, since his first day in office! https://t.co/8wtB3H4fth
The president and his allies have argued that the memo showed no direct quid pro quo in the conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but Democrats note the document (which is not a verbatim transcript) of the call includes Trump asking for a “favor” after the Ukrainian leader mentions military aid to his country.The president and his allies have argued that the memo showed no direct quid pro quo in the conversation with Volodymyr Zelenskiy, but Democrats note the document (which is not a verbatim transcript) of the call includes Trump asking for a “favor” after the Ukrainian leader mentions military aid to his country.
Good morning, live blog readers!Good morning, live blog readers!
It’s like Mueller day all over again. The acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, is expected on Capitol Hill at 9am EST to testify about the whistleblower complaint that Donald Trump improperly pressured the president of Ukraine to open an investigation into Joe Biden.It’s like Mueller day all over again. The acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, is expected on Capitol Hill at 9am EST to testify about the whistleblower complaint that Donald Trump improperly pressured the president of Ukraine to open an investigation into Joe Biden.
Maguire will almost certainly be pushed for more details on the whistleblower complaint and his handling of it, not to mention the Washington Post report that he threatened to resign if the White House tried to prevent him from testifying freely today. (Maguire has denied the report.)Maguire will almost certainly be pushed for more details on the whistleblower complaint and his handling of it, not to mention the Washington Post report that he threatened to resign if the White House tried to prevent him from testifying freely today. (Maguire has denied the report.)
The hearing will probably be the largest hurdle of Maguire’s tenure so far – although that isn’t saying much because he only took over the job last month, following the resignation of Dan Coats.The hearing will probably be the largest hurdle of Maguire’s tenure so far – although that isn’t saying much because he only took over the job last month, following the resignation of Dan Coats.
But the answers the acting director provides could provide a road map for Democrats as they weigh next steps in their formal impeachment inquiry, making today’s hearing a consequential development in what will likely be a long process.But the answers the acting director provides could provide a road map for Democrats as they weigh next steps in their formal impeachment inquiry, making today’s hearing a consequential development in what will likely be a long process.
Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on today:Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on today:
Trump will speak at a morning fundraiser in New York before returning to Washington.Trump will speak at a morning fundraiser in New York before returning to Washington.
Nancy Pelosi will hold her weekly press conference at 10.45am, where the Hose speaker will certainly be pressed for more details on her caucus’ impeachment inquiry.Nancy Pelosi will hold her weekly press conference at 10.45am, where the Hose speaker will certainly be pressed for more details on her caucus’ impeachment inquiry.
Jim Mattis, Trump’s former defense secretary, is speaking at the Atlantic Festival at 11.30am.Jim Mattis, Trump’s former defense secretary, is speaking at the Atlantic Festival at 11.30am.
That’s all still coming up, so stay tuned.That’s all still coming up, so stay tuned.