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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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| Democrats release Trump impeachment resolution outlining next steps – live | Democrats release Trump impeachment resolution outlining next steps – live |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Like many Republican lawmakers, North Carolina senator Richard Burr has taken Grover Norquist’s “Taxpayer Protection Pledge”, committing himself to vote against new or increased taxes. | |
| So it was surprising to see Burr propose a new tax on Twitter on Tuesday. | |
| If college athletes are going to make money off their likenesses while in school, their scholarships should be treated like income. I’ll be introducing legislation that subjects scholarships given to athletes who choose to “cash in” to income taxes. https://t.co/H7jXC0dNls | |
| Burr is currently on the wrong side of what’s known on Twitter as “being ratioed”. His missive has been retweeted about 800 times, but users have responded (mostly angrily) nearly 14,000 times. | |
| As CNBC pointed out, scholarships are already taxed as income. | |
| College sports have been incredibly lucrative in the US for universities, coaches, broadcasters, sports apparel companies – pretty much everyone involved except the athletes themselves. My colleague Mario Koran wrote about a California law that might change everything earlier this month. | |
| George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign adviser who served 14 days in prison after pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators, has announced plans to run for the House seat recently vacated by Katie Hill. | |
| Papadopoulos, who did 14 days in prison for lying to the FBI during the Mueller probe, is running for Katie Hill’s seat outside LA https://t.co/3PfNH2Gx6S | |
| Papadopoulos lied to investigators about his contacts with a Kremlin-linked professor who claimed that Russia had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton while he was working for the Trump campaign. | |
| Hill was freshman congresswoman and rising Democratic star who resigned Monday amid allegations of an inappropriate sexual relationship with a staffer and following the non-consensual release and publication of nude photographs. | |
| I’ll leave it to you to decide what the symbolism of the scope view is on Papadopoulos’s campaign website. One result of his candidacy? He’ll now be allowed to promote misinformation in paid advertisements on Facebook. | |
| George Papadopoulos already has a campaign website up. https://t.co/Fo8YHaGbIL pic.twitter.com/cpyBmLGEvA | |
| White House aide Robert Blair is expected to testify before a closed session of the House impeachment inquiry on Friday, Reuters reports, citing an official on the impeachment probe. | White House aide Robert Blair is expected to testify before a closed session of the House impeachment inquiry on Friday, Reuters reports, citing an official on the impeachment probe. |
| Blair is one of the officials who listened in on the phone conversation between Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that led to the whistleblower complaint and subsequent impeachment investigation, according to CNN. | Blair is one of the officials who listened in on the phone conversation between Donald Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky that led to the whistleblower complaint and subsequent impeachment investigation, according to CNN. |
| His current title is assistant to the president and senior adviser to acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. Prior to working in the White House, he was associate director for national security programs in the Office of Management and Budget, where he also served under Mulvaney. | His current title is assistant to the president and senior adviser to acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. Prior to working in the White House, he was associate director for national security programs in the Office of Management and Budget, where he also served under Mulvaney. |
| The US House of Representatives just voted overwhelmingly to recognize the Armenian Genocide, with 405 yes votes and 11 noes. | The US House of Representatives just voted overwhelmingly to recognize the Armenian Genocide, with 405 yes votes and 11 noes. |
| The non-binding resolution marks the first time in 35 years that either branch of Congress recognized the early 20th century slaughter of up to 1.5m Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as a genocide, according to the Los Angeles Times. | The non-binding resolution marks the first time in 35 years that either branch of Congress recognized the early 20th century slaughter of up to 1.5m Armenians by the Ottoman Empire as a genocide, according to the Los Angeles Times. |
| The Turkish government has long refused to acknowledge the genocide, creating a diplomatic bind for its allies. But Turkey’s recent actions against Kurds near its border with Syria created a political opening for the resolution’s passage. | The Turkish government has long refused to acknowledge the genocide, creating a diplomatic bind for its allies. But Turkey’s recent actions against Kurds near its border with Syria created a political opening for the resolution’s passage. |
| “Given that the Turks are once again involved in ethnic cleansing the population— this time the Kurds who live along the Turkish-Syrian border— it seemed all the more appropriate to bring up a resolution about the Ottoman efforts to annihilate an entire people in the Armenian genocide,” representative Adam Schiff, who sponsored the resolution, said to the LA Times. | “Given that the Turks are once again involved in ethnic cleansing the population— this time the Kurds who live along the Turkish-Syrian border— it seemed all the more appropriate to bring up a resolution about the Ottoman efforts to annihilate an entire people in the Armenian genocide,” representative Adam Schiff, who sponsored the resolution, said to the LA Times. |
| Hello everyone, this is Julia Carrie Wong in (thus far, thankfully) wildfire-free Oakland, California, picking up the blog for the rest of the day. | Hello everyone, this is Julia Carrie Wong in (thus far, thankfully) wildfire-free Oakland, California, picking up the blog for the rest of the day. |
| White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has responded to the House resolution on impeachment by calling it a “scam” and complaining that the Trump administration is being denied “basic due process rights”. | White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has responded to the House resolution on impeachment by calling it a “scam” and complaining that the Trump administration is being denied “basic due process rights”. |
| The full statement reads: | The full statement reads: |
| The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats’ impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorization by a House vote. | The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats’ impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorization by a House vote. |
| It continues this scam by allowing Chairman Schiff, who repeatedly lies to the American people, to hold a new round of hearings, still without any due process for the President. | It continues this scam by allowing Chairman Schiff, who repeatedly lies to the American people, to hold a new round of hearings, still without any due process for the President. |
| The White House is barred from participating at all, until after Chairman Schiff conducts two rounds of one-sided hearings to generate a biased report for the Judiciary Committee. Even then, the White House’s rights remain undefined, unclear, and uncertain – because those rules still haven’t been written. | The White House is barred from participating at all, until after Chairman Schiff conducts two rounds of one-sided hearings to generate a biased report for the Judiciary Committee. Even then, the White House’s rights remain undefined, unclear, and uncertain – because those rules still haven’t been written. |
| This resolution does nothing to change the fundamental fact that House Democrats refuse to provide basic due process rights to the Administration. | This resolution does nothing to change the fundamental fact that House Democrats refuse to provide basic due process rights to the Administration. |
| That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Julia Carrie Wong, will take over the blog for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Julia Carrie Wong, will take over the blog for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| The House rules committee released its resolution outlining next steps on impeachment, which established that Adam Schiff’s intelligence committee would take the lead on public hearings. | The House rules committee released its resolution outlining next steps on impeachment, which established that Adam Schiff’s intelligence committee would take the lead on public hearings. |
| Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the national security council, testified behind closed doors to impeachment investigators. According to his opening statement, Vindman intended to testify that he had concerns after listening to Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president. | Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the national security council, testified behind closed doors to impeachment investigators. According to his opening statement, Vindman intended to testify that he had concerns after listening to Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president. |
| The president attacked Vindman as a “never Trumper,” while some conservative commentators suggested that the Purple Heart recipient may not be entirely loyal to the United States because he was born in the Soviet Union. (Some commentators later walked back those comments following intense criticism.) | The president attacked Vindman as a “never Trumper,” while some conservative commentators suggested that the Purple Heart recipient may not be entirely loyal to the United States because he was born in the Soviet Union. (Some commentators later walked back those comments following intense criticism.) |
| British MPs approved Boris Johnson’s proposal to hold a general election on December 12, giving voters another chance to weigh in on Brexit after the prime minister failed to withdraw the UK from the EU by his set deadline of October 31. Follow the UK politics live blog for more updates. | British MPs approved Boris Johnson’s proposal to hold a general election on December 12, giving voters another chance to weigh in on Brexit after the prime minister failed to withdraw the UK from the EU by his set deadline of October 31. Follow the UK politics live blog for more updates. |
| Julia will have more on the news of the day, so stay tuned. | Julia will have more on the news of the day, so stay tuned. |
| Representative Bradley Byrne said he would not drop out of the Alabama Senate race, even if Jeff Sessions launched a bid to reclaim the seat he held for two decades. | Representative Bradley Byrne said he would not drop out of the Alabama Senate race, even if Jeff Sessions launched a bid to reclaim the seat he held for two decades. |
| Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne says he’ll stay in the Senate race even if Jeff Sessions gets in, per @AlexRogersDC. “No matter who’s in the race at 5:01pm on November 8, I’m in it." | Alabama Rep. Bradley Byrne says he’ll stay in the Senate race even if Jeff Sessions gets in, per @AlexRogersDC. “No matter who’s in the race at 5:01pm on November 8, I’m in it." |
| Reports have emerged that Sessions, Trump’s former attorney general who had a falling out with the president over the Russia investigation, is seriously considering a Senate bid. Politico reports: | Reports have emerged that Sessions, Trump’s former attorney general who had a falling out with the president over the Russia investigation, is seriously considering a Senate bid. Politico reports: |
| Sessions would scramble the already crowded field of Republicans seeking to take on Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who won a 2017 special election to fill the remainder of Sessions’ term and is widely viewed as the most vulnerable senator on the ballot next year. ... | Sessions would scramble the already crowded field of Republicans seeking to take on Democratic Sen. Doug Jones, who won a 2017 special election to fill the remainder of Sessions’ term and is widely viewed as the most vulnerable senator on the ballot next year. ... |
| Five Republicans are already in the race: Rep. Bradley Byrne, former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville, Secretary of State John Merrill, state Rep. Arnold Mooney and Roy Moore, the former state Supreme Court judge who lost the special election in 2017 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. | Five Republicans are already in the race: Rep. Bradley Byrne, former Auburn University football coach Tommy Tuberville, Secretary of State John Merrill, state Rep. Arnold Mooney and Roy Moore, the former state Supreme Court judge who lost the special election in 2017 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. |
| Sessions has some high-profile allies pushing him to run for his old seat, including the conservative Club for Growth. | Sessions has some high-profile allies pushing him to run for his old seat, including the conservative Club for Growth. |
| Boris Johnson appears to have won his battle to hold a general election on December 12 after the British prime minister failed to withdraw the UK from the EU by his set deadline of October 31. | Boris Johnson appears to have won his battle to hold a general election on December 12 after the British prime minister failed to withdraw the UK from the EU by his set deadline of October 31. |
| MPs voted 438 to 20 to take the UK to the polls in about six weeks. The election will be the first held in December since 1923 and will provide the British public a chance to once again weigh in on Brexit as the EU separation looms. | MPs voted 438 to 20 to take the UK to the polls in about six weeks. The election will be the first held in December since 1923 and will provide the British public a chance to once again weigh in on Brexit as the EU separation looms. |
| To get the latest updates, follow Andrew Sparrow’s UK politics live blog. | To get the latest updates, follow Andrew Sparrow’s UK politics live blog. |
| The opening statement of Alexander Vindman, who is now testifying before impeachment investigators, has led at least one House Democrat to accuse Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, of perjuring himself before the committees. | The opening statement of Alexander Vindman, who is now testifying before impeachment investigators, has led at least one House Democrat to accuse Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, of perjuring himself before the committees. |
| Based on all the testimony so far, I believe that Ambassador Gordon Sondland committed perjury. https://t.co/lOGRj8s1yP | Based on all the testimony so far, I believe that Ambassador Gordon Sondland committed perjury. https://t.co/lOGRj8s1yP |
| Politico has more context on the Sondland controversy: | Politico has more context on the Sondland controversy: |
| Testimony from other witnesses has put the credibility of Trump’s most favorable witness into serious doubt as the White House struggles to define a response to the House’s ongoing impeachment inquiry beyond simply refusing to cooperate with it. | Testimony from other witnesses has put the credibility of Trump’s most favorable witness into serious doubt as the White House struggles to define a response to the House’s ongoing impeachment inquiry beyond simply refusing to cooperate with it. |
| Democrats have cited Sondland’s repeated memory lapses pertaining to central events surrounding Trump’s pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Joe Biden. | Democrats have cited Sondland’s repeated memory lapses pertaining to central events surrounding Trump’s pressure campaign to get Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Joe Biden. |
| They raised similar questions about Sondland’s truthfulness following the testimony last week of acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, who said Sondland had conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the release of U.S. military assistance aid was predicated upon Zelensky publicly committing to the investigations Trump demanded. | They raised similar questions about Sondland’s truthfulness following the testimony last week of acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor, who said Sondland had conveyed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the release of U.S. military assistance aid was predicated upon Zelensky publicly committing to the investigations Trump demanded. |
| But it was the opening statement made public late Monday by Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Trump’s top National Security Council adviser on Ukraine, that had Democrats questioning Sondland’s testimony most pointedly. | But it was the opening statement made public late Monday by Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, Trump’s top National Security Council adviser on Ukraine, that had Democrats questioning Sondland’s testimony most pointedly. |
| The House rules committees is expected to consider and possibly amend the impeachment resolution tomorrow afternoon, with a vote on the proposal still set for Thursday. | The House rules committees is expected to consider and possibly amend the impeachment resolution tomorrow afternoon, with a vote on the proposal still set for Thursday. |
| Meanwhile, the White House made clear that the resolution has not changed its opinion of the inquiry at all, dismissing the whole process as a “sham.” | Meanwhile, the White House made clear that the resolution has not changed its opinion of the inquiry at all, dismissing the whole process as a “sham.” |
| Reaction from a White House official to the text of the House Democrats’ impeachment resolution: “Nothing has changed, this is a sham.” | Reaction from a White House official to the text of the House Democrats’ impeachment resolution: “Nothing has changed, this is a sham.” |
| A Politico reporter noted that most of the newly released impeachment resolution is in line with current House rules about public hearings. | A Politico reporter noted that most of the newly released impeachment resolution is in line with current House rules about public hearings. |
| VERY LITTLE in this House resolution beyond what's already in House Rules. Here's what *already exists* in House rules, which allow staff questioning and rounds for the chair/ranking member that go longer than five minutes: pic.twitter.com/qFDG11sTuV | VERY LITTLE in this House resolution beyond what's already in House Rules. Here's what *already exists* in House rules, which allow staff questioning and rounds for the chair/ranking member that go longer than five minutes: pic.twitter.com/qFDG11sTuV |
| The Democratic chairs of four House committees – intelligence, judiciary, foreign affairs and oversight – have released a statement saying that the newly released resolution will provide a “pathway forward” on impeachment. | The Democratic chairs of four House committees – intelligence, judiciary, foreign affairs and oversight – have released a statement saying that the newly released resolution will provide a “pathway forward” on impeachment. |
| 4 Chairs stmt on Resolution for Open Hearings on Trump’s Abuse of Power - @RepAdamSchiff @RepJerryNadler @CarolynBMaloney @RepEliotEngel pic.twitter.com/Y5kAcKEMJ8 | 4 Chairs stmt on Resolution for Open Hearings on Trump’s Abuse of Power - @RepAdamSchiff @RepJerryNadler @CarolynBMaloney @RepEliotEngel pic.twitter.com/Y5kAcKEMJ8 |
| The chairs said: “The evidence we have already collected paints the picture of a President who abused his power by using multiple levers of government to press a foreign country to interfere in the 2020 election. | The chairs said: “The evidence we have already collected paints the picture of a President who abused his power by using multiple levers of government to press a foreign country to interfere in the 2020 election. |
| “Following in the footsteps of previous impeachment inquiries, the next phase will move from closed depositions to open hearings where the American people will learn firsthand about the President’s misconduct.” | “Following in the footsteps of previous impeachment inquiries, the next phase will move from closed depositions to open hearings where the American people will learn firsthand about the President’s misconduct.” |
| In a fact sheet on the newly released resolution, Democrats told their members that the outlined impeachment procedures would help to ensure “transparency” and give Trump “opportunities to participate.” | In a fact sheet on the newly released resolution, Democrats told their members that the outlined impeachment procedures would help to ensure “transparency” and give Trump “opportunities to participate.” |
| Democrats just put out this fact sheet about the resolution highlighting key parts of it. This gives Republicans some of what they were demanding including President Trump and his lawyers having access to evidence and being able to cross examine witnesses. pic.twitter.com/qxviYkHJqG | Democrats just put out this fact sheet about the resolution highlighting key parts of it. This gives Republicans some of what they were demanding including President Trump and his lawyers having access to evidence and being able to cross examine witnesses. pic.twitter.com/qxviYkHJqG |
| The president and his allies have complained that the inquiry so far has been too secretive and denied Trump any chance to defend himself, but House Republicans are unlikely to support the resolution. | The president and his allies have complained that the inquiry so far has been too secretive and denied Trump any chance to defend himself, but House Republicans are unlikely to support the resolution. |