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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/oct/31/trump-news-today-live-impeachment-inquiry-tim-morrison
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| Nancy Pelosi: 'Our democracy' is at stake in impeachment resolution – live | Nancy Pelosi: 'Our democracy' is at stake in impeachment resolution – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| House members are currently taking a procedural vote on the impeachment resolution. The vote on the resolution itself will likely begin in about 15 minutes and conclude around 11:30 a.m. E.T. | |
| With this procedural vote starting at 10:55 am et...Fox estimates the VOTE ITSELF ON THE IMPEACHMENT RESOLUTION will begin at 11:20ish am Fox then estimates that the vote on the resolution. will conclude around 11:28 am | |
| The House has concluded debate on the impeachment resolution and is moving on to the vote series that will determine whether members approve it. | |
| Debate has now concluded on the impeachment resolution and the House is moving into the vote series currently taking a procedural vote and then the NEXT VOTE is the vote to adopt the resolution | |
| House Republicans are now denouncing the impeachment resolution on the floor, with minority leader Kevin McCarthy accusing Democrats of ignoring other legislative priorities to focus on impeachment. | |
| Republican leader McCarthy speaking now and the chamber just got a lot quieter. “We are not working for the American people” McCarthy said this Congress has issued more subpoenas than laws. | |
| House minority whip Steve Scalise used a poster to repeat his claim that Democrats are pursuing “Soviet-style” tactics with their investigation. | |
| The Republican pushback from members including @SteveScalise pic.twitter.com/h6e4Jy2PLe | |
| However, a New Yorker writer and former Moscow bureau chief for the Washington Post contradicted that assessment of the inquiry. | |
| Just in case anyone is unsure, Soviets did not have impeachment proceedings. They had the Gulag. https://t.co/kFfGn7jUZl | |
| During her press conference, Nancy Pelosi also touched on the subject of Katie Hill, the Democratic congresswoman who announced her resignation Sunday following the release of nude photos of her and allegations of a relationship with one of her staffers. | |
| Pelosi praised her fellow California Democrat as an “absolutely outstanding young public servant” who was “respected by her colleagues.” | |
| The House speaker noted that Hill made her own determination about whether and when to resign. “She made her decision and her timing, and I respect that,” Pelosi said. | |
| The speaker also noted that she has warned her grandchildren that “appearances” on social media can be taken out of context and “come back to haunt you.” | |
| Hill is expected to deliver her final floor speech this afternoon, after the vote on the impeachment resolution. | |
| “This resolution sets the stage for the next phase of our investigation, one in which the American people have the opportunity to hear from the witnesses first-hand,” House intelligence chairman Adam Schiff said in a floor speech ahead of the vote. “We will continue to conduct this inquiry with the seriousness of purpose that our task deserves because it is our duty and because no one is above the law.” | “This resolution sets the stage for the next phase of our investigation, one in which the American people have the opportunity to hear from the witnesses first-hand,” House intelligence chairman Adam Schiff said in a floor speech ahead of the vote. “We will continue to conduct this inquiry with the seriousness of purpose that our task deserves because it is our duty and because no one is above the law.” |
| Nancy Pelosi opened her remarks on the House floor by reading the “most beautiful lines in our country’s history” – the introduction to the US constitution. | Nancy Pelosi opened her remarks on the House floor by reading the “most beautiful lines in our country’s history” – the introduction to the US constitution. |
| The House speaker urged support for the resolution by citing a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who, when asked if the Founders had created a republic or a monarchy, is believed to have responded: “A republic if you can keep it.” | The House speaker urged support for the resolution by citing a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin, who, when asked if the Founders had created a republic or a monarchy, is believed to have responded: “A republic if you can keep it.” |
| Nancy Pelosi is now talking to reporters in her weekly press conference, saying that it is a “sad day” when lawmakers have to vote on an impeachment measure. | Nancy Pelosi is now talking to reporters in her weekly press conference, saying that it is a “sad day” when lawmakers have to vote on an impeachment measure. |
| The House speaker added that no decision had yet been made on whether members of her caucus would eventually support Trump’s impeachent. | The House speaker added that no decision had yet been made on whether members of her caucus would eventually support Trump’s impeachent. |
| "As the inquiry proceeds, we'll decide whether we'll go forward with impeachment. That decision has not yet been made," @SpeakerPelosi says at her weekly press conference ahead of a the vote on the impeachment resolution. | "As the inquiry proceeds, we'll decide whether we'll go forward with impeachment. That decision has not yet been made," @SpeakerPelosi says at her weekly press conference ahead of a the vote on the impeachment resolution. |
| However, it seems highly likely that the Democratic-controlled House will soon vote to impeach the president. | However, it seems highly likely that the Democratic-controlled House will soon vote to impeach the president. |
| Nancy Pelosi framed the impeachment resolution, and the inquiry more broadly, as a measure to defend the principles of the US constitution. | Nancy Pelosi framed the impeachment resolution, and the inquiry more broadly, as a measure to defend the principles of the US constitution. |
| Pelosi: "This Constitution is the blueprint for our republic—and not a monarchy."But when we have a president who says Article Two says I can do whatever I want, that is in defiance of the separation of powers. That's not what our Constitution says." https://t.co/OzrDAzDZ9Y pic.twitter.com/m5SeQoj7FA | Pelosi: "This Constitution is the blueprint for our republic—and not a monarchy."But when we have a president who says Article Two says I can do whatever I want, that is in defiance of the separation of powers. That's not what our Constitution says." https://t.co/OzrDAzDZ9Y pic.twitter.com/m5SeQoj7FA |
| The House speaker said: “What is at stake in all of this is nothing less than our democracy.” | The House speaker said: “What is at stake in all of this is nothing less than our democracy.” |
| Nancy Pelosi is now speaking on the House floor about the impeachment resolution, arguing the measure will enable lawmakers to find the truth about the allegations against Trump. | Nancy Pelosi is now speaking on the House floor about the impeachment resolution, arguing the measure will enable lawmakers to find the truth about the allegations against Trump. |
| .@SpeakerPelosi addressing the House chamber and stressing the seriousness of the vote to move the impeachment inquiry to the next, more public phase. pic.twitter.com/UVK6fVhO6v | .@SpeakerPelosi addressing the House chamber and stressing the seriousness of the vote to move the impeachment inquiry to the next, more public phase. pic.twitter.com/UVK6fVhO6v |
| Standing beside an American flag poster, the House speaker said: “This is a solemn occasion. ... I doubt anybody in this place or anybody that you know ... comes to Congress to impeach the president of the United States unless his actions are jeopardizing honoring our oath of office.” | Standing beside an American flag poster, the House speaker said: “This is a solemn occasion. ... I doubt anybody in this place or anybody that you know ... comes to Congress to impeach the president of the United States unless his actions are jeopardizing honoring our oath of office.” |
| House Democrats have scheduled four depositions on Monday as they look to wrap up the closed-door interviews in the impeachment inquiry and advance to public hearings. | House Democrats have scheduled four depositions on Monday as they look to wrap up the closed-door interviews in the impeachment inquiry and advance to public hearings. |
| Busy Monday before impeachment investigators - John Eisenberg, National Security Council attorney - Robert Blair, Mulvaney deputy - Michael Ellis, Eisenberg deputy - Brian McCormack, OMB official and former DOE chief Uncertain if they will all definitely show | Busy Monday before impeachment investigators - John Eisenberg, National Security Council attorney - Robert Blair, Mulvaney deputy - Michael Ellis, Eisenberg deputy - Brian McCormack, OMB official and former DOE chief Uncertain if they will all definitely show |
| It remains unknown whether the officials will comply with the interview requests, given that the White House still refuses to cooperate with the investigation. | It remains unknown whether the officials will comply with the interview requests, given that the White House still refuses to cooperate with the investigation. |
| However, if the depositions were to occur, John Eisenberg’s testimony could prove particularly damaging for Trump. The White House lawyer was reportedly the person who proposed the unusual move of placing the transcript of the Ukraine call in a secure server. | However, if the depositions were to occur, John Eisenberg’s testimony could prove particularly damaging for Trump. The White House lawyer was reportedly the person who proposed the unusual move of placing the transcript of the Ukraine call in a secure server. |
| The Washington Post reported yesterday: | The Washington Post reported yesterday: |
| Moments after President Trump ended his phone call with Ukraine’s president on July 25, an unsettled national security aide rushed to the office of White House lawyer John Eisenberg. | Moments after President Trump ended his phone call with Ukraine’s president on July 25, an unsettled national security aide rushed to the office of White House lawyer John Eisenberg. |
| Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine adviser at the White House, had been listening to the call and was disturbed by the pressure Trump had applied to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his political rivals, according to people familiar with Vindman’s testimony to lawmakers this week. | Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine adviser at the White House, had been listening to the call and was disturbed by the pressure Trump had applied to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his political rivals, according to people familiar with Vindman’s testimony to lawmakers this week. |
| Vindman told Eisenberg, the White House’s legal adviser on national security issues, that what the president did was wrong, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation. | Vindman told Eisenberg, the White House’s legal adviser on national security issues, that what the president did was wrong, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation. |
| Scribbling notes on a yellow legal pad, Eisenberg proposed a step that other officials have said is at odds with long-standing White House protocol: moving a transcript of the call to a highly classified server and restricting access to it, according to two people familiar with Vindman’s account. | Scribbling notes on a yellow legal pad, Eisenberg proposed a step that other officials have said is at odds with long-standing White House protocol: moving a transcript of the call to a highly classified server and restricting access to it, according to two people familiar with Vindman’s account. |
| House Democrats appear largely unified in support of the resolution outlining next steps in the impeachment inquiry. | House Democrats appear largely unified in support of the resolution outlining next steps in the impeachment inquiry. |
| Only two members of the House Democratic caucus – Colin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey – were expected to vote against the resolution. | Only two members of the House Democratic caucus – Colin Peterson of Minnesota and Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey – were expected to vote against the resolution. |
| Dem leaders expect to lose just two votes: Colin Peterson (whose district went for Trump +30 in 2016) and Jeff Van Drew (Trump +5) https://t.co/Y0EXilCDCn | Dem leaders expect to lose just two votes: Colin Peterson (whose district went for Trump +30 in 2016) and Jeff Van Drew (Trump +5) https://t.co/Y0EXilCDCn |
| However, House Republicans were also expected to be unified in opposition to the resolution, so they will likely cite the vote’s outcome to bolster their argument that the investigation is highly partisan. | However, House Republicans were also expected to be unified in opposition to the resolution, so they will likely cite the vote’s outcome to bolster their argument that the investigation is highly partisan. |
| Nancy Pelosi rather unusually presided over the House herself this morning as members began to debate the impeachment resolution. | Nancy Pelosi rather unusually presided over the House herself this morning as members began to debate the impeachment resolution. |
| .@SpeakerPelosi taking the unusual step of presiding over the House herself as they begin debate on the procedures for the impeachment inquiry going forward | .@SpeakerPelosi taking the unusual step of presiding over the House herself as they begin debate on the procedures for the impeachment inquiry going forward |
| The resolution, which outlines the procedures the House will follow as the inquiry advances to public hearings, will likely get a vote between 10.30am and 11.30am ET. | The resolution, which outlines the procedures the House will follow as the inquiry advances to public hearings, will likely get a vote between 10.30am and 11.30am ET. |
| Pelosi is also expected to speak to reporters about the resolution at the House speaker’s press briefing in about 30 minutes. | Pelosi is also expected to speak to reporters about the resolution at the House speaker’s press briefing in about 30 minutes. |
| Tim Morrison, the national security council official currently testifying behind closed doors in the impeachment inquiry, reportedly intends to confirm Bill Taylor’s account that the White House held up Ukraine’s military assistance to push for public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election. | Tim Morrison, the national security council official currently testifying behind closed doors in the impeachment inquiry, reportedly intends to confirm Bill Taylor’s account that the White House held up Ukraine’s military assistance to push for public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election. |
| The Washington Post reports: | The Washington Post reports: |
| Morrison is expected to tell impeachment investigators on Thursday that the account offered by Ambassador William B. Taylor Jr., is accurate, particularly that Morrison alerted him to the president’s and his deputies’ push to withhold security aid and a meeting with the Ukrainian president until Ukraine announced an investigation of the Bidens and 2016 election interference, the person said on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive discussions. | Morrison is expected to tell impeachment investigators on Thursday that the account offered by Ambassador William B. Taylor Jr., is accurate, particularly that Morrison alerted him to the president’s and his deputies’ push to withhold security aid and a meeting with the Ukrainian president until Ukraine announced an investigation of the Bidens and 2016 election interference, the person said on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive discussions. |
| Morrison will also say that he did not necessarily view the president’s demands as improper or illegal, but rather problematic for U.S. policy in supporting an ally in the region, the person said. | Morrison will also say that he did not necessarily view the president’s demands as improper or illegal, but rather problematic for U.S. policy in supporting an ally in the region, the person said. |
| House Democrats are hoping that Tim Morrison can provide the key link between Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who has denied any quid pro quo in the delaying of military assistance to Ukraine, and Bill Taylor, who outlined such a scheme in his testimony to impeachment investigators. | House Democrats are hoping that Tim Morrison can provide the key link between Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who has denied any quid pro quo in the delaying of military assistance to Ukraine, and Bill Taylor, who outlined such a scheme in his testimony to impeachment investigators. |
| However, despite Morrison’s imminent departure from the national security council, the official may not be looking to reveal everything he knows to the House committees this morning. | However, despite Morrison’s imminent departure from the national security council, the official may not be looking to reveal everything he knows to the House committees this morning. |
| The Washington Post’s Josh Rogin writes: | The Washington Post’s Josh Rogin writes: |
| Democrats might not want to pin their impeachment hopes on his testimony Thursday, because there are three things Morrison is not: a whistleblower, a Never Trumper or a potential member of the Resistance. ... | Democrats might not want to pin their impeachment hopes on his testimony Thursday, because there are three things Morrison is not: a whistleblower, a Never Trumper or a potential member of the Resistance. ... |
| [Morrison] likely won’t give the Democrats the thing they want most, a full-throated endorsement of their characterization of the Ukraine scheme as a quid pro quo. Morrison will likely try to stick to the facts, be honest and not burn his bosses or the president in the process. That won’t be easy. | [Morrison] likely won’t give the Democrats the thing they want most, a full-throated endorsement of their characterization of the Ukraine scheme as a quid pro quo. Morrison will likely try to stick to the facts, be honest and not burn his bosses or the president in the process. That won’t be easy. |
| Good morning, live blog readers! | Good morning, live blog readers! |
| Today’s impeachment proceedings are underway, with Tim Morrison having already arrived for his closed-door testimony with the committees leading the inquiry. | Today’s impeachment proceedings are underway, with Tim Morrison having already arrived for his closed-door testimony with the committees leading the inquiry. |
| AND Tim Morrison in the House for his closed door deposition pic.twitter.com/Ldozeg5DI1 | AND Tim Morrison in the House for his closed door deposition pic.twitter.com/Ldozeg5DI1 |
| Morrison’s appearance was already highly anticipated, given Bill Taylor’s reported testimony last week that the national security council official told him about Gordon Sondland allegedly informing Ukrainian officials their US military aid was contingent on public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election. | Morrison’s appearance was already highly anticipated, given Bill Taylor’s reported testimony last week that the national security council official told him about Gordon Sondland allegedly informing Ukrainian officials their US military aid was contingent on public announcements of investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election. |
| However, Morrison’s testimony is even more dramatic following last night’s reports that the official is stepping down from his post at the White House. It’s still unclear whether Morrison resigned voluntarily or was asked to leave, but the development puts even more weight on what he may tell impeachment investigators today. | However, Morrison’s testimony is even more dramatic following last night’s reports that the official is stepping down from his post at the White House. It’s still unclear whether Morrison resigned voluntarily or was asked to leave, but the development puts even more weight on what he may tell impeachment investigators today. |
| Here’s what else the bog is keeping an eye on: | Here’s what else the bog is keeping an eye on: |
| Trump has no events on his public schedule today, so some impeachment-themed tweets seem likely. | Trump has no events on his public schedule today, so some impeachment-themed tweets seem likely. |
| The House vote on the impeachment resolution will likely happen between 10.30am and 11.30am ET. | The House vote on the impeachment resolution will likely happen between 10.30am and 11.30am ET. |
| Nancy Pelosi will brief reporters at 10.15am ET. | Nancy Pelosi will brief reporters at 10.15am ET. |
| The blog will have plenty more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have plenty more coming up, so stay tuned. |