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| House releases transcripts from key witnesses in Trump impeachment inquiry – live | House releases transcripts from key witnesses in Trump impeachment inquiry – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Committees release depositions with Marie Yovanovitch and Michael McKinley and say Volker and Sondland transcripts will follow | Committees release depositions with Marie Yovanovitch and Michael McKinley and say Volker and Sondland transcripts will follow |
| Sen. Bernie Sanders slammed Apple on Monday for announcing a $2.5bn pledge to create affordable housing. | |
| The 2020 presidential candidate said the announcement is an effort to frame its entering the housing industry as altruism. | |
| “Apple’s announcement that it is entering the real estate lending business is an effort to distract from the fact that it has helped create California’s housing crisis – all while raking in $800 million of taxpayer subsidies, and keeping a quarter trillion dollars of profit offshore, in order to avoid paying billions of dollars in taxes,” Sanders said in a statement. | |
| Apple said it will devote $1bn to affordable housing investment fund and $1bn to a mortgage assistance fund fund for first-time homebuyers. The company will also create a $150m fund to distribute long-term “forgivable loans” and grants to affordable housing projects. | |
| The commitment of $2.5 bn represents less than 4% of the $65 bnApple made in revenue in quarter four alone. | |
| The Republican National Committee (RNC) reportedly spent $60,000 on tickets for Donald Trump and guests to sit ringside at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at Madison Square Garden over the weekend, the Washington Post reported. | The Republican National Committee (RNC) reportedly spent $60,000 on tickets for Donald Trump and guests to sit ringside at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event at Madison Square Garden over the weekend, the Washington Post reported. |
| It is unclear how many tickets were purchased and at what price, as public ticket prices ranged from $100 to $700 each. One official told the Post the $60,000 total included catering and security. | It is unclear how many tickets were purchased and at what price, as public ticket prices ranged from $100 to $700 each. One official told the Post the $60,000 total included catering and security. |
| From the Post: | From the Post: |
| Trump was pictured posing backstage at the event with a wrestling belt. Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has long been friends with the president. | Trump was pictured posing backstage at the event with a wrestling belt. Dana White, the president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has long been friends with the president. |
| Previously the RNC paid $465 per seat for Trump and 11 officials to attend the fifth game of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros, which Trump left early after being booed. | Previously the RNC paid $465 per seat for Trump and 11 officials to attend the fifth game of the World Series between the Washington Nationals and the Houston Astros, which Trump left early after being booed. |
| A lawyer for Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, said the Ukranian-American business man is now willing to help with the ongoing impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump. | A lawyer for Lev Parnas, an indicted associate of Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, said the Ukranian-American business man is now willing to help with the ongoing impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump. |
| After initially denying requests from the Congressional committee to impeach Donald Trump he is now prepared to comply with requests for records and testimony from congressional impeachment investigators. | After initially denying requests from the Congressional committee to impeach Donald Trump he is now prepared to comply with requests for records and testimony from congressional impeachment investigators. |
| “We will honor and not avoid the committee’s requests to the extent they are legally proper, while scrupulously protecting Mr Parnas’ privileges including that of the Fifth Amendment,” said the lawyer, Joseph Bondy, referring to his client’s constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination. | “We will honor and not avoid the committee’s requests to the extent they are legally proper, while scrupulously protecting Mr Parnas’ privileges including that of the Fifth Amendment,” said the lawyer, Joseph Bondy, referring to his client’s constitutional right to avoid self-incrimination. |
| His previous lawyer, John Dowd, wrote to the committees in early October complaining that their requests for documents were “overly broad and unduly burdensome.” | His previous lawyer, John Dowd, wrote to the committees in early October complaining that their requests for documents were “overly broad and unduly burdensome.” |
| Parnas pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court last month to being part of a scheme that used a shell company to donate money to a pro-Trump election committee and illegally raise money for a former congressman as part of an effort to have the president remove the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. | Parnas pleaded not guilty in Manhattan federal court last month to being part of a scheme that used a shell company to donate money to a pro-Trump election committee and illegally raise money for a former congressman as part of an effort to have the president remove the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. |
| Trump’s request to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a July 25 phone call to investigate the Bidens was at the heart of a whistleblower complaint by an intelligence officer that sparked the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry on Sept. 24. | Trump’s request to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a July 25 phone call to investigate the Bidens was at the heart of a whistleblower complaint by an intelligence officer that sparked the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry on Sept. 24. |
| Hello readers, Kari Paul here taking over the blog for the next few hours. Stay tuned for more news. | Hello readers, Kari Paul here taking over the blog for the next few hours. Stay tuned for more news. |
| It’s been a roller coaster of a day for the Trump administration and the president’s not done yet. As Trump heads to Kentucky, here’s a recap of where the day stands. | It’s been a roller coaster of a day for the Trump administration and the president’s not done yet. As Trump heads to Kentucky, here’s a recap of where the day stands. |
| The House intelligence committee released the transcripts of two key witnesses in the escalating abuse-of-power scandal involving Trump’s efforts to extract damaging information on his political rivals from Ukraine. The committee released the transcripts of former US Ambassador to UkraineMarie Yovanovitch and former senior adviser to the secretary of state, Ambassador Michael McKinley after four witnesses failed to appear on Capitol Hill for depositions. | The House intelligence committee released the transcripts of two key witnesses in the escalating abuse-of-power scandal involving Trump’s efforts to extract damaging information on his political rivals from Ukraine. The committee released the transcripts of former US Ambassador to UkraineMarie Yovanovitch and former senior adviser to the secretary of state, Ambassador Michael McKinley after four witnesses failed to appear on Capitol Hill for depositions. |
| A federal appeals court ruled that Trump’s accounting firm must hand over eight years of his personal and corporate tax returns to Manhattan prosecutors. Trump’s lawyer has vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court. | A federal appeals court ruled that Trump’s accounting firm must hand over eight years of his personal and corporate tax returns to Manhattan prosecutors. Trump’s lawyer has vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court. |
| Writer and advice columnist E Jean Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump over allegations that the president raped her after a chance encounter in a department store more than twenty years ago. Trump has denied the allegation and his press secretary dismissed the suit as “frivolous”. | Writer and advice columnist E Jean Carroll filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump over allegations that the president raped her after a chance encounter in a department store more than twenty years ago. Trump has denied the allegation and his press secretary dismissed the suit as “frivolous”. |
| The Trump administration has initiated the year-long process of leaving the Paris climate agreement, a decision that isolates the US as the only country in the world not signed onto the pact. | The Trump administration has initiated the year-long process of leaving the Paris climate agreement, a decision that isolates the US as the only country in the world not signed onto the pact. |
| With a year to go, Democrats’ prospects of winning back the White House in 2020 look bleak, according to new New York Times polling released one year out from the election. | With a year to go, Democrats’ prospects of winning back the White House in 2020 look bleak, according to new New York Times polling released one year out from the election. |
| White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham dismissed as “frivolous”a defamation lawsuit filed by E Jean Carroll, who has accused Trump of sexual assault. | White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham dismissed as “frivolous”a defamation lawsuit filed by E Jean Carroll, who has accused Trump of sexual assault. |
| “The story is a fraud – just like the author,” Grisham says. | “The story is a fraud – just like the author,” Grisham says. |
| Chopper talk: Before Trump heads to Kentucky, he took a few shouted questions from reporters. | Chopper talk: Before Trump heads to Kentucky, he took a few shouted questions from reporters. |
| Climate is literally on the ballot in 2020. | Climate is literally on the ballot in 2020. |
| The Trump administration on Monday officially began the process of withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, isolating the US as the only country in the world not to participate in the pact. | The Trump administration on Monday officially began the process of withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, isolating the US as the only country in the world not to participate in the pact. |
| “President Trump made the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement because of the unfair economic burden imposed on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers by US pledges made under the Agreement,” US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in a statement. “ The United States has reduced all types of emissions, even as we grow our economy and ensure our citizens’ access to affordable energy.” | “President Trump made the decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement because of the unfair economic burden imposed on American workers, businesses, and taxpayers by US pledges made under the Agreement,” US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said in a statement. “ The United States has reduced all types of emissions, even as we grow our economy and ensure our citizens’ access to affordable energy.” |
| According to the terms of the accords, the state department filed paperwork with the United Nations notifying the international body of it intent to leave the climate accords. The withdrawal will take effect one year from delivery of the notification, which falls just one day after the 2020 presidential election. | According to the terms of the accords, the state department filed paperwork with the United Nations notifying the international body of it intent to leave the climate accords. The withdrawal will take effect one year from delivery of the notification, which falls just one day after the 2020 presidential election. |
| In the Paris agreement, the US agreed to cut its heat-trapping pollution at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2025. | In the Paris agreement, the US agreed to cut its heat-trapping pollution at least 26% below 2005 levels by 2025. |
| Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the agreement in 2017 but could not start the process until three years after the pact went into effect. | Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the agreement in 2017 but could not start the process until three years after the pact went into effect. |
| Joe Biden’s deputy campaign manager and communications director Kate Bedingfield has cast doubt over the feasibility of Elizabeth Warren’s payment plan for Medicare for all. | Joe Biden’s deputy campaign manager and communications director Kate Bedingfield has cast doubt over the feasibility of Elizabeth Warren’s payment plan for Medicare for all. |
| “At a time when President Trump is attempting to take away health care coverage from millions of Americans by challenging Obamacare in the courts or undermining it through executive action, Vice President Joe Biden is taking him on, as he will anyone — Republican or Democrat — who seeks to undo the most monumental reform to our health care system in a generation,” Bedingfield said in a lengthy statement. | “At a time when President Trump is attempting to take away health care coverage from millions of Americans by challenging Obamacare in the courts or undermining it through executive action, Vice President Joe Biden is taking him on, as he will anyone — Republican or Democrat — who seeks to undo the most monumental reform to our health care system in a generation,” Bedingfield said in a lengthy statement. |
| Of Warren’s Medicare for all plan, Bedingfield said it’s “simply not true” that the proposal wouldn’t raise taxes on anyone but billionaires. | Of Warren’s Medicare for all plan, Bedingfield said it’s “simply not true” that the proposal wouldn’t raise taxes on anyone but billionaires. |
| “It would create a new tax on employers of almost $9 trillion that would come out of the pockets and paychecks of middle class Americans and a new financial transaction tax that would impact investments that many middle class Americans are counting on,” she said. “To make matters worse, the mathematical gymnastics that overcount the revenue that would be gained from the sources she identifies also lowball the cost of her plan by well over $10 trillion, which means a hidden burden awaits middle class families if this plan ever came to fruition.” | “It would create a new tax on employers of almost $9 trillion that would come out of the pockets and paychecks of middle class Americans and a new financial transaction tax that would impact investments that many middle class Americans are counting on,” she said. “To make matters worse, the mathematical gymnastics that overcount the revenue that would be gained from the sources she identifies also lowball the cost of her plan by well over $10 trillion, which means a hidden burden awaits middle class families if this plan ever came to fruition.” |
| Warren has steadily gained ground on Biden, who has consistently led the field since he entered the race earlier this year. Last week the Massachusetts senator unveiled a $20.5tn plan to provide healthcare to every American without raising taxes on the middle class. The proposal came after she spent weeks sidestepping questions on the campaign trail and on the debate stage about how she would finance her Medicare for all plan. | Warren has steadily gained ground on Biden, who has consistently led the field since he entered the race earlier this year. Last week the Massachusetts senator unveiled a $20.5tn plan to provide healthcare to every American without raising taxes on the middle class. The proposal came after she spent weeks sidestepping questions on the campaign trail and on the debate stage about how she would finance her Medicare for all plan. |
| Warren’s rivals accused her of not being honest with the American people, insisting that she would have to raise taxes on middle class families as Bernie Sanders has said he would. | Warren’s rivals accused her of not being honest with the American people, insisting that she would have to raise taxes on middle class families as Bernie Sanders has said he would. |
| From the South Lawn, Trump honored the Washington Nationals on the “first of many” World Series championships. He called their victory a “comeback story for the ages.” | From the South Lawn, Trump honored the Washington Nationals on the “first of many” World Series championships. He called their victory a “comeback story for the ages.” |
| He heaped praise on Nats manager David Martínez, who he said “didn’t make any mistakes” and might be “more famous than me”. | He heaped praise on Nats manager David Martínez, who he said “didn’t make any mistakes” and might be “more famous than me”. |
| “America fell in love with the Nats baseball,” he said. “That’s all they wanted to talk about. That and impeachment. I like Nats baseball much more.” | “America fell in love with the Nats baseball,” he said. “That’s all they wanted to talk about. That and impeachment. I like Nats baseball much more.” |
| A few members of the team did not attend, at least one in objection of the president’s politics. But Trump also had some supporters on the team. Catcher Kurt Suzuki was brought to the mic by Trump sporting a “Make America Great Again” hat. | A few members of the team did not attend, at least one in objection of the president’s politics. But Trump also had some supporters on the team. Catcher Kurt Suzuki was brought to the mic by Trump sporting a “Make America Great Again” hat. |
| Trump urged the team to get back to celebrating after their White House appearance because: “As soon as you lose the first two or three games you’re not going to be heros anymore. That’s how it goes.” | Trump urged the team to get back to celebrating after their White House appearance because: “As soon as you lose the first two or three games you’re not going to be heros anymore. That’s how it goes.” |
| The sweet sounds of Baby Shark are serenading guests on the South Lawn as the crowd awaits Trump to honor the Washington Nationals, who won the 2019 World Series champions. | The sweet sounds of Baby Shark are serenading guests on the South Lawn as the crowd awaits Trump to honor the Washington Nationals, who won the 2019 World Series champions. |
| Most – but not all – of the players opted to go to the White House. | Most – but not all – of the players opted to go to the White House. |
| Kamala Harris has qualified for the Democratic debate in December in Los Angeles over the weekend. She will join frontrunner Joe Biden as well as Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. The support and polling threshold to qualify for the December debate is higher than the one in Atlanta this month, which will feature 9 candidates on stage. | Kamala Harris has qualified for the Democratic debate in December in Los Angeles over the weekend. She will join frontrunner Joe Biden as well as Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg. The support and polling threshold to qualify for the December debate is higher than the one in Atlanta this month, which will feature 9 candidates on stage. |
| Donald Trump has a lot on his plate: an escalating abuse-of-power scandal, looming impeachment, a possible resurgence of Isis, an emboldened Iran, etc. But he’s got a forthcoming book on his mind, and it’s not the one he’s hawking on behalf of his son. | Donald Trump has a lot on his plate: an escalating abuse-of-power scandal, looming impeachment, a possible resurgence of Isis, an emboldened Iran, etc. But he’s got a forthcoming book on his mind, and it’s not the one he’s hawking on behalf of his son. |
| It’s A Warning, the book by an anonymous Trump official who wrote a 2018 New York Times op-ed in which he expressed alarm about the president’s competence. | It’s A Warning, the book by an anonymous Trump official who wrote a 2018 New York Times op-ed in which he expressed alarm about the president’s competence. |
| CNN reported that Trump’s department of justice has sent a letter to the book’s publisher warning that the author could be in violation of a nondisclosure agreement. | CNN reported that Trump’s department of justice has sent a letter to the book’s publisher warning that the author could be in violation of a nondisclosure agreement. |
| “If the author is, in fact, a current or former ‘senior official’ in the Trump Administration, publication of the book may violate that official’s legal obligations under one or more nondisclosure agreements, including nondisclosure agreements that are routinely required with respect to information obtained in the course of one’s official responsibilities or as a condition for access to classified information,” assistant attorney general Joseph Hunt wrote in the letter, according to a copy of the letter obtained by CNN. | “If the author is, in fact, a current or former ‘senior official’ in the Trump Administration, publication of the book may violate that official’s legal obligations under one or more nondisclosure agreements, including nondisclosure agreements that are routinely required with respect to information obtained in the course of one’s official responsibilities or as a condition for access to classified information,” assistant attorney general Joseph Hunt wrote in the letter, according to a copy of the letter obtained by CNN. |
| The author’s literary agency has rejected the justice department’s argument, and said the book would be released on 19 November as scheduled. | The author’s literary agency has rejected the justice department’s argument, and said the book would be released on 19 November as scheduled. |
| “Our author knows that the President is determined to unmask whistleblowers who may be in his midst. That’s one of the reasons A WARNING was written,” the literacy agency Javelin said in a statement. “But we support the publisher in its resolve that the administration’s effort to intimidate and expose the senior official who has seen misconduct at the highest levels will not prevent this book from moving forward.” | “Our author knows that the President is determined to unmask whistleblowers who may be in his midst. That’s one of the reasons A WARNING was written,” the literacy agency Javelin said in a statement. “But we support the publisher in its resolve that the administration’s effort to intimidate and expose the senior official who has seen misconduct at the highest levels will not prevent this book from moving forward.” |
| Congressman Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence committee who is leading the impeachment inquiry, said he expects the witnesses this afternoon to not show for their deposition, which he said the lawmakers will interpret as further obstruction of justice by the White House. | Congressman Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence committee who is leading the impeachment inquiry, said he expects the witnesses this afternoon to not show for their deposition, which he said the lawmakers will interpret as further obstruction of justice by the White House. |
| “These witnesses are significant and the White House understands they’re significant,” Schiff said during a press conference after releasing the transcripts. | “These witnesses are significant and the White House understands they’re significant,” Schiff said during a press conference after releasing the transcripts. |
| He added: “We may infer that their testimony would be further incriminating the president.” | He added: “We may infer that their testimony would be further incriminating the president.” |
| Schiff said the committees will release the transcripts of Kurt Volker, the president’s former special envoy to Ukraine, and Gordon Sondland, the US Ambassador to the European Union, on Tuesday. | Schiff said the committees will release the transcripts of Kurt Volker, the president’s former special envoy to Ukraine, and Gordon Sondland, the US Ambassador to the European Union, on Tuesday. |
| Our world affairs editor Julian Borger is combing through the transcripts, tweeting his observations as they come. | Our world affairs editor Julian Borger is combing through the transcripts, tweeting his observations as they come. |