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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/oct/29/trump-news-today-live-impeachment-inquiry-alexander-vindman-ukraine-call-latest-updates
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| Ukraine expert gives first-hand testimony on Trump-Zelenskiy call – live | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, declined to attack the integrity of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman but still questioned the official’s reported concerns about Trump’s Ukraine call. | |
| The California Republican told reporters on Capitol Hill: “I thank him for his service ... but he is wrong.” | |
| McCarthy also dismissed any notion that Republicans are flip-flopping by voicing opposition to House Democrats’ resolution to authorize impeachment procedures even though GOP lawmakers have been calling for a formal, chamber-wide vote for weeks. | |
| “You can’t put the genie back in the bottle,” @GOPLeader tells @nancycordes when asked whether Republicans are moving the goalposts by refusing to support a vote on impeachment procedures going forward after calling for one for weeks. | |
| However, at least one House Republican, Liz Cheney of Wyoming, is criticizing the commentators questioning the patriotism of Lt. Col. Alexnader Vindman as he testifies to impeachment investigators. | However, at least one House Republican, Liz Cheney of Wyoming, is criticizing the commentators questioning the patriotism of Lt. Col. Alexnader Vindman as he testifies to impeachment investigators. |
| .@RepLizCheney this am REBUKES certain TV personalities — cough, cough @IngrahamAngle — who attacked the Purple Heart recipient who is testifying today that he found Trump’s pressure on Ukraine unethical & damaging to nat security “We are better than that,” she says. | .@RepLizCheney this am REBUKES certain TV personalities — cough, cough @IngrahamAngle — who attacked the Purple Heart recipient who is testifying today that he found Trump’s pressure on Ukraine unethical & damaging to nat security “We are better than that,” she says. |
| Some Republicans and conservative commentators have questioned the patriotism of Lt Col Alexander Vindman amid reports that the national security council official intends to testify he had concerns about Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president. | |
| Brian Kilmeade on Army Lt. Col. Vindman: "We also know he was born in the Soviet Union, emigrated with his family. Young. He tends to feel simpatico with the Ukraine." pic.twitter.com/mfjg9NUXSd | Brian Kilmeade on Army Lt. Col. Vindman: "We also know he was born in the Soviet Union, emigrated with his family. Young. He tends to feel simpatico with the Ukraine." pic.twitter.com/mfjg9NUXSd |
| A Washington correspondent for the Economist lashed out against those voicing doubts about Vindman, who served in Iraq and received a Purple Heart after being injured in an IED attack. | A Washington correspondent for the Economist lashed out against those voicing doubts about Vindman, who served in Iraq and received a Purple Heart after being injured in an IED attack. |
| A bigoted, ignorant smear. America welcomed us while our former countrymen were slaughtering us in pogroms. Our patriotism is intense because we know what happened to our relatives who didn’t/couldn’t reach these blessed shores. https://t.co/CRBHXrqrmJ | A bigoted, ignorant smear. America welcomed us while our former countrymen were slaughtering us in pogroms. Our patriotism is intense because we know what happened to our relatives who didn’t/couldn’t reach these blessed shores. https://t.co/CRBHXrqrmJ |
| As Alexander Vindman testifies to impeachment investigators about Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president, Republican lawmakers are struggling to answer a question about whether it would be acceptable for a commander-in-chief to ask foreign countries to investigate their political rivals. | As Alexander Vindman testifies to impeachment investigators about Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president, Republican lawmakers are struggling to answer a question about whether it would be acceptable for a commander-in-chief to ask foreign countries to investigate their political rivals. |
| Asked Rep. Amodei multiple times if it's OK for Trump to ask foreign countries to investigate his rivals - and he says: "My English teacher says you got a conclusion, so if you want to interview yourself, go ahead." Watch another GOP member struggle to answer a simple question: pic.twitter.com/qYXxKuNkW7 | Asked Rep. Amodei multiple times if it's OK for Trump to ask foreign countries to investigate his rivals - and he says: "My English teacher says you got a conclusion, so if you want to interview yourself, go ahead." Watch another GOP member struggle to answer a simple question: pic.twitter.com/qYXxKuNkW7 |
| Democrats are already rushing to defend Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman after the president dismissed the national security council official as a “Never Trumper.” | Democrats are already rushing to defend Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman after the president dismissed the national security council official as a “Never Trumper.” |
| Lt. Colonel Vindman has spent his life in service to the United States.He served our country in the @USArmy, deployed on multiple tours, and earned the Purple Heart after a roadside bomb attack in Iraq.His patriotism and integrity are unquestionable. pic.twitter.com/x5WNnt7oFH | Lt. Colonel Vindman has spent his life in service to the United States.He served our country in the @USArmy, deployed on multiple tours, and earned the Purple Heart after a roadside bomb attack in Iraq.His patriotism and integrity are unquestionable. pic.twitter.com/x5WNnt7oFH |
| Vindman also reportedly intends to tell impeachment investigators in his opening statement: “For over twenty years as an active duty United States military officer and diplomat, I have served this country in a nonpartisan manner, and have done so with the utmost respect and professionalism for both Republican and Democratic administrations.” | Vindman also reportedly intends to tell impeachment investigators in his opening statement: “For over twenty years as an active duty United States military officer and diplomat, I have served this country in a nonpartisan manner, and have done so with the utmost respect and professionalism for both Republican and Democratic administrations.” |
| Vindman, who served in Iraq and received a Purple Heart after being wounded by an IED, plans to tell the congressional committees that Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president made him concerned the White House was jeopardizing US alliances by trying to advance its political interests. | Vindman, who served in Iraq and received a Purple Heart after being wounded by an IED, plans to tell the congressional committees that Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president made him concerned the White House was jeopardizing US alliances by trying to advance its political interests. |
| Lt Col Alexander Vindman has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify to the committees leading House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry against Trump. | Lt Col Alexander Vindman has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify to the committees leading House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry against Trump. |
| Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the White House National Security Council's top expert on Ukraine, hs arrived for his closed-door joint deposition before the House Intel, Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committees as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry pic.twitter.com/GXz2tQDRoD | Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the White House National Security Council's top expert on Ukraine, hs arrived for his closed-door joint deposition before the House Intel, Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committees as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry pic.twitter.com/GXz2tQDRoD |
| The national security council official reportedly intends to tell impeachment investigators about Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian president and his concerns about the commander-in-chief seeking an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden. | The national security council official reportedly intends to tell impeachment investigators about Trump’s phone call with the Ukrainian president and his concerns about the commander-in-chief seeking an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden. |
| Trump has now weighed in on the looming testimony of Alexander Vindman, the national security council official who reportedly intends to tell impeachment investigators that the president’s Ukraine call made him worried the White House was jeopardizing foreign policy to advance its political interests. | Trump has now weighed in on the looming testimony of Alexander Vindman, the national security council official who reportedly intends to tell impeachment investigators that the president’s Ukraine call made him worried the White House was jeopardizing foreign policy to advance its political interests. |
| Without mentioning Vindman’s name, the president dismissed the official, who has served in Iraq and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in an IED attack, as a “Never Trumper”. | Without mentioning Vindman’s name, the president dismissed the official, who has served in Iraq and received a Purple Heart after being wounded in an IED attack, as a “Never Trumper”. |
| How many more Never Trumpers will be allowed to testify about a perfectly appropriate phone call when all anyone has to do is READ THE TRANSCRIPT! I knew people were listening in on the call (why would I say something inappropriate?), which was fine with me, but why so many? | How many more Never Trumpers will be allowed to testify about a perfectly appropriate phone call when all anyone has to do is READ THE TRANSCRIPT! I knew people were listening in on the call (why would I say something inappropriate?), which was fine with me, but why so many? |
| Supposedly, according to the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call “concerned” today’s Never Trumper witness. Was he on the same call that I was? Can’t be possible! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt! | Supposedly, according to the Corrupt Media, the Ukraine call “concerned” today’s Never Trumper witness. Was he on the same call that I was? Can’t be possible! Please ask him to read the Transcript of the call. Witch Hunt! |
| It’s notable how Trump keeps moving the goalposts on what constitutes impeachable testimony. He previously said witnesses who testified to an alleged quid pro quo should be discredited because they did not personally hear the call. | It’s notable how Trump keeps moving the goalposts on what constitutes impeachable testimony. He previously said witnesses who testified to an alleged quid pro quo should be discredited because they did not personally hear the call. |
| Now, faced with someone who did personally hear the call, Trump is saying that the impeachment investigators should instead refer to the White House “transcript” of the call. However, the “transcript” is actually a White House memo summarizing the call that appeared to cut out much of Trump’s conversation with the Ukrainian president. | Now, faced with someone who did personally hear the call, Trump is saying that the impeachment investigators should instead refer to the White House “transcript” of the call. However, the “transcript” is actually a White House memo summarizing the call that appeared to cut out much of Trump’s conversation with the Ukrainian president. |
| Vindman will probably ill in many of the gaps left by that memo in his testimony today. | Vindman will probably ill in many of the gaps left by that memo in his testimony today. |
| Good morning, live blog readers! | Good morning, live blog readers! |
| It appears that Donald Trump’s dismissal of House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry as an illegitimate “witch-hunt” based on “hearsay” testimony is unraveling before our eyes. | It appears that Donald Trump’s dismissal of House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry as an illegitimate “witch-hunt” based on “hearsay” testimony is unraveling before our eyes. |
| Lt Col Alexander S. Vindman, a top Ukraine expert on the national security council, reportedly intends to tell the House committees leading the impeachment inquiry that Trump’s call with the leader of Ukraine made him deeply concerned the president was jeopardizing key foreign policy in the hope of triggering an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden. | Lt Col Alexander S. Vindman, a top Ukraine expert on the national security council, reportedly intends to tell the House committees leading the impeachment inquiry that Trump’s call with the leader of Ukraine made him deeply concerned the president was jeopardizing key foreign policy in the hope of triggering an investigation into his political rival, Joe Biden. |
| Vindman will be the first witness to provide impeachment investigators with a first-hand account of the controversial phone call that kicked off the formal inquiry. According to a draft of his opening statement first obtained by the New York Times, the national security official will tell the House committees this morning: “I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the US government’s support of Ukraine.” | Vindman will be the first witness to provide impeachment investigators with a first-hand account of the controversial phone call that kicked off the formal inquiry. According to a draft of his opening statement first obtained by the New York Times, the national security official will tell the House committees this morning: “I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the US government’s support of Ukraine.” |
| Vindman’s testimony will be the second major blow to Trump’s impeachment defense in less than 24 hours. Nancy Pelosi announced yesterday that House Democrats would introduce a resolution to formalize impeachment procedures, marking the first chamber-wide vote on the inquiry. | Vindman’s testimony will be the second major blow to Trump’s impeachment defense in less than 24 hours. Nancy Pelosi announced yesterday that House Democrats would introduce a resolution to formalize impeachment procedures, marking the first chamber-wide vote on the inquiry. |
| For weeks, Trump and his allies have derided the impeachment investigation by arguing that the inquiry is an illegitimate scam because the House never formally voted to launch the proceedings. Trump has also dismissed all of the testimony of an alleged quid pro quo as baseless hearsay. | For weeks, Trump and his allies have derided the impeachment investigation by arguing that the inquiry is an illegitimate scam because the House never formally voted to launch the proceedings. Trump has also dismissed all of the testimony of an alleged quid pro quo as baseless hearsay. |
| It appears that both of those points will be addressed this week. So how will Trump now defend himself against the investigation? And what else will Vindman have to say? | It appears that both of those points will be addressed this week. So how will Trump now defend himself against the investigation? And what else will Vindman have to say? |
| Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on: | Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on: |
| Trump will have lunch with the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and meet the 2019 recipients of the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking. He will later address donors at his Washington hotel. | Trump will have lunch with the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, and meet the 2019 recipients of the Presidential Award for Extraordinary Efforts to Combat Trafficking. He will later address donors at his Washington hotel. |
| The treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, will continue his Middle East trip with meetings in Israel and Saudi Arabia. | The treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, will continue his Middle East trip with meetings in Israel and Saudi Arabia. |
| Game six of the World Series will take place in Houston, where the Astros have a chance to win the championship against the Washington Nationals. | Game six of the World Series will take place in Houston, where the Astros have a chance to win the championship against the Washington Nationals. |
| The blog will have plenty more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have plenty more coming up, so stay tuned. |