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| House to vote on resolution on next steps in impeachment inquiry – live | House to vote on resolution on next steps in impeachment inquiry – live |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who introduced a Senate resolution denouncing the House inquiry last week, is both taking credit for House Democrats’ decision to hold a full vote on the impeachment inquiry, and saying that the vote is meaningless. | |
| “A vote now is a bit like un-ringing a bell as House Democrats have selectively leaked information in order to damage President Trump for weeks,” he said. | |
| He added: “There is no doubt in my mind that the overwhelming response House Democrats heard from the American people and Senate Republicans in support of my resolution forced their hand.” | |
| There is no doubt in my mind that the overwhelming response House Democrats heard from the American people and Senate Republicans in support of my resolution forced their hand. Today’s announcement is an acknowledgement of the success of our efforts last week. | |
| Trump’s macabre description of the US military raid on ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s Syrian compound contained several inaccuracies. | |
| For one, the president said al-Baghdadi was “whimpering, crying and screaming all the way”— which officials say they did not hear. | |
| According to NBC, officials have also expressed concerns that the revealed classified information and risked future operations in the region: | |
| The overarching concern about Trump’s disclosures on the al-Baghdadi raid, officials said, is that he gave America’s enemies details that could make intelligence gathering and similar military operations more difficult and more dangerous to pull off. | |
| Revealing that the U.S. possesses documents about future ISIS plans hurts the military’s ability to use that information for quick follow-on operations, officials said. The president’s disclosure that the U.S. had taken ISIS fighters from the compound complicated efforts to try to keep ISIS from knowing who is alive or dead for as long as possible while they interrogate them, officials said. | |
| Doubts over Donald Trump's dramatic account of Baghdadi raid | |
| Facebook continues to come under fire for its policy exempting political advertising from factchecking. Hundreds of the company’s employees have signed a letter to executive Mark Zuckerberg voicing concerns over the policy, The Guardian’s Kari Paul reported earlier today. | |
| Yesterday, Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wiley proffered his help filling in gaps in Zuckerberg’s testimony. | |
| Hi @AOC, I’d be happy to meet with you or your team to discuss Mark Zuckerberg’s answers and what he left out. I also recently wrote a book about the topic with legislative ideas to hold big tech companies more accountable if you’d like a copy. | |
| Reporting from The Guardian and other news organizations revealed last year that Facebook exposed data from up to 87 million Facebook users to a researcher who worked for Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm that worked for the Trump campaign. | |
| Zuckerberg said that he wasn’t aware of the situation until it became publicly known | |
| “This was the largest data scandal with respect to your company that had catastrophic impacts with regard to 2016… and you don’t know?” Ocasio-Cortez asked during Zukerberg when he appeared before the House financial services committee last week. | |
| Zuckerberg’s insistence that he was unaware is looking increasingly suspicious, writes Carole Cadwalladr: | |
| And the answers Zuckerberg gave Ocasio-Cortez only invite further questions. The fact is that the Cambridge Analytica data scandal is far from over. In some ways, it’s only just beginning. It’s not the crime, as the saying goes, it’s the cover-up. And that continues. | |
| Because we know Facebook lied. The SEC investigation says that. To us at the Observer, in fact “… when asked by reporters in 2017 about its investigation into the Cambridge Analytica matter, Facebook falsely claimed the company found no evidence of wrongdoing”. | |
| Facebook employees 'strongly object' to policy allowing false claims in political ads | |
| A state court in North Carolina ruled that the congressional map is so severely gerrymandered to benefit Republicans that it can’t be used in 2020. | A state court in North Carolina ruled that the congressional map is so severely gerrymandered to benefit Republicans that it can’t be used in 2020. |
| This ruling comes a month after the same three-judge panel ruled that the state’s legislative maps are also unconstitutional. | This ruling comes a month after the same three-judge panel ruled that the state’s legislative maps are also unconstitutional. |
| Republicans currently control 1o of the state’s 13 seats in the House of Representatives. In 2016, when the current maps were made, Republicans admitted in writing that they wanted to use partisan data to give their party a 10-3 advantage. GOP mapmaker Thomas Hofeller, after receiving his cancer diagnosis in May 2016, wrote in an email reviewed by The New Yorker: “I still have time to bedevil the Democrats with more redistricting plans before I exit. | Republicans currently control 1o of the state’s 13 seats in the House of Representatives. In 2016, when the current maps were made, Republicans admitted in writing that they wanted to use partisan data to give their party a 10-3 advantage. GOP mapmaker Thomas Hofeller, after receiving his cancer diagnosis in May 2016, wrote in an email reviewed by The New Yorker: “I still have time to bedevil the Democrats with more redistricting plans before I exit. |
| The ruling today is a preliminary injunction that orders the state not to use the current congressional maps for the 2020 elections as the lawsuit challenging the districts proceeds. Judges said that advocacy groups are poised to show “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the maps violate the state constitution. | The ruling today is a preliminary injunction that orders the state not to use the current congressional maps for the 2020 elections as the lawsuit challenging the districts proceeds. Judges said that advocacy groups are poised to show “beyond a reasonable doubt” that the maps violate the state constitution. |
| “This victory was not due to Donald Trump’s leadership,” said former vice president Joe Biden. “It happened despite his ineptitude.” | “This victory was not due to Donald Trump’s leadership,” said former vice president Joe Biden. “It happened despite his ineptitude.” |
| Senator Amy Klobuchar told CBS that the killing of al-Baghdadi doesn’t mean Trump’s “foreign policy overall has not been a disaster.” | Senator Amy Klobuchar told CBS that the killing of al-Baghdadi doesn’t mean Trump’s “foreign policy overall has not been a disaster.” |
| Democrats have praised the military, the intelligence community, the Kurds for the Baghdadi raid - everyone except Trump. https://t.co/c8O9Yl8D9o | Democrats have praised the military, the intelligence community, the Kurds for the Baghdadi raid - everyone except Trump. https://t.co/c8O9Yl8D9o |
| From the AP: | From the AP: |
| Trump is eager to turn al-Baghdadi’s death into a defining moment of his administration, one that could remind waffling Republicans why they support him. And Democrats, who have largely been focused issues such as health care and combating rising college debt, must now decry Trump’s foreign policy without appearing to disparage U.S. forces. | Trump is eager to turn al-Baghdadi’s death into a defining moment of his administration, one that could remind waffling Republicans why they support him. And Democrats, who have largely been focused issues such as health care and combating rising college debt, must now decry Trump’s foreign policy without appearing to disparage U.S. forces. |
| It’s a balance that could be tough for the White House hopefuls to pull off. | It’s a balance that could be tough for the White House hopefuls to pull off. |
| Meanwhile, Donald and Melania Trump are celebrating Halloween at the White House. They appear to be dressed up as... themselves. | Meanwhile, Donald and Melania Trump are celebrating Halloween at the White House. They appear to be dressed up as... themselves. |
| pic.twitter.com/kjczyYzPCA | pic.twitter.com/kjczyYzPCA |
| Spooky. | Spooky. |
| US regulators will vote next month on whether to bar companies from using federal subsidies for equipment from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE. | US regulators will vote next month on whether to bar companies from using federal subsidies for equipment from Chinese firms Huawei and ZTE. |
| The FCC chair, Ajit Pai, has called Huawei and ZTE “untrusted vendors”. The regulating agency will vote on whether to block companies that receive money from the $8.5bn Universal Service Fund from purchasing equipment or services from firms that pose a national security risk. | The FCC chair, Ajit Pai, has called Huawei and ZTE “untrusted vendors”. The regulating agency will vote on whether to block companies that receive money from the $8.5bn Universal Service Fund from purchasing equipment or services from firms that pose a national security risk. |
| The House leaders’ decision to hold its first vote on the impeachment inquiry this week is “clearly an admission that we’ve been right all along about the need to have a more transparent process”, said Greg Walden, a Republican representative from Oregon who announced his retirement today. | The House leaders’ decision to hold its first vote on the impeachment inquiry this week is “clearly an admission that we’ve been right all along about the need to have a more transparent process”, said Greg Walden, a Republican representative from Oregon who announced his retirement today. |
| The House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, echoed: “Today’s backtracking is an admission that this process has been botched from the start.” | The House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, echoed: “Today’s backtracking is an admission that this process has been botched from the start.” |
| It’s been 34 days since Nancy Pelosi unilaterally declared her impeachment inquiry. Today’s backtracking is an admission that this process has been botched from the start.We will not legitimize the Schiff/Pelosi sham impeachment. | It’s been 34 days since Nancy Pelosi unilaterally declared her impeachment inquiry. Today’s backtracking is an admission that this process has been botched from the start.We will not legitimize the Schiff/Pelosi sham impeachment. |
| Republicans have largely avoided commenting on the substance of allegations that Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals, instead criticizing the House Democrats’ process. | Republicans have largely avoided commenting on the substance of allegations that Trump abused his power by pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals, instead criticizing the House Democrats’ process. |
| But if the Democratic leaders imagined that holding a full vote on the inquiry would quell criticism that the inquiry is illegitimate, they’ll be disappointed. | But if the Democratic leaders imagined that holding a full vote on the inquiry would quell criticism that the inquiry is illegitimate, they’ll be disappointed. |
| According to the White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, “secret, shady, closed door depositions are completely and irreversibly illegitimate”. | According to the White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, “secret, shady, closed door depositions are completely and irreversibly illegitimate”. |
| Despite Charles Kupperman’s refusal to testify in the impeachment inquiry this morning, it’s been a busy day for US politics so far. My colleague on the west coast, Maanvi Singh, will now take over the blog and continue our coverage of live news. | Despite Charles Kupperman’s refusal to testify in the impeachment inquiry this morning, it’s been a busy day for US politics so far. My colleague on the west coast, Maanvi Singh, will now take over the blog and continue our coverage of live news. |
| Today so far: | Today so far: |
| The full House of Representatives will get its first vote on the impeachment inquiry. On Thursday there will be a procedural vote on the next steps in the process. It’s not required but Democrats see it as a good counter to Republican attempts to tear down the process as illegitimate. | The full House of Representatives will get its first vote on the impeachment inquiry. On Thursday there will be a procedural vote on the next steps in the process. It’s not required but Democrats see it as a good counter to Republican attempts to tear down the process as illegitimate. |
| A California state assemblywoman, Christy Smith, has announced she’ll run to try to put another Democrat in the seat to be vacated by US congresswoman Katie Hill, who flipped her district from the Republicans last year. | A California state assemblywoman, Christy Smith, has announced she’ll run to try to put another Democrat in the seat to be vacated by US congresswoman Katie Hill, who flipped her district from the Republicans last year. |
| Departing congresswoman Katie Hill, who resigned yesterday, issued a video statement earlier today that decried an alleged smear campaign against her, while also apologizing for being obliged to leave the House. | Departing congresswoman Katie Hill, who resigned yesterday, issued a video statement earlier today that decried an alleged smear campaign against her, while also apologizing for being obliged to leave the House. |
| Former Senator Kay Hagan has died. | Former Senator Kay Hagan has died. |
| Donald Trump railed against the impeachment inquiry, on a visit to Chicago, where he was addressing a police convention and holding a fund-raiser, amid protests. | Donald Trump railed against the impeachment inquiry, on a visit to Chicago, where he was addressing a police convention and holding a fund-raiser, amid protests. |
| Kupperman case goes to next stage | Kupperman case goes to next stage |
| Deputy national security adviser Charles Kupperman, who was ousted-national security adviser John Bolton’s deputy, did not turn up to testify in the impeachment inquiry this morning, defying a congressional subpoena. | Deputy national security adviser Charles Kupperman, who was ousted-national security adviser John Bolton’s deputy, did not turn up to testify in the impeachment inquiry this morning, defying a congressional subpoena. |
| He said he was waiting for a court to rule on which would prevail - the subpoena or a White House gag order, attempting to block administration officials from cooperating with the inquiry. | He said he was waiting for a court to rule on which would prevail - the subpoena or a White House gag order, attempting to block administration officials from cooperating with the inquiry. |
| He filed a lawsuit in the matter, which Democratic leaders said was a legally invalid avenue to take. A judge has now been assigned to the case. | He filed a lawsuit in the matter, which Democratic leaders said was a legally invalid avenue to take. A judge has now been assigned to the case. |
| UPDATE: The Charles Kupperman case has been assigned to Judge Richard Leon. No hearing has been scheduled yet. https://t.co/WlhMz951lZ | UPDATE: The Charles Kupperman case has been assigned to Judge Richard Leon. No hearing has been scheduled yet. https://t.co/WlhMz951lZ |
| Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, has reportedly pushed for the resolution outlining impeachment procedures. | Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, has reportedly pushed for the resolution outlining impeachment procedures. |
| Schiff was pushing for this resolution, sources tell me & @heatherscope. The text of the resolution hasn’t yet been finalized, per sources. | Schiff was pushing for this resolution, sources tell me & @heatherscope. The text of the resolution hasn’t yet been finalized, per sources. |
| Several witnesses have refused to appear before the committees leading the inquiry, deferring to the White House’s opinion that the investigation is illegitimate because no formal vote was held to launch the proceedings. | Several witnesses have refused to appear before the committees leading the inquiry, deferring to the White House’s opinion that the investigation is illegitimate because no formal vote was held to launch the proceedings. |
| Schiff may believe that this vote will help to invalidate those arguments and compel the witnesses to testify. | Schiff may believe that this vote will help to invalidate those arguments and compel the witnesses to testify. |
| The blog has another update on the US military dog that played a key role in the Baghdadi raid: his name is reportedly Conan. | The blog has another update on the US military dog that played a key role in the Baghdadi raid: his name is reportedly Conan. |
| Multiple Defense Department sources have told me the dog’s name is Conan. https://t.co/efDmAsCbXb | Multiple Defense Department sources have told me the dog’s name is Conan. https://t.co/efDmAsCbXb |
| Meanwhile, Trump has tweeted a photo of the “wonderful dog” that played a crucial role in the raid of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s Syrian compound. | Meanwhile, Trump has tweeted a photo of the “wonderful dog” that played a crucial role in the raid of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s Syrian compound. |
| We have declassified a picture of the wonderful dog (name not declassified) that did such a GREAT JOB in capturing and killing the Leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi! pic.twitter.com/PDMx9nZWvw | We have declassified a picture of the wonderful dog (name not declassified) that did such a GREAT JOB in capturing and killing the Leader of ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi! pic.twitter.com/PDMx9nZWvw |
| The name of the dog, who is reportedly back on the job after Trump said it was injured in the attack on the Isis leader, remains classified. | The name of the dog, who is reportedly back on the job after Trump said it was injured in the attack on the Isis leader, remains classified. |