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Democrats to consider Trump Twitter smear in articles of impeachment – live Democrats to consider Trump Twitter smear in articles of impeachment – live
(32 minutes later)
President tweets attacks against the ousted US ambassador to Ukraine as she testifies to the House impeachment inquiry – follow livePresident tweets attacks against the ousted US ambassador to Ukraine as she testifies to the House impeachment inquiry – follow live
Taking questions moment ago from Democratic representative Terri Sewell, Maria Yovanovitch said that the smear campaign against her seems to have had a “chilling effect not only on the embassy in Kyiv but throughout the state department.”
The longtime diplomat also wondered why Trump or his allies would have felt it necessary to smear her name in recalling her. “There’s a question as to why the kind of campaign to get me out of Ukraine happened because all the president has to do is say he wants a different ambassador.”
Yovanovitch added: “In my line of work ... all we have is our reputation, and so this has been a very painful period.”
Representative Mike Turner, a Republican of Ohio, attempted to cut off Maria Yovanovitch as the longtime diplomat was trying to answer his questions about the Trump administration’s Ukraine policy.
Yovanovitch was attempting to offer more context to her answer about Gordon Sondland’s unusual portfolio as US ambassador to the EU, and chairman Adam Schiff was encouraging Turner to allow the former ambassador the opportunity to speak.
Indicating his diminishing time, Turner pointed to Yovanovitch and said, “Not on my time, you’re done.” The longtime diplomat raised her eyebrows in response.
When given the chance to elaborate, Yovanovitch said, “It is unusual to name the US Ambassador to the EU to be responsible for all aspects of Ukraine.”
Asked by Democratic representative Terri Sewell whether she was a “never Trumper,” Maria Yovanovitch said she was not and noted her decades of foreign service experience working for both Republican and Democratic presidents.
The longtime diplomat added that she believed the smear campaign against her could have a “chilling effect” on morale at the state department.
The White House has just issued a statement denying that Trump’s tweet smearing the reputation of Maria Yovanovitch as she testified in the impeachment inquiry amounted to witness intimidation.The White House has just issued a statement denying that Trump’s tweet smearing the reputation of Maria Yovanovitch as she testified in the impeachment inquiry amounted to witness intimidation.
“The tweet was not witness intimidation, it was simply the President’s opinion, which he is entitled to,” said White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.“The tweet was not witness intimidation, it was simply the President’s opinion, which he is entitled to,” said White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham.
She went on to slam the inquiry as a whole: “There is less due process in this hearing than any such event in the history of our country. It’s a true disgrace.”She went on to slam the inquiry as a whole: “There is less due process in this hearing than any such event in the history of our country. It’s a true disgrace.”
The hearing has moved on to rounds of five-minute questioning from each member of the House intelligence committee, and Devin Nunes yielded to Elise Stefanik (which is allowed during this portion of the hearing).The hearing has moved on to rounds of five-minute questioning from each member of the House intelligence committee, and Devin Nunes yielded to Elise Stefanik (which is allowed during this portion of the hearing).
Stefanik, the only Republican woman on the House intelligence committee, used her time to resuscitate corruption allegations against the Bidens, which have been thoroughly debunked.Stefanik, the only Republican woman on the House intelligence committee, used her time to resuscitate corruption allegations against the Bidens, which have been thoroughly debunked.
Maria Yovanovitch just delivered a memorable quote in response to Republican counsel Steve Castor’s line of questioning that will likely be replayed many times on cable news.Maria Yovanovitch just delivered a memorable quote in response to Republican counsel Steve Castor’s line of questioning that will likely be replayed many times on cable news.
Castro was dubiously trying to argue that a senior Ukrainian official’s Twitter criticisms of Trump indicated that the country was “out to get him.”Castro was dubiously trying to argue that a senior Ukrainian official’s Twitter criticisms of Trump indicated that the country was “out to get him.”
“Sometimes that happens on social media,” Yovanovitch replied, prompting laughter from those gathered in the hearing room.“Sometimes that happens on social media,” Yovanovitch replied, prompting laughter from those gathered in the hearing room.
Steny Hoyer, the Democratic House majority leader, called on “every member of Congress” to criticize Trump for his “witness intimidation” after the president smeared the reputation of Maria Yovanovitch as the longtime diplomat testified in the impeachment hearing.Steny Hoyer, the Democratic House majority leader, called on “every member of Congress” to criticize Trump for his “witness intimidation” after the president smeared the reputation of Maria Yovanovitch as the longtime diplomat testified in the impeachment hearing.
As Maria Yovanovitch continues her testimony at the public impeachment hearing, a report has emerged that federal prosecutors are probing Rudy Giulaini’s ties to Ukrainian energy projects.As Maria Yovanovitch continues her testimony at the public impeachment hearing, a report has emerged that federal prosecutors are probing Rudy Giulaini’s ties to Ukrainian energy projects.
The Wall Street Journal reports:The Wall Street Journal reports:
If prosecutors find that Giuliani did attempt to personally profit off Ukrainian energy interests, it would be particularly ironic given that the president’s personal lawyer has trumpeted claims that Hunter Biden’s involvement with an energy company was indicative of corruption.If prosecutors find that Giuliani did attempt to personally profit off Ukrainian energy interests, it would be particularly ironic given that the president’s personal lawyer has trumpeted claims that Hunter Biden’s involvement with an energy company was indicative of corruption.
A staffer in House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office shared a tweet outlining the procedures approved by the House for public impeachment hearings, noting that every Republican on the intelligence committee received it.A staffer in House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office shared a tweet outlining the procedures approved by the House for public impeachment hearings, noting that every Republican on the intelligence committee received it.
The staffer called Devin Nunes’ illegitimate attempt to yield time to another Republican committee member a “pure, disingenuous stunt.”The staffer called Devin Nunes’ illegitimate attempt to yield time to another Republican committee member a “pure, disingenuous stunt.”
Asked about Trump’s tweet disparaging Maria Yovanovitch as the longtime diplomat testified at the impeachment hearing, Nancy Pelosi said she had not yet seen the tweet but noted that “witness intimidation is a crime.”Asked about Trump’s tweet disparaging Maria Yovanovitch as the longtime diplomat testified at the impeachment hearing, Nancy Pelosi said she had not yet seen the tweet but noted that “witness intimidation is a crime.”
The House speaker also mocked the president when asked if the tweet was appropriate. “Appropriate and president in the same sentence? Come on. Why would we start making that judgment now?” Pelosi said.The House speaker also mocked the president when asked if the tweet was appropriate. “Appropriate and president in the same sentence? Come on. Why would we start making that judgment now?” Pelosi said.
Republicans on the intelligence committee began their questioning of Maria Yovanovitch by attempting to violate the House resolution outlining procedures in the impeachment inquiry.
According to the resolution, only the ranking member or the minority counsel may speak for the initial 45 minutes of Republican questioning. The ranking member, Devin Nunes, instead tried to yield to representative Elise Stefanik, the only Republican woman on the panel -- marking a clear violation of the resolution.
The second public impeachment hearing, featuring testimony from former US ambassador to Ukraine Maria Yovanovitch, has now resumed.
Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, and the GOP counsel will now be allowed to pose questions to the longtime diplomat.
But the hour-long recess to allow committee members to vote may be beneficial to Democrats’ arguments in the impeachment inquiry.
Trump has reacted to the conviction of his former associate Roger Stone, blaming the jury’s guilty verdict on a “double standard.”
The president argued some of his political enemies, including Hillary Clinton and special counsel Robert Mueller, were much more worthy of jail time than Stone.
Now that Roger Stone’s trial has concluded, sections of special counsel Robert Mueller’s report related to the former Trump associate’s actions during the 2016 campaign may be unredacted.
Roger Stone, who previously served as an adviser to Trump’s 2016 campaign, was facing seven charges and was found guilty on all of them.
The AP has more:
Former Trump associate Roger Stone has been found guilty on all counts, including lying to the same House committee currently holding impeachment hearings.
Stone becomes the latest member of the president’s circle to be convicted -- joining the likes of Paul Manafort, Michael Cohen and Michael Flynn.
Representative Justin Amash, a former Republican who left the party due to his criticisms of Trump, predicted that witness tampering would be included in the articles of impeachment after the president sent a disparaging tweet about Maria Yovanovitch as she testified.
House Republicans criticized Democrats’ questioning of Maria Yovanovitch, with one congressman claiming Adam Schiff and the Democratic counsel were trying to make the longtime diplomat “cry for the cameras” about her removal as US ambassador to Ukraine.
Another of Trump’s congressional allies dismissed allegations that the president engaged in witness intimidation as a “Democrat narrative” and said he respected Yovanovitch in her “previous position and certainly in her nice job at Georgetown right now.”
Yovanovitch is currently teaching at Georgetown University after Trump recalled the diplomat from Kyiv early, a decision that she testified had “shocked” and “devastated” her.
Despite the White House’s claim that the president would not be tuning in, Trump has just sent another tweet reacting to today’s impeachment hearing, defending the many vacancies at the state department.
In her opening statement, Maria Yovanovitch warned that the state department’s many vacancies were jeopardizing America’s reputation on the world stage.
“Moreover, the attacks are leading to a crisis in the State Department as the policy process is visibly unravelling, leadership vacancies go unfilled, and senior and midlevel officers ponder an uncertain future and head for the doors,” the longtime diplomat said.
“The crisis has moved from the impact on individuals to an impact on the institution. The State Department is being hollowed out from within at a competitive and complex time on the world stage. This is not a time to undercut our diplomats.”
Representative Eric Swalwell, one of the Democratic members of the House intelligence committee, said that Trump’s attack on Maria Yovanovitch “will be considered” for one of the articles of impeachment.
One of Swalwell’s fellow Democrats on the panel, Andre Carson, similarly said the committee would “look into” whether Trump engaged in witness intimidation.