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| House to vote on resolution on next steps in impeachment inquiry – live | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Even though the House resolution appears meant to discredit the Trump administration’s argument that the impeachment inquiry is illegitimate, it is unclear whether the White House would comply with the investigation even if a formal vote were held. | |
| Asked by @benstracy whether the WH would cooperate with the impeachment inquiry if Dems agreed to hold public hearings, @hogangidley45 demurred."Well, again, that all depends on the parameters on which they are willing to open up hearings," Gidley said. | |
| It appears that even some senior House Democrats are questioning why Nancy Pelosi is now asking her caucus to vote on a resolution solidifying impeachment procedures. | |
| Still unclear what's prompting Dems to hold vote now, especially after significant court ruling on Friday affirming that House doesn't need to vote to enter into an impeachment inquiry. Several senior Dems said they had no idea this was coming, are also questioning rationale | |
| The announcement comes hours after Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to John Bolton, failed to appear for his testimony in the inquiry because he is seeking a court ruling on whether to comply with the congressional subpoena or the White House’s order not to participate. | |
| If the House votes to formalize impeachment procedures, it could potentially nullify those legal questions. | |
| The House resolution outlining impeachment procedures specifically calls out the Trump administration for dismissing the inquiry as illegitimate. | |
| It reads: “For weeks, the President, his Counsel in the White House, and his allies in Congress have made the baseless claim that the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry ‘lacks the necessary authorization for a valid impeachment proceeding.’ They argue that, because the House has not taken a vote, they may simply pretend the impeachment inquiry does not exist. Of course, this argument has no merit.” | |
| However, a Politico reporter noted the oddness of Nancy Pelosi choosing to confront this argument just days after a federal judge said that the inquiry was legitimate. | |
| Hmmm... Here’s @SpeakerPelosi on the impeachment procedures resolution.Very curious that they are voting on something as basic as this, especially after Judge Howell already ruled last week that the impeachment inquiry is valid. pic.twitter.com/R8Z6GHHOaq | |
| The House will vote on the resolution outlining the procedure to move the impeachment inquiry to the public hearing phase on Thursday. | |
| One paragraph in the resolution reads: “This resolution establishes the procedure for hearings that are open to the American people, authorizes the disclosure of deposition transcripts, outlines procedures to transfer evidence to the Judiciary Committee as it considers potential articles of impeachment, and sets forth due process rights for the President and his Counsel.” | |
| Senior House Democrats hope the vote will invalidate the Trump administration’s argument that the inquiry is illegitimate because no formal vote has been held to launch the proceedings. | |
| Republicans and the White House had argued the impeachment inquiry was not valid without a vote and therefore the administration did not have to comply with subpoenas or other requests. Pelosi says that argument has no merit but Dems will take the vote anyway. https://t.co/BUDF2RwBfh | |
| Nancy Pelosi’s office is releasing a “Dear Colleague” letter today outlining House Democrats’ next steps in the impeachment inquiry, including public hearings. | Nancy Pelosi’s office is releasing a “Dear Colleague” letter today outlining House Democrats’ next steps in the impeachment inquiry, including public hearings. |
| NEW — Here is Pelosi’s Dear Colleague letter announcing vote on continuing impeachment proceedings and moving them to the public phase pic.twitter.com/OJVWUqR3tQ | NEW — Here is Pelosi’s Dear Colleague letter announcing vote on continuing impeachment proceedings and moving them to the public phase pic.twitter.com/OJVWUqR3tQ |
| The House rules committee will also reportedly mark up a resolution on Wednesday directing various committees to continue their own investigations into Trump under the broader umbrella of the impeachment inquiry. | The House rules committee will also reportedly mark up a resolution on Wednesday directing various committees to continue their own investigations into Trump under the broader umbrella of the impeachment inquiry. |
| The resolution is titled, “Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.” | The resolution is titled, “Directing certain committees to continue their ongoing investigations as part of the existing House of Representatives inquiry into whether sufficient grounds exist for the House of Representatives to exercise its Constitutional power to impeach Donald John Trump, President of the United States of America, and for other purposes.” |
| The terribly sad death of Maryland congressman Elijah Cummings earlier this month will prompt a special election next year. | The terribly sad death of Maryland congressman Elijah Cummings earlier this month will prompt a special election next year. |
| He was mourned by the people of Baltimore and eulogized by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton at his funeral last Friday, after becoming the first African-American lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol. | He was mourned by the people of Baltimore and eulogized by Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton at his funeral last Friday, after becoming the first African-American lawmaker to lie in state at the Capitol. |
| It was announced today that the primary will be in February and the main election in April. | It was announced today that the primary will be in February and the main election in April. |
| Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has announced the dates of the special election to succeed the late Rep. Elijah Cummings: Special primary election will be held on February 4, 2020 with a special general election occurring on April 28. - h/t @CarrieNBCNews | Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has announced the dates of the special election to succeed the late Rep. Elijah Cummings: Special primary election will be held on February 4, 2020 with a special general election occurring on April 28. - h/t @CarrieNBCNews |
| The congressman was the chair of the House oversight committee, one of the three panels leading the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump’s questionable dealings with Ukraine and its prime minister Volodymyr Zelenskiy. | The congressman was the chair of the House oversight committee, one of the three panels leading the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump’s questionable dealings with Ukraine and its prime minister Volodymyr Zelenskiy. |
| California state assembly Democrat Christy Smith announced today that she will run for the seat that’s being vacated by Katie Hill, who announced yesterday that she will resign. | California state assembly Democrat Christy Smith announced today that she will run for the seat that’s being vacated by Katie Hill, who announced yesterday that she will resign. |
| A date has not yet been set for the special election to decide the seat - a crucial flip from Republican to the Democratic party last year, Joanna Walters writes. | A date has not yet been set for the special election to decide the seat - a crucial flip from Republican to the Democratic party last year, Joanna Walters writes. |
| I would like to commend Congresswoman @KatieHill4CA for her service on behalf of #CA25 as well as her willingness to put country first by stepping down from office. After much encouragement from community members, today I am proud to announce that I am running for Congress pic.twitter.com/p0Gl6jwc76 | I would like to commend Congresswoman @KatieHill4CA for her service on behalf of #CA25 as well as her willingness to put country first by stepping down from office. After much encouragement from community members, today I am proud to announce that I am running for Congress pic.twitter.com/p0Gl6jwc76 |
| Departing congresswoman Katie Hill in her video statement calls out “revenge porn”, which she alleges her husband has engaged in against her, and said: “As the victim of it, I call it one of the worst things you can do.” | Departing congresswoman Katie Hill in her video statement calls out “revenge porn”, which she alleges her husband has engaged in against her, and said: “As the victim of it, I call it one of the worst things you can do.” |
| She begins the video starkly saying of her resignation announcement:“I made this decision so my supporters, my family, my staff and my community will no longer be subjected to the pain inflicted by my abusive husband and the brutality of hateful political operatives.” | She begins the video starkly saying of her resignation announcement:“I made this decision so my supporters, my family, my staff and my community will no longer be subjected to the pain inflicted by my abusive husband and the brutality of hateful political operatives.” |
| She blames a coordinated campaign against her by “the right-wing media and Republican opponents” to “weaponize” her imperfections and perpetuate an alleged smear campaign by her husband, which she describes as “disgusting and unforgivable” and notes: “They will be held accountable.” | She blames a coordinated campaign against her by “the right-wing media and Republican opponents” to “weaponize” her imperfections and perpetuate an alleged smear campaign by her husband, which she describes as “disgusting and unforgivable” and notes: “They will be held accountable.” |
| Hill goes on to say she does not want her situation to put other women and girls off pursuing a career in politics. | Hill goes on to say she does not want her situation to put other women and girls off pursuing a career in politics. |
| “But I will allow myself to be a distraction from the constitutional crisis we are faced with, and the critical work of my colleagues,” she says, referring to the Trump-Ukraine impeachment inquiry now being conducted by the US House of Representatives. | “But I will allow myself to be a distraction from the constitutional crisis we are faced with, and the critical work of my colleagues,” she says, referring to the Trump-Ukraine impeachment inquiry now being conducted by the US House of Representatives. |
| She is clearly then trying to hold in her emotions as she says: “I never claimed to be perfect but I never thought my imperfections would be weaponized and used to try to destroy me and the community that I have loved for my entire life. And for that I am truly sorry,” she said. | She is clearly then trying to hold in her emotions as she says: “I never claimed to be perfect but I never thought my imperfections would be weaponized and used to try to destroy me and the community that I have loved for my entire life. And for that I am truly sorry,” she said. |
| Hill had been seen as a rising star in Washington since being arriving in Congress as a freshman this year. | Hill had been seen as a rising star in Washington since being arriving in Congress as a freshman this year. |
| She said: “I grew up riding horses and the most important thing I learned is that when you fall off you get right back up in the saddle. So I’m going to do that and I hope I can count on you to do the same - and join me on the next ride.” | She said: “I grew up riding horses and the most important thing I learned is that when you fall off you get right back up in the saddle. So I’m going to do that and I hope I can count on you to do the same - and join me on the next ride.” |
| Hill flipped a vital California seat from Republican to Democrat in the 2018 midterm elections. | Hill flipped a vital California seat from Republican to Democrat in the 2018 midterm elections. |
| Hill calls alleged smear campaign against her “unforgivable”, also says she is “truly sorry” for having to resign | Hill calls alleged smear campaign against her “unforgivable”, also says she is “truly sorry” for having to resign |
| Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill’s video statement issued on Monday is a tortured critique of her brutal downfall so soon into her promising congressional career. | Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill’s video statement issued on Monday is a tortured critique of her brutal downfall so soon into her promising congressional career. |
| Her apology comes towards the end of the 3.49 minute video, where she also offers an oblique promise that, career-wise, she’s down but not out for good, although she doesn’t mention if she sees a future in politics. | Her apology comes towards the end of the 3.49 minute video, where she also offers an oblique promise that, career-wise, she’s down but not out for good, although she doesn’t mention if she sees a future in politics. |
| She’s previously acknowledged that it was inappropriate for her to have a sexual relationship with someone employed by her on her campaign team when she was running for Congress. | She’s previously acknowledged that it was inappropriate for her to have a sexual relationship with someone employed by her on her campaign team when she was running for Congress. |
| That’s not against any rules but she expressed regret and it caused a scandal when intimate pictures of Hill and the female staffer were apparently leaked and posted online by a conservative website, then spread, with the prospect of more images and pieces of digital correspondence coming into the public domain. | That’s not against any rules but she expressed regret and it caused a scandal when intimate pictures of Hill and the female staffer were apparently leaked and posted online by a conservative website, then spread, with the prospect of more images and pieces of digital correspondence coming into the public domain. |
| And last week the House ethics committee opened an investigation into separate allegations that Hill had engaged in a sexual relationship with her legislative director, Graham Kelly, in possible violation of a House rule forged last year in response to the era of the #MeToo movement against sexual assault, sexual harassment and abuse of power. | And last week the House ethics committee opened an investigation into separate allegations that Hill had engaged in a sexual relationship with her legislative director, Graham Kelly, in possible violation of a House rule forged last year in response to the era of the #MeToo movement against sexual assault, sexual harassment and abuse of power. |
| Hill denied having such a relationship with him, in a letter to constituents, but resigned yesterday, alleging her husband and “hateful political operatives” have coordinated a “smear campaign” against her. | Hill denied having such a relationship with him, in a letter to constituents, but resigned yesterday, alleging her husband and “hateful political operatives” have coordinated a “smear campaign” against her. |
| She refers in today’s video statement to “electronic assault” or “revenge porn” in the issuing of intimate images as a way of embarrassing her. She said she was hurt and angry. | She refers in today’s video statement to “electronic assault” or “revenge porn” in the issuing of intimate images as a way of embarrassing her. She said she was hurt and angry. |
| Hill apologized for her “imperfections” in a new video statement issued today, a day after she announced her resignation amid allegations, now being investigated, that she violated rules by conducting a sexual relationship with a member of her congressional staff, Joanna Walters writes. | Hill apologized for her “imperfections” in a new video statement issued today, a day after she announced her resignation amid allegations, now being investigated, that she violated rules by conducting a sexual relationship with a member of her congressional staff, Joanna Walters writes. |
| But she also hinted that she will not disappear from public life and will “get right back up in the saddle”, although she did not give details of what she plans to do next. | But she also hinted that she will not disappear from public life and will “get right back up in the saddle”, although she did not give details of what she plans to do next. |
| This development followed the California Democrat acknowledging that she had previously had, separately, a sexual relationship with a member of her campaign team. | This development followed the California Democrat acknowledging that she had previously had, separately, a sexual relationship with a member of her campaign team. |
| In the lengthy video on Monday, Hill became emotional and alleged a smear campaign by her husband, whom she is in the process of divorcing, and said her personal “imperfections” had been used as a weapon unfairly to turn opinion against her. | In the lengthy video on Monday, Hill became emotional and alleged a smear campaign by her husband, whom she is in the process of divorcing, and said her personal “imperfections” had been used as a weapon unfairly to turn opinion against her. |