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| Graham prepares Trump defence as impeachment fury intensifies | Graham prepares Trump defence as impeachment fury intensifies |
| (30 days later) | |
| Senator Lindsey Graham, once among Donald Trump’s harshest critics, is set to lead the charge to defend him in the court of public opinion as Democrats make the case for impeachment. | Senator Lindsey Graham, once among Donald Trump’s harshest critics, is set to lead the charge to defend him in the court of public opinion as Democrats make the case for impeachment. |
| Trump's Ukraine call sparks new questions over intelligence chief's firing | Trump's Ukraine call sparks new questions over intelligence chief's firing |
| The Republican senator from South Carolina has rejected the allegation that Trump betrayed America’s national security interests by pressing the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to investigate political rival Joe Biden days after freezing some military aid to the country. | The Republican senator from South Carolina has rejected the allegation that Trump betrayed America’s national security interests by pressing the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to investigate political rival Joe Biden days after freezing some military aid to the country. |
| Graham and other allies of the president have sought to fight back by arguing that a whistleblower who raised the alarm was not on the call between Trump and Zelenskiy but based his complaint on officials’ recollections of it. | Graham and other allies of the president have sought to fight back by arguing that a whistleblower who raised the alarm was not on the call between Trump and Zelenskiy but based his complaint on officials’ recollections of it. |
| “In America you can’t even get a parking ticket based on hearsay testimony,” Graham tweeted on Saturday. “But you can impeach a president? I certainly hope not.” | “In America you can’t even get a parking ticket based on hearsay testimony,” Graham tweeted on Saturday. “But you can impeach a president? I certainly hope not.” |
| The senator played golf with Trump, as well as professionals Gary Player and Annika Sörenstam, at the president’s club in Sterling, Virginia on Saturday morning, according to a White House pool report. It seemed likely Trump and Graham had plenty of time to strategise how to reclaim the political narrative. | The senator played golf with Trump, as well as professionals Gary Player and Annika Sörenstam, at the president’s club in Sterling, Virginia on Saturday morning, according to a White House pool report. It seemed likely Trump and Graham had plenty of time to strategise how to reclaim the political narrative. |
| 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 US 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 US Constitution does not specify what “high crimes and misdemeanors” are. |
| The formal process starts with the House of Representatives passing articles of impeachment, the equivalent of congressional charges. | |
| According to arcane Senate rules, after the House notifies the Senate that impeachment managers have been selected, the secretary of the Senate, Julie Adams, tells the House that the Senate is ready to receive the articles. Then impeachment managers appear before the Senate to “exhibit” the articles, and the Senate confirms it will consider the case. | |
| The presiding officer of the Senate notifies the supreme court chief justice, John Roberts, of the impending trial. Roberts arrives in the Senate to administer an oath to members. | |
| The presiding officer will then administer this oath to senators: “I solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald Trump, now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the constitution and laws, so help me God.” | |
| The Senate must vote on a resolution laying out ground rules for the trial including who the key players will be, how long they will get to present their cases and other matters. | |
| After the Senate is “organized”, the rules decree, “a writ of summons shall issue to the person impeached, reciting said articles, and notifying him to appear before the Senate upon a day and at a place to be fixed by the Senate”. A president has never appeared at his own impeachment trial. Trump will be represented by the White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, and his personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, among others. | |
| After the oath, the trial proper will begin. Senators may not speak during the proceedings but may submit written questions. The question of witnesses and other matters would be decided on the fly by majority vote. A time limit for the proceedings will be established in the initial Senate vote. | |
| The senators will then deliberate on the case. In the past this has happened behind closed doors and out of public view. | |
| The senators vote separately on the two articles of impeachment – the first charging Trump with abuse of power, the second charging him with obstruction of Congress. A two-thirds majority of present senators – 67 ayes if everyone votes – on either article would be enough to convict Trump and remove him from office. But that would require about 20 Republicans defections and is unlikely. The more likely outcome is a Trump acquittal, at which point the process is concluded. | |
| Two presidents have previously been impeached, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Andrew Johnson in 1868, though neither was removed from office as a result. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before there was a formal vote to impeach him. | Two presidents have previously been impeached, Bill Clinton in 1998, and Andrew Johnson in 1868, though neither was removed from office as a result. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before there was a formal vote to impeach him. |
| Tom McCarthy in New York | |
| Graham has changed his tune on impeachment. In 1998-99, as a member of the House of Representatives, he helped manage the impeachment of Democratic president Bill Clinton, insisting the process was “about restoring honor and integrity to the office”. | Graham has changed his tune on impeachment. In 1998-99, as a member of the House of Representatives, he helped manage the impeachment of Democratic president Bill Clinton, insisting the process was “about restoring honor and integrity to the office”. |
| But Graham distinguished himself in Trump’s eyes a year ago with his furious defence of Brett Kavanaugh, whose nomination to the supreme court was almost derailed by allegations of sexual assault. | But Graham distinguished himself in Trump’s eyes a year ago with his furious defence of Brett Kavanaugh, whose nomination to the supreme court was almost derailed by allegations of sexual assault. |
| On Friday the senator sent a fundraising email to supporters that said: “I can still remember the exact moment it started, one year ago today … I spoke from the heart against the false and uncorroborated accusations leveled against Brett Kavanaugh for political purposes.” | On Friday the senator sent a fundraising email to supporters that said: “I can still remember the exact moment it started, one year ago today … I spoke from the heart against the false and uncorroborated accusations leveled against Brett Kavanaugh for political purposes.” |
| Graham added: “My remarks on the Democrats’ despicable treatment of Justice Kavanaugh had struck a powerful chord with folks who enthusiastically supported President Trump’s pick to our nation’s highest court.” | Graham added: “My remarks on the Democrats’ despicable treatment of Justice Kavanaugh had struck a powerful chord with folks who enthusiastically supported President Trump’s pick to our nation’s highest court.” |
| You can’t even get a parking ticket based on hearsay testimony. But you can impeach a president? I certainly hope not | You can’t even get a parking ticket based on hearsay testimony. But you can impeach a president? I certainly hope not |
| The email contained a photo of a smiling Graham with a distressed protester in the background, and the caption: “Stand with me against the left’s angry mobs!” | The email contained a photo of a smiling Graham with a distressed protester in the background, and the caption: “Stand with me against the left’s angry mobs!” |
| Graham, who chairs the Senate judiciary committee, will appear on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, along with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, a key figure in the impeachment inquiry given his attempts to pressure Ukraine. | Graham, who chairs the Senate judiciary committee, will appear on CBS’s Face the Nation on Sunday, along with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, a key figure in the impeachment inquiry given his attempts to pressure Ukraine. |
| The New York Post’s PageSix reported that Graham was overheard on a flight coordinating talking points with the White House. | The New York Post’s PageSix reported that Graham was overheard on a flight coordinating talking points with the White House. |
| “We’re told that the South Carolina pol was on a JetBlue flight from Washington DC, to Charleston and was chatting loudly with ‘Jared’ – presumably White House adviser Jared Kushner – before takeoff,” it said. | “We’re told that the South Carolina pol was on a JetBlue flight from Washington DC, to Charleston and was chatting loudly with ‘Jared’ – presumably White House adviser Jared Kushner – before takeoff,” it said. |
| “It was a ‘full-blown, loud conversation’ according to an airborne spy. ‘His phone rang and he answered, “Hey, Jared!” He was … saying he’s going to be on Face the Nation on Sunday. He said, “Listen – this is what I’m going to lay out,”’ we’re told.” | “It was a ‘full-blown, loud conversation’ according to an airborne spy. ‘His phone rang and he answered, “Hey, Jared!” He was … saying he’s going to be on Face the Nation on Sunday. He said, “Listen – this is what I’m going to lay out,”’ we’re told.” |
| In a July 2019 phone call, Trump asked Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to mount an investigation of his potential rival for the White House in the 2020 election, Joe Biden, and son Hunter Biden – and also to investigate a conspiracy theory that Ukraine, instead of Russia, was behind foreign tampering in the 2016 election. | |
| Trump framed the requests as a “favor” after he reminded his counterpart that “the United States has been very, very good to Ukraine”. Overshadowing the conversation was the fact that Trump had recently suspended hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid that Congress had approved for Ukraine to defend itself against Russia . | |
| News of the call emerged in a Washington Post report on 18 September that an internal whistleblower complaint, filed in August, involved “communications between Trump and a foreign leader”. | |
| Trump’s attempted dealings in Ukraine caused a scandal in US diplomatic ranks. The Democrats have obtained text messages between top US envoys in Ukraine establishing that diplomats told Zelenskiy that a White House visit to meet Trump was dependent on him making a public statement vowing to investigate Hunter Biden’s company. | |
| Trump does not dispute public accounts of what he said in the call, as established by the whistleblower’s complaint, released on 26 September, and a call summary released by the White House itself. | |
| But Trump and allies have argued that the conversation – “I’ve given you that, now I need this” – was not actually as transactional as it appears to be. | |
| Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, has pressured Ukraine to smear Biden, and the whistleblower said White House officials had caused records of Trump’s Ukraine call to be moved into a specially restricted computer system. The vice-president, Mike Pence, has acknowledged contacts with Ukrainian officials while claiming to have no knowledge of Trump’s Biden agenda. | |
| On 3 October 2019, Trump even suggested that: “China should start an investigation into the Bidens.” | |
| Unlike when he was a candidate, Trump’s invitations for foreign powers to attack his domestic political opponents now have all the power of the White House behind them. Critics say this is a plain abuse of that power and it undermines US national security because it places Trump’s personal agenda first. | |
| The Trump administration also stands accused of obstruction of Congress for resisting congressional subpoenas for documents and testimony relating to the crisis. | |
| A lot of people – from the whistleblower, to career government officials swept up in the affair, to legal scholars, to Democrats and even some Republicans – believe it’s plausible that the president has committed an impeachable offense. | |
| Tom McCarthy in New York | |
| The report added that Graham was overheard saying: “This is Kavanaugh on steroids! This is hearsay – and this person has bias.” | The report added that Graham was overheard saying: “This is Kavanaugh on steroids! This is hearsay – and this person has bias.” |
| Graham and others might find the Ukraine case tougher than Kavanaugh or the Mueller report, which summed up special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian election interference, links between Trump and Moscow and possible obstruction of justice by the president. | Graham and others might find the Ukraine case tougher than Kavanaugh or the Mueller report, which summed up special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian election interference, links between Trump and Moscow and possible obstruction of justice by the president. |
| David Brock, a political activist and founder of the progressive watchdog Media Matters for America, told the Guardian: “Their playbook is very predictable. It’s one we’ve seen before. We’re seeing it play out now. But I do think that they’re dealing with a weaker hand this time and at least so far they’re struggling to find a counter-narrative they would like to tell. | David Brock, a political activist and founder of the progressive watchdog Media Matters for America, told the Guardian: “Their playbook is very predictable. It’s one we’ve seen before. We’re seeing it play out now. But I do think that they’re dealing with a weaker hand this time and at least so far they’re struggling to find a counter-narrative they would like to tell. |
| They’re struggling to find a counter-narrative … they’re throwing a lot at the wall to see what sticks | They’re struggling to find a counter-narrative … they’re throwing a lot at the wall to see what sticks |
| “I don’t think they have it yet and so it feels like they’re throwing a lot at the wall to see what sticks but there’s not as much of a coordinated counter-offensive as there has been in the past. | “I don’t think they have it yet and so it feels like they’re throwing a lot at the wall to see what sticks but there’s not as much of a coordinated counter-offensive as there has been in the past. |
| “And that’s because they’re overwhelmed with the reality of what this complaint says and it’s very hard to spin your way out of it. They’re certainly trying but I wonder about the effectiveness of it.” | “And that’s because they’re overwhelmed with the reality of what this complaint says and it’s very hard to spin your way out of it. They’re certainly trying but I wonder about the effectiveness of it.” |
| Trump continued to punch back on Saturday, branding Democrats “savages”. He tweeted: “Can you imagine if these Do Nothing Democrat Savages … had a Republican party who would have done to Obama what the Do Nothings are doing to me. Oh well, maybe next time!” | Trump continued to punch back on Saturday, branding Democrats “savages”. He tweeted: “Can you imagine if these Do Nothing Democrat Savages … had a Republican party who would have done to Obama what the Do Nothings are doing to me. Oh well, maybe next time!” |
| Graham may find it difficult to target Biden, an old friend. And his bellicose defence of Trump represents a striking u-turn. In May 2016 the former Republican primary candidate and close friend of late senator John McCain wrote on Twitter: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it.” | Graham may find it difficult to target Biden, an old friend. And his bellicose defence of Trump represents a striking u-turn. In May 2016 the former Republican primary candidate and close friend of late senator John McCain wrote on Twitter: “If we nominate Trump, we will get destroyed … and we will deserve it.” |
| House Democrats are determined to move fast. On Friday they issued subpoenas demanding documents from secretary of state Mike Pompeo and scheduling legal depositions for other state officials. | House Democrats are determined to move fast. On Friday they issued subpoenas demanding documents from secretary of state Mike Pompeo and scheduling legal depositions for other state officials. |
| Trump's 'spy' comments are not far off from real US whistleblower policy | Trump's 'spy' comments are not far off from real US whistleblower policy |
| On Saturday, Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, expressed concern over a Washington Post report that the White House restricted access to the transcript of a 2017 Oval Office meeting in which Trump told two senior Russian officials he was unconcerned about interference in the 2016 election because the US did the same in other countries. | On Saturday, Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, expressed concern over a Washington Post report that the White House restricted access to the transcript of a 2017 Oval Office meeting in which Trump told two senior Russian officials he was unconcerned about interference in the 2016 election because the US did the same in other countries. |
| If true, Schumer said, the reports “are extremely harmful to both our national security and the integrity of our elections. It’s one of the most disturbing things we’ve learned yet.” | If true, Schumer said, the reports “are extremely harmful to both our national security and the integrity of our elections. It’s one of the most disturbing things we’ve learned yet.” |
| He added: “The White House should immediately provide the congressional intelligence committees with all the records of that meeting so we can get to the bottom of it.” | He added: “The White House should immediately provide the congressional intelligence committees with all the records of that meeting so we can get to the bottom of it.” |
| Trump tried to defend himself by sharing an old report in which his then national security adviser, HR McMaster, described conversation as “wholly appropriate”. | Trump tried to defend himself by sharing an old report in which his then national security adviser, HR McMaster, described conversation as “wholly appropriate”. |
| The president wrote: “Thank you to General McMaster. Just more Fake News!” | The president wrote: “Thank you to General McMaster. Just more Fake News!” |
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