This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/nov/06/donald-trump-david-hale-news-today-impeachment-inquiry-latest
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 21 | Version 22 |
|---|---|
| Trump-Ukraine scandal: Taylor transcript details direct quid pro quo via irregular channels – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| House has released the transcript of US diplomat Bill Taylor’s testimony, which describes the existence of a parallel foreign policy approach to Ukraine | House has released the transcript of US diplomat Bill Taylor’s testimony, which describes the existence of a parallel foreign policy approach to Ukraine |
| Bill Taylor, the US’s top diplomat in Ukraine, said in his impeachment inquiry testimony that US officials negotiated a direct quid pro in Ukraine, exchanging military aid for a political hit against Joe Biden. | Bill Taylor, the US’s top diplomat in Ukraine, said in his impeachment inquiry testimony that US officials negotiated a direct quid pro in Ukraine, exchanging military aid for a political hit against Joe Biden. |
| “Security assistance money would not come until the president [of Ukraine] committed to pursuing the investigation,” Taylor said. | “Security assistance money would not come until the president [of Ukraine] committed to pursuing the investigation,” Taylor said. |
| Kentucky’s Republican governor is asking officials to reevaluate last night’s election results, which placed him behind his Democratic challenger by 5,000 votes, citing unspecified “irregularities”. | Kentucky’s Republican governor is asking officials to reevaluate last night’s election results, which placed him behind his Democratic challenger by 5,000 votes, citing unspecified “irregularities”. |
| Elizabeth Warren earned the endorsement of Ayanna Pressley a progressive representative from Massachussetts and a member of “the Squad”. Warren also earned the skepticism of Bill Gates, who balked at paying a theoretical “$100 billion” in taxes. | Elizabeth Warren earned the endorsement of Ayanna Pressley a progressive representative from Massachussetts and a member of “the Squad”. Warren also earned the skepticism of Bill Gates, who balked at paying a theoretical “$100 billion” in taxes. |
| Jeff Sessions, the former attorney general who earned Trump’s ire for recusing himself from the Russia probe, is expected to enter the senate race in Alabama, running for his former seat. | Jeff Sessions, the former attorney general who earned Trump’s ire for recusing himself from the Russia probe, is expected to enter the senate race in Alabama, running for his former seat. |
| Elizabeth Warren to Bill Gates: ‘I’m always happy to meet with people’ | Elizabeth Warren to Bill Gates: ‘I’m always happy to meet with people’ |
| At the New York Times DealBook conference, the world’s second wealthiest man said he’s doesn’t agree with Elizabeth Warren’s enthusiasm for breaking up big tech companies “I’m super biased,” Gates said. “I didn’t think Microsoft should be broken up,” Gates said, adding that he wouldn’t “wish that on anyone.” | At the New York Times DealBook conference, the world’s second wealthiest man said he’s doesn’t agree with Elizabeth Warren’s enthusiasm for breaking up big tech companies “I’m super biased,” Gates said. “I didn’t think Microsoft should be broken up,” Gates said, adding that he wouldn’t “wish that on anyone.” |
| Gates didn’t say who he’d vote for if it came down to Warren and Donald Trump, “I hope the more professional candidate is an electable candidate,” he said. | Gates didn’t say who he’d vote for if it came down to Warren and Donald Trump, “I hope the more professional candidate is an electable candidate,” he said. |
| He also said he wasn’t sure if Warren, whose entire brand centers on her enthusiams for taxing the wealthy, would “even be willing to sit down with somebody who has large amounts of money.” | He also said he wasn’t sure if Warren, whose entire brand centers on her enthusiams for taxing the wealthy, would “even be willing to sit down with somebody who has large amounts of money.” |
| To that last question at least, Warren has responded: “I’m always happy to meet with people, even if we have different views” she said. “I’d love to explain exactly how much you’d pay under my wealth tax. (I promise it’s not $100 billion.)” | To that last question at least, Warren has responded: “I’m always happy to meet with people, even if we have different views” she said. “I’d love to explain exactly how much you’d pay under my wealth tax. (I promise it’s not $100 billion.)” |
| Gates had mentioned that he’s happy to $20bn, but maybe not $100bn. | Gates had mentioned that he’s happy to $20bn, but maybe not $100bn. |
| House Democrats have pulled their subpoena for testimony from Charles Kupperman, a former Trump administration national security official. | House Democrats have pulled their subpoena for testimony from Charles Kupperman, a former Trump administration national security official. |
| Kupperman filed a lawsuit asking a judge to help resolve conflicting orders from Congressional leaders, who wanted him to testify in the impeachment inquiry, and the White House, which wanted him to skip testifying, citing executive privilege. | Kupperman filed a lawsuit asking a judge to help resolve conflicting orders from Congressional leaders, who wanted him to testify in the impeachment inquiry, and the White House, which wanted him to skip testifying, citing executive privilege. |
| House layers withdrew their subpoena looking to avoid a delay the impeachment hearings. | House layers withdrew their subpoena looking to avoid a delay the impeachment hearings. |
| More context from the Washington Post: | More context from the Washington Post: |
| Democrats will no longer host their 6th presidential debate at UCLA | Democrats will no longer host their 6th presidential debate at UCLA |
| Due to a dispute between the University of California, Los Angeles and a local labor union, the Democrats will no longer hold their 6th presidential debate there. | Due to a dispute between the University of California, Los Angeles and a local labor union, the Democrats will no longer hold their 6th presidential debate there. |
| “In response to concerns raised by the local organized labor community in Los Angeles, we have asked our media partners to seek an alternative site for the December debate,” Democratic National Committee senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill said in an emailed statement. | “In response to concerns raised by the local organized labor community in Los Angeles, we have asked our media partners to seek an alternative site for the December debate,” Democratic National Committee senior adviser Mary Beth Cahill said in an emailed statement. |
| HuffPost first reported the news. Labor union AFSCME 3299, sent a letter to at least six of the candidates asking them to refrain from speaking on University of California campuses | HuffPost first reported the news. Labor union AFSCME 3299, sent a letter to at least six of the candidates asking them to refrain from speaking on University of California campuses |
| The labor group has accused the school administration of outsourcing jobs and breaking state labor laws. The university has denied that it has broken the law. | The labor group has accused the school administration of outsourcing jobs and breaking state labor laws. The university has denied that it has broken the law. |
| The DNC has yet to announce a new location for the debates scheduled for December 19. | The DNC has yet to announce a new location for the debates scheduled for December 19. |
| Federal prosecutors in San Francisco have charged two former Twitter employees and a Saudi national with a plot to provide information about Twitter users to the Saudi government. | Federal prosecutors in San Francisco have charged two former Twitter employees and a Saudi national with a plot to provide information about Twitter users to the Saudi government. |
| The Guardian’s Kari Paul reports: | The Guardian’s Kari Paul reports: |
| The former attorney general that earned Donald Trump’s ire for recusing himself from Russia probe is planning to enter the Alabama senate race, according to reports. He’ll be running for his former senate seat, which is occupied for two decades, from 1997 to 2017. | The former attorney general that earned Donald Trump’s ire for recusing himself from Russia probe is planning to enter the Alabama senate race, according to reports. He’ll be running for his former senate seat, which is occupied for two decades, from 1997 to 2017. |
| Sessions would have to face-off against opponents in the Alabama GOP primaries and against Trump, doesn’t seem to have forgiven Sessions. | Sessions would have to face-off against opponents in the Alabama GOP primaries and against Trump, doesn’t seem to have forgiven Sessions. |
| More context, from the AP: | More context, from the AP: |
| Kentucky’s Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is asking officials to double check the results of Tuesday’s gubernatorial election. Tallies last night put Democrat Andy Beshear ahead Bevin by just over 5,000 votes. | Kentucky’s Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is asking officials to double check the results of Tuesday’s gubernatorial election. Tallies last night put Democrat Andy Beshear ahead Bevin by just over 5,000 votes. |
| Bevin wants officials to recheck and recanvass of the voting machines and absentee ballots. He cited “irregularities” but didn’t provide any other details to journalists at a press conference. | Bevin wants officials to recheck and recanvass of the voting machines and absentee ballots. He cited “irregularities” but didn’t provide any other details to journalists at a press conference. |
| Bevin’s campaign manager said, in a statement: “The people of Kentucky deserve a fair and honest election. With reports of irregularities, we are exercising the right to ensure that every lawful vote was counted.” | Bevin’s campaign manager said, in a statement: “The people of Kentucky deserve a fair and honest election. With reports of irregularities, we are exercising the right to ensure that every lawful vote was counted.” |
| Beshear has claimed victory and has indicated he’ll soon be naming members of his cabinet as he transitions to take the governor’s seat. But Bevin has refused to concede. | Beshear has claimed victory and has indicated he’ll soon be naming members of his cabinet as he transitions to take the governor’s seat. But Bevin has refused to concede. |
| Recanvassing rarely yields different results. | Recanvassing rarely yields different results. |
| Rudy Giuliani, who is not just a lawyer, but the president’s lawyer, has recruited three attorneys to represent him, as New York federal prosecutors look into his business dealings. | Rudy Giuliani, who is not just a lawyer, but the president’s lawyer, has recruited three attorneys to represent him, as New York federal prosecutors look into his business dealings. |
| It doesn’t suggest Giuliani has that much confidence in his own law skills, but anyway it’s ok because according to Giuliani: “The evidence, when revealed fully, will show that this present farce is as much a frame-up and hoax as Russian collusion, maybe worse, and will prove the President is innocent.” | It doesn’t suggest Giuliani has that much confidence in his own law skills, but anyway it’s ok because according to Giuliani: “The evidence, when revealed fully, will show that this present farce is as much a frame-up and hoax as Russian collusion, maybe worse, and will prove the President is innocent.” |
| Giuliani’s interactions with Ukrainian officials, including efforts to seek the removal of the US ambassador, have become entangled in the ongoing impeachment inquiry. | Giuliani’s interactions with Ukrainian officials, including efforts to seek the removal of the US ambassador, have become entangled in the ongoing impeachment inquiry. |
| It seems Elizabeth Warren has lost that important Bill Gates demographic: | It seems Elizabeth Warren has lost that important Bill Gates demographic: |
| Ps: regarding Warren sitting down “with someone who has as much money as he has”... Gates is the second richest person in the world. | Ps: regarding Warren sitting down “with someone who has as much money as he has”... Gates is the second richest person in the world. |
| Here’s a stock statement from Amy Klobuchar’s campaign manager on her making the December debate. (By achieving 5% in a poll which had a margin of error of plus/minus 4.5%): | Here’s a stock statement from Amy Klobuchar’s campaign manager on her making the December debate. (By achieving 5% in a poll which had a margin of error of plus/minus 4.5%): |
| Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic frontrunner in Iowa, according to a new Quinnipiac poll, with Joe Biden in fourth place in the second poll in less than a week. | Elizabeth Warren is the Democratic frontrunner in Iowa, according to a new Quinnipiac poll, with Joe Biden in fourth place in the second poll in less than a week. |
| Warren was at 20% in the poll, released on Wednesday, with Buttigieg second on 19% and Sanders in third place with 17%. The poll had an error margin of 4.5%. | Warren was at 20% in the poll, released on Wednesday, with Buttigieg second on 19% and Sanders in third place with 17%. The poll had an error margin of 4.5%. |
| Biden was the choice of just 15% of respondents – unwelcome news for the former vice-president after a New York Times/Siena College poll also found him in fourth place on November 1. That survey also found Warren in the lead. | Biden was the choice of just 15% of respondents – unwelcome news for the former vice-president after a New York Times/Siena College poll also found him in fourth place on November 1. That survey also found Warren in the lead. |
| Amy Klobuchar was at 5%, which qualifies her for the December Democrat debate, while Tulsi Gabbard got 4%, meaning she makes the stage in November. | Amy Klobuchar was at 5%, which qualifies her for the December Democrat debate, while Tulsi Gabbard got 4%, meaning she makes the stage in November. |
| Turkey’s president Tayyip Erdogan will visit the White House next week, Donald Trump has announced. | Turkey’s president Tayyip Erdogan will visit the White House next week, Donald Trump has announced. |
| Erdogan, who has been widely condemned by the international community after launching a bloody assault on Kurdish forces in Syria, will travel to Washington on Wednesday, November 13. | Erdogan, who has been widely condemned by the international community after launching a bloody assault on Kurdish forces in Syria, will travel to Washington on Wednesday, November 13. |
| By a quirk of fate – or otherwise – the high profile visit will coincide with the first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry. | By a quirk of fate – or otherwise – the high profile visit will coincide with the first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry. |
| Turkey’s assault on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria – which came after Trump abruptly pulled out US forces – has been roundly criticized, including by a number of Republicans. | Turkey’s assault on Kurdish fighters in northern Syria – which came after Trump abruptly pulled out US forces – has been roundly criticized, including by a number of Republicans. |
| The Kurds had been crucial allies to the US in the fight against Isis. In October the House of Representatives, including a majority of Republicans, voted overwhelmingly to condemn Trump for the troop withdrawal. | The Kurds had been crucial allies to the US in the fight against Isis. In October the House of Representatives, including a majority of Republicans, voted overwhelmingly to condemn Trump for the troop withdrawal. |
| •There was a direct quid pro between the release of US military aid to Ukraine and a Ukrainian investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden, according to a transcript of the testimony by Bill Taylor, the US’s top diplomat in Ukraine. | •There was a direct quid pro between the release of US military aid to Ukraine and a Ukrainian investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden, according to a transcript of the testimony by Bill Taylor, the US’s top diplomat in Ukraine. |
| •Taylor told the House he had a “clear understanding security assistance money would not come until the President [of Ukraine] committed to pursue the investigation”. His account matches that of others who have testified in the impeachment inquiry. | •Taylor told the House he had a “clear understanding security assistance money would not come until the President [of Ukraine] committed to pursue the investigation”. His account matches that of others who have testified in the impeachment inquiry. |
| •Taylor’s testimony also supported accounts of a backchannel of communication between the White House and Ukraine. Taylor alleged that Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s lawyer, was keen for Volodymyr Zelenskiy to “say out loud” he would investigate the Bidens. | •Taylor’s testimony also supported accounts of a backchannel of communication between the White House and Ukraine. Taylor alleged that Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump’s lawyer, was keen for Volodymyr Zelenskiy to “say out loud” he would investigate the Bidens. |
| •Adam Schiff, chair of the House intelligence committee, said Taylor’s testimony “reveals how, through a shadow foreign policy channel, Trump withheld military assistance and a White House meeting from Ukraine until Ukrainian officials agreed to announce investigations to help Trump politically”. | •Adam Schiff, chair of the House intelligence committee, said Taylor’s testimony “reveals how, through a shadow foreign policy channel, Trump withheld military assistance and a White House meeting from Ukraine until Ukrainian officials agreed to announce investigations to help Trump politically”. |
| Bill Taylor sent reams of information, including text messages, WhatsApp messages, and handwritten notes, to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in an attempt to draw attention to the withholding of US assistance to Ukraine, Taylor testified. | Bill Taylor sent reams of information, including text messages, WhatsApp messages, and handwritten notes, to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in an attempt to draw attention to the withholding of US assistance to Ukraine, Taylor testified. |
| According to three House committees conducting the impeachment inquiry, the State Department then refused to hand that over to investigators. | According to three House committees conducting the impeachment inquiry, the State Department then refused to hand that over to investigators. |
| Taylor said that he sent a cable to Pompeo – at the suggestion of since-fired national security advisor John Bolton – about “security assistance” to Ukraine. | Taylor said that he sent a cable to Pompeo – at the suggestion of since-fired national security advisor John Bolton – about “security assistance” to Ukraine. |
| Included in that cable, Taylor said, were texts he exchanged with US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and US special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker: texts where Taylor asked whether the US paying military aid to Ukraine was dependent on Ukraine investigating the Bidens. Taylor said the cable also included WhatsApp messages and handwritten, “careful notes”. | Included in that cable, Taylor said, were texts he exchanged with US ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland and US special representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker: texts where Taylor asked whether the US paying military aid to Ukraine was dependent on Ukraine investigating the Bidens. Taylor said the cable also included WhatsApp messages and handwritten, “careful notes”. |
| In a document of excerpts of Taylor’s testimony, the House committees on Intelligence, Oversight and Reform, and Foreign Affairs noted: | In a document of excerpts of Taylor’s testimony, the House committees on Intelligence, Oversight and Reform, and Foreign Affairs noted: |
| “The State Department refused to produce to the Committees documents that Ambassador Taylor provided to the Department.” | “The State Department refused to produce to the Committees documents that Ambassador Taylor provided to the Department.” |
| This is the take from Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee: | This is the take from Adam Schiff, the chair of the House Intelligence Committee: |
| No word from the White House yet. | No word from the White House yet. |