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Live Updates: Democrats’ Rules Approved for Impeachment Inquiry Democrats’ Rules Approved for Impeachment Inquiry: Live Updates
(about 1 hour later)
The House of Representatives voted Thursday to endorse the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry into President Trump, setting up a new public phase of the process. The vote was on a resolution that sets rules for the public phase of an impeachment inquiry that has so far been conducted exclusively behind closed doors. The final tally was 232-196, largely along party lines.
The vote, 232-196, was largely along party lines. It authorized the House Intelligence Committee — the panel that has been leading the investigation and conducting private depositions — to convene public hearings and produce a report that will guide the Judiciary Committee as it considers whether to draft articles of impeachment against President Trump.
The vote was on a resolution sets rules for the public phase of an impeachment inquiry that has so far been conducted exclusively behind closed doors. It authorized the House Intelligence Committee — the panel that has been leading the investigation and conducting private depositions — to convene public hearings and produce a report that will guide the Judiciary Committee as it considers whether to draft articles of impeachment against President Trump.
The measure also gives the president rights in the Judiciary Committee, allowing his lawyers to participate in hearings and giving Republicans the chance to request subpoenas for witnesses and documents. But the White House says it does not provide “basic due process rights,” and Republicans complain that their ability to issue subpoenas is limited. They will need the consent of Democrats, or a vote of a majority of members. That has been standard in previous modern impeachments. The majority has the final say over how the proceedings unfold.The measure also gives the president rights in the Judiciary Committee, allowing his lawyers to participate in hearings and giving Republicans the chance to request subpoenas for witnesses and documents. But the White House says it does not provide “basic due process rights,” and Republicans complain that their ability to issue subpoenas is limited. They will need the consent of Democrats, or a vote of a majority of members. That has been standard in previous modern impeachments. The majority has the final say over how the proceedings unfold.
Immediately after the vote, Mr. Trump again attacked the inquiry on Twitter. Immediately after the vote, President Trump again attacked the inquiry on Twitter.
In a statement, the White House press secretary also attacked the inquiry and the Democratic leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, calling it “unhinged obsession” of her party.In a statement, the White House press secretary also attacked the inquiry and the Democratic leader, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, calling it “unhinged obsession” of her party.
“The president has done nothing wrong, and the Democrats know it,” the press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said.“The president has done nothing wrong, and the Democrats know it,” the press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, said.
As lawmakers were preparing for a midmorning vote, Democratic and Republican investigators leading the impeachment inquiry were four floors below in the bowels of the Capitol, questioning yet another witness behind closed doors.
The witness, Timothy Morrison, the former top Russia expert for the National Security Council, appeared under subpoena despite a White House directive not to, according to an official involved in the inquiry. He is the second current white House official to testify before the inquiry this week, following Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman.The witness, Timothy Morrison, the former top Russia expert for the National Security Council, appeared under subpoena despite a White House directive not to, according to an official involved in the inquiry. He is the second current white House official to testify before the inquiry this week, following Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman.
Little was known about what Mr. Morrison intends to say. Other witnesses have said he informed them about efforts by Mr. Trump and his ambassador to the European Union, Gordon D. Sondland, made clear to the Ukrainians that they expected a public pledge for certain politically advantageous investigations before the security assistance would be released.Little was known about what Mr. Morrison intends to say. Other witnesses have said he informed them about efforts by Mr. Trump and his ambassador to the European Union, Gordon D. Sondland, made clear to the Ukrainians that they expected a public pledge for certain politically advantageous investigations before the security assistance would be released.
Mr. Morrison resigned his post at the National Security Council on Thursday ahead of the testimony, though he had been weighing leaving for some time, according to another official familiar with the matter.Mr. Morrison resigned his post at the National Security Council on Thursday ahead of the testimony, though he had been weighing leaving for some time, according to another official familiar with the matter.
In a rare gesture, Speaker Nancy Pelosi presided over the House chamber as the text of the procedures and the resolution outlining the public stage of the inquiry was read into the Congressional Record.In a rare gesture, Speaker Nancy Pelosi presided over the House chamber as the text of the procedures and the resolution outlining the public stage of the inquiry was read into the Congressional Record.
Standing next to a poster of the American flag, Ms. Pelosi repeatedly evoked the tenets of the Constitution as she framed the vote as an act of transparency as lawmakers investigate whether Mr. Trump abused his office in pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival.Standing next to a poster of the American flag, Ms. Pelosi repeatedly evoked the tenets of the Constitution as she framed the vote as an act of transparency as lawmakers investigate whether Mr. Trump abused his office in pressuring Ukraine to investigate a political rival.
“That is really what this vote is about,” Ms. Pelosi said. “It is about the truth.”“That is really what this vote is about,” Ms. Pelosi said. “It is about the truth.”
After she concluded her remarks, the dozens of Democrats already gathered in the chamber broke into applause.After she concluded her remarks, the dozens of Democrats already gathered in the chamber broke into applause.
Republican lawmakers continued to argue that under the procedures and the resolution outlined by House Democrats, Mr. Trump would not have the opportunity to sufficiently defend himself against the allegations.Republican lawmakers continued to argue that under the procedures and the resolution outlined by House Democrats, Mr. Trump would not have the opportunity to sufficiently defend himself against the allegations.
At a news conference early Thursday morning, Ms. Pelosi dismissed questions about Republican concerns, saying that “these rules are fairer than anything that have gone before in terms of an impeachment proceeding.”— Emily CochraneAt a news conference early Thursday morning, Ms. Pelosi dismissed questions about Republican concerns, saying that “these rules are fairer than anything that have gone before in terms of an impeachment proceeding.”— Emily Cochrane
Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the Republican whip, emerged from the House floor triumphant that not a single member of his party broke ranks to support the House Democrats’ resolution.Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the Republican whip, emerged from the House floor triumphant that not a single member of his party broke ranks to support the House Democrats’ resolution.
“There were a lot of questions today about whether or not Republicans would stick together on this vote and do the right thing for the country,” Mr. Scalise said. “I can tell you that our conference stood strong.”“There were a lot of questions today about whether or not Republicans would stick together on this vote and do the right thing for the country,” Mr. Scalise said. “I can tell you that our conference stood strong.”
In a victory lap in the speaker’s lobby, Mr. Scalise noted that two Democrats opposed the resolution.In a victory lap in the speaker’s lobby, Mr. Scalise noted that two Democrats opposed the resolution.
“Nancy Pelosi, at the beginning of this Congress, said if there’s going to be impeachment it has to be bipartisan,” he said. “In fact the only bipartisan vote today was against impeachment.”— Catie Edmondson“Nancy Pelosi, at the beginning of this Congress, said if there’s going to be impeachment it has to be bipartisan,” he said. “In fact the only bipartisan vote today was against impeachment.”— Catie Edmondson
Mr. Trump has repeatedly asserted that there was nothing damning in his “perfect” call with the Ukrainian president. Republicans are already making hay of the fact that their side was the only one to stay united in today’s House vote. Two Democrats broke ranks to vote against a resolution endorsing an impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
Democrats see the situation differently, to say the least. Before the lawmakers voted on the impeachment rules, the president on Twitter urged the public to read the reconstructed transcript of the July 25 call with President Volodymyr Zelensky that the White House released last month. Among the replies was a tart response from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of his top critics in the House. But 21 years ago, a much larger defection on a similar vote was viewed differently. Back in 1998, the Republican-led House voted 258 to 176 to initiate an impeachment inquiry into President Bill Clinton.
As an article in The New York Times noted at the time: “The quarreling on the House floor was plainly partisan. So was the subsequent vote of 258 to 176, as only 31 of the 206 House Democrats joined the Republican majority and signed on to the resolution for an open-ended impeachment inquiry.”
The story described White House officials as “heartened that not enough Democrats defected to make the vote appear bipartisan.”
A CNN article on the vote at the time also described Democrats as “pleased only 15 percent of their caucus broke ranks.”
Several Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for president in 2020 uniformly praised the House vote to endorse an impeachment inquiry and urged Congress to continue with the process.
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey tweeted that he was “proud of House Democrats” for approving the resolution; former Representative Beto O’Rourke of Texas called it a “good step” but “only the beginning.” And Senator Kamala Harris of California issued what she called a well-timed “reminder” that “no one is above the law, including the president of the United States.”
“This president took an oath to protect and defend the Constitution,” said Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Ind. “So did every member of Congress. This president violated that oath, betraying our country and leaving our representatives with no choice but to uphold their own. Congress must move forward with impeachment.”
In a statement, Tom Steyer, the billionaire and former hedge fund manager who has supported impeachment for more than two years, called Thursday’s vote a “significant step forward” but resisted taking a victory lap.
“I am confident that holding public hearings and showing the people the facts will force Republicans to listen to their constituents and vote to remove Donald Trump from office,” he said. “Only then will we be able to restore our confidence in Congress and move our country forward together.”— Matt Stevens
Mr. 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.Mr. 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.
Read about the Democrats’ rules to govern impeachment proceedings.Read about the Democrats’ rules to govern impeachment proceedings.