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The Trump Impeachment Inquiry: Latest Updates The Trump Impeachment Inquiry: Latest Updates
(32 minutes later)
About two dozen House Republicans, chanting “Let us in! Let us in!” tried to storm the secure room where a Defense Department official arrived Wednesday morning to testify in the impeachment inquiry, refusing to leave even after they were turned back by Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee that was leading the deposition.About two dozen House Republicans, chanting “Let us in! Let us in!” tried to storm the secure room where a Defense Department official arrived Wednesday morning to testify in the impeachment inquiry, refusing to leave even after they were turned back by Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee that was leading the deposition.
The lawmakers — most of whom do not sit on the committees conducting the inquiry and are therefore not entitled to attend its hearings — said they were protesting the closed-door nature of the proceedings. The private question-and-answer sessions have produced a stream of compelling testimony from government witnesses, much of it confirming and expanding on the intelligence whistle-blower complaint that touched off the impeachment inquiry.The lawmakers — most of whom do not sit on the committees conducting the inquiry and are therefore not entitled to attend its hearings — said they were protesting the closed-door nature of the proceedings. The private question-and-answer sessions have produced a stream of compelling testimony from government witnesses, much of it confirming and expanding on the intelligence whistle-blower complaint that touched off the impeachment inquiry.
The chaotic scene in the bowels of the Capitol unfolded as the panel was getting ready to hear from Laura B. Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, and halted the session. Mr. Schiff summoned the Sergeant-at-arms to disperse the uninvited Republican guests, some of whom brought cellphones, which are forbidden in the secure suite.The chaotic scene in the bowels of the Capitol unfolded as the panel was getting ready to hear from Laura B. Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, and halted the session. Mr. Schiff summoned the Sergeant-at-arms to disperse the uninvited Republican guests, some of whom brought cellphones, which are forbidden in the secure suite.
“Sit in, stand in, call it what you want,” Representative Harley Rouda, Democrat of California, said as he emerged, frustrated, from the room.“Sit in, stand in, call it what you want,” Representative Harley Rouda, Democrat of California, said as he emerged, frustrated, from the room.
It is common practice for sensitive congressional investigations to be conducted behind closed doors, at least in their preliminary stages. House Republicans did just that when they controlled the chamber and opened an inquiry into the 2012 attack on the United States embassy in Benghazi, Libya. Republicans are hammering Democrats for limiting attendance at the hearings to members of the Intelligence, Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees. It is common practice for sensitive congressional investigations to be conducted behind closed doors, at least in their preliminary stages. House Republicans did just that when they controlled the chamber and opened an inquiry into the 2012 attack on the United States embassy in Benghazi, Libya.
Democrats have said they plan to hold open hearings after the committees finish deposing witnesses, and that they intend to make complete transcripts of witness testimony public after they have been reviewed to determine whether they contain any classified material. Democrats argue that, lacking any defense of the substance of Mr. Trump’s actions, Republicans are attacking Democrats over process.Democrats have said they plan to hold open hearings after the committees finish deposing witnesses, and that they intend to make complete transcripts of witness testimony public after they have been reviewed to determine whether they contain any classified material. Democrats argue that, lacking any defense of the substance of Mr. Trump’s actions, Republicans are attacking Democrats over process.
But Republicans are hammering Democrats for limiting attendance at the hearings to members of the Intelligence, Judiciary and Foreign Affairs Committees. In a news conference before they tried to barge in, Republicans demanded access to the transcripts, denouncing the inquiry before news cameras in hyperbolic terms. In a news conference before they tried to barge in, Republicans demanded access to the transcripts, denouncing the inquiry before news cameras in hyperbolic terms.
Representative Andy Biggs, Republican of Kentucky, called it a “Soviet-style impeachment process.” Representative Mark Walker, Republican of Georgia, called it the product of “an angry mob, a twisted media machine and a twisted version of an impeachment process.” Representative Andy Biggs, Republican of Arizona, called it a “Soviet-style impeachment process.”
And Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, who led the group, proclaimed it a process of “secret interviews, selective leaks, weird theatrical performances of transcripts that never happened, and lies about contact with whistle-blowers.” Representative Jim Jordan, Republican of Ohio and the top Republican on the House Oversight Committee, acknowledged that the members who brought their phones into the secure room “shouldn’t do that.”
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg “It was a mistake — no big deal,” he told reporters, adding “They understand now. It wouldn’t happen again.”
But the demonstration, he said, was indicative of a broader frustration with the closed door interviews.
“It’s finally reached a point where members just said they’re so frustrated at the idea that they can’t be a part of this and see what’s going on,” he said. “So we’re at a standstill.”
Representative Ted Lieu, Democrat of California, accused the protesting Republican of trying to stymie the investigation. He said it was unclear if ethics violations would be filed against the members who brought phones into the secure room.
“They violated House rules by trying to crash committees which they don’t sit on,” he said. “All this is an attack right on the investigation, and so when you don’t have law or the facts, you attack and disrupt the process.”
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg and Emily Cochrane
Laura Cooper, a top Defense Department official overseeing Ukraine policy, arrived Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill, where she slipped wordlessly into the secure room where lawmakers are interviewing witnesses as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Trump.Laura Cooper, a top Defense Department official overseeing Ukraine policy, arrived Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill, where she slipped wordlessly into the secure room where lawmakers are interviewing witnesses as part of the House impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
Ms. Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, ignored reporters’ questions about whether she had come under subpoena. She arrived accompanied by a bevy of officers in uniform.Ms. Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, ignored reporters’ questions about whether she had come under subpoena. She arrived accompanied by a bevy of officers in uniform.
Ms. Cooper is appearing despite the Defense Department’s announcement that it would not comply with a House subpoena to provide investigators documents related to the inquiry, and to Mr. Trump’s decision to hold up military aid to Ukraine.Ms. Cooper is appearing despite the Defense Department’s announcement that it would not comply with a House subpoena to provide investigators documents related to the inquiry, and to Mr. Trump’s decision to hold up military aid to Ukraine.
President Trump began another day assailing the impeachment inquiry, taking aim at the account delivered behind closed doors on Tuesday by Mr. Taylor, an envoy to Ukraine. In his testimony, Mr. Taylor tied Mr. Trump directly to an effort to withhold both military aid and a White House meeting from Ukraine until the Ukrainian president publicly announced that his country was investigating Democrats. President Trump began another day assailing the impeachment inquiry, taking aim at the account delivered behind closed doors on Tuesday by William B. Taylor Jr., the top United States diplomat in Ukraine. In his testimony, Mr. Taylor tied Mr. Trump directly to an effort to withhold both military aid and a White House meeting from Ukraine until the Ukrainian president publicly announced that his country was investigating Democrats.
Mr. Trump appeared to be quoting Representative John Ratcliffe, Republican of Texas, from a morning segment on Fox News in claiming that there could be no quid pro quo with Ukraine if its leaders were unaware that the security assistance package was being blocked. On Twitter, Mr. Trump approvingly quoted a Republican member of Congress saying neither Mr. Taylor nor any other witness had “provided testimony that the Ukrainians were aware that military aid was being withheld.”
But Mr. Taylor’s account and those of other officials who have testified privately in the impeachment inquiry have made clear that the Ukrainians did, indeed, become aware that the aid package was being held back, and were deeply disturbed by it. In late August, a top Ukrainian official approached Mr. Taylor “very concerned about the matter.” But in fact, word of the aid freeze had gotten to high-level Ukrainian officials by the first week in August, according to interviews and documents obtained by The New York Times.
“I was embarrassed that I could give him no explanation for why it was withheld,” Mr. Taylor testified. Later, he added, Ukrainians became alarmed when he and other American officials would not respond to direct questions about the delayed aid. The timing of the communications about the issue, which have not previously been reported, shows that Ukraine was aware the White House was holding up the funds weeks earlier than United States and Ukrainian officials had acknowledged. And it means that the Ukrainian government was aware of the freeze during most of the period in August when Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, and two American diplomats were pressing President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to make a public commitment to the investigations being sought by Mr. Trump.
Read more: 6 Key Revelations of Taylor’s Opening Statement to Impeachment Investigators Mr. Taylor told the impeachment investigators that it was only on the sidelines of a Sept. 1 meeting in Warsaw between Mr. Zelensky and Vice President Mike Pence that the Ukrainians were directly told the aid would be dependent on Mr. Zelensky giving Mr. Trump something he wanted: an investigation into Burisma, the company that had employed Hunter Biden, former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s son.
The Ukrainians appear to have initially been hopeful that the problem could be resolved quietly and were reluctant to risk a public clash at a delicate time in relations between the two nations.
— Andrew E. Kramer and Kenneth P. Vogel
Read more: Contradicting Trump, Ukraine Knew of Aid Freeze Before It Became Public
Also relevant: 6 Key Revelations of Taylor’s Opening Statement to Impeachment Investigators
Imaad Zuberi, a California venture capitalist who has donated heavily to politicians of both parties, is expected to plead guilty to violating a range of tax and finance laws. Since 2016, Mr. Zuberi has been a major donor to President Trump’s inaugural committee and the Republican Party.Imaad Zuberi, a California venture capitalist who has donated heavily to politicians of both parties, is expected to plead guilty to violating a range of tax and finance laws. Since 2016, Mr. Zuberi has been a major donor to President Trump’s inaugural committee and the Republican Party.
Should Mr. Zuberi cooperate with prosecutors, he could add another layer of detail to investigations into Mr. Trump’s inauguration, which is already facing scrutiny over whether foreigners illegally donated money in hopes of buying influence.Should Mr. Zuberi cooperate with prosecutors, he could add another layer of detail to investigations into Mr. Trump’s inauguration, which is already facing scrutiny over whether foreigners illegally donated money in hopes of buying influence.
Read more: Major Backer of Trump and Democrats Will Plead Guilty to Illegal DonationsRead more: Major Backer of Trump and Democrats Will Plead Guilty to Illegal Donations
President Trump repeatedly pressured President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to investigate people and issues of political concern to Mr. Trump, including former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Here’s a timeline of events since January.President Trump repeatedly pressured President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine to investigate people and issues of political concern to Mr. Trump, including former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Here’s a timeline of events since January.
A C.I.A. officer who was once detailed to the White House filed a whistle-blower complaint on Mr. Trump’s interactions with Mr. Zelensky. Read the complaint.A C.I.A. officer who was once detailed to the White House filed a whistle-blower complaint on Mr. Trump’s interactions with Mr. Zelensky. Read the complaint.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced in September that the House would open a formal impeachment proceeding in response to the whistle-blower’s complaint. Here’s how the impeachment process works and here’s why political influence in foreign policy matters.Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced in September that the House would open a formal impeachment proceeding in response to the whistle-blower’s complaint. Here’s how the impeachment process works and here’s why political influence in foreign policy matters.
House committees have issued subpoenas to the White House, the Defense Department, the budget office and other agencies for documents related to the impeachment investigation. Here’s the evidence that has been collected so far.House committees have issued subpoenas to the White House, the Defense Department, the budget office and other agencies for documents related to the impeachment investigation. Here’s the evidence that has been collected so far.