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| House investigating whether Trump lied to Robert Mueller – live | House investigating whether Trump lied to Robert Mueller – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| House tells federal court it is investigating whether Trump lied: ‘Was the president not truthful in his responses to the Mueller investigation?’ | House tells federal court it is investigating whether Trump lied: ‘Was the president not truthful in his responses to the Mueller investigation?’ |
| A bipartisan pair of senators are considering an IRS whistleblower’s claim that a Trump political appointee may have interfered with the routine audit of the president and vice president’s tax returns. | |
| The Washington Post reports: | |
| Representative Richard Neal, the Democratic chairman of the House ways and means committee, previously said the complaint raised “serious and urgent concerns” about the IRS audit process, which is supposed to be protected from political interference. | |
| Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who became famous following his speech condemning Trump at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, has announced he is endorsing Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. | Khizr Khan, the Gold Star father who became famous following his speech condemning Trump at the 2016 Democratic National Convention, has announced he is endorsing Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. |
| “I’m supporting Joe Biden for President because of the America he stands for and the one he will fight for — the country that my son, Humayun Khan, believed in and fought for so bravely,” Khan said in a statement released by Biden’s campaign. | “I’m supporting Joe Biden for President because of the America he stands for and the one he will fight for — the country that my son, Humayun Khan, believed in and fought for so bravely,” Khan said in a statement released by Biden’s campaign. |
| “Beating Donald Trump and the hatred he promotes is the top priority in this election. But after Trump is gone, we need someone to help unite us and help us heal. I trust Joe Biden to be that person because I know his heart like I know my own.” | “Beating Donald Trump and the hatred he promotes is the top priority in this election. But after Trump is gone, we need someone to help unite us and help us heal. I trust Joe Biden to be that person because I know his heart like I know my own.” |
| In his 2016 speech, Khan reflected upon the loss of his son in the Iraq War and lambasted Trump’s proposal to block Muslims from entering the country. “Let me ask you, have you even read the United States constitution?” Khan famously said, addressing Trump. Producing a reproduction of the constitution from his pocket, Khan added, “I will gladly lend you my copy.” | In his 2016 speech, Khan reflected upon the loss of his son in the Iraq War and lambasted Trump’s proposal to block Muslims from entering the country. “Let me ask you, have you even read the United States constitution?” Khan famously said, addressing Trump. Producing a reproduction of the constitution from his pocket, Khan added, “I will gladly lend you my copy.” |
| The speech sparked an attack from then-candidate Trump, who claimed Khan had not “allowed” his wife Ghazala to speak. That triggered criticism from both Republicans and Democrats and was considered by many to be one of the lowest points of Trump’s campaign. | The speech sparked an attack from then-candidate Trump, who claimed Khan had not “allowed” his wife Ghazala to speak. That triggered criticism from both Republicans and Democrats and was considered by many to be one of the lowest points of Trump’s campaign. |
| The Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay on the House subpoena demanding access to Trump’s financial records, fulfilling the president’s wishes for the time being. | The Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay on the House subpoena demanding access to Trump’s financial records, fulfilling the president’s wishes for the time being. |
| The House’s top lawyer previously said lawmakers would consent to a 10-day delay to allow for the filing of all applicable briefs in the case, but the counsel emphasized that a longer delay should not be necessary. | The House’s top lawyer previously said lawmakers would consent to a 10-day delay to allow for the filing of all applicable briefs in the case, but the counsel emphasized that a longer delay should not be necessary. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Trump said he would “strongly consider” testifying in the impeachment inquiry, possibly in writing, but that suggestion was met with skepticism given the president’s refusal to be interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller. | Trump said he would “strongly consider” testifying in the impeachment inquiry, possibly in writing, but that suggestion was met with skepticism given the president’s refusal to be interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller. |
| House lawyers told a federal court that lawmakers are investigating whether Trump lied to Mueller, as the Justice Department seeks a stay on congressional Democrats obtaining the special counsel’s grand jury material. | House lawyers told a federal court that lawmakers are investigating whether Trump lied to Mueller, as the Justice Department seeks a stay on congressional Democrats obtaining the special counsel’s grand jury material. |
| The Ukrainian president reportedly felt pressured to announce an investigation into Joe Biden months before his July phone call with Trump, undercutting his denials of such a campaign by the president’s allies. | The Ukrainian president reportedly felt pressured to announce an investigation into Joe Biden months before his July phone call with Trump, undercutting his denials of such a campaign by the president’s allies. |
| The blog will have much more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have much more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Pete Buttigieg’s campaign issued an explanation on how a woman from Kenya ended up featured on its website promoting the Democratic presidential candidate’s “Douglass Plan: A Comprehensive Investment in the Empowerment of Black America.” | Pete Buttigieg’s campaign issued an explanation on how a woman from Kenya ended up featured on its website promoting the Democratic presidential candidate’s “Douglass Plan: A Comprehensive Investment in the Empowerment of Black America.” |
| Buttigieg’s rapid response communications director said that the picture has been removed and noted the stock photo was not initially labeled as having been taken in Kenya. | Buttigieg’s rapid response communications director said that the picture has been removed and noted the stock photo was not initially labeled as having been taken in Kenya. |
| The staffer added that the campaign’s web operations have been moved in-house to prevent such errors in the future. | The staffer added that the campaign’s web operations have been moved in-house to prevent such errors in the future. |
| Two House Republicans are requesting information from a Senate Republican on conversations he reportedly had with Trump and Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, about the frozen military aid to Ukraine. | Two House Republicans are requesting information from a Senate Republican on conversations he reportedly had with Trump and Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, about the frozen military aid to Ukraine. |
| “Because the Democrats have abandoned fundamental fairness and objectivity in their ‘impeachment inquiry,’ we reluctantly write to request any firsthand information you have about President Trump’s actions toward Ukraine between April and September 2019,” representatives Jim Jordan and Devin Nunes wrote to senator Ron Johnson. | “Because the Democrats have abandoned fundamental fairness and objectivity in their ‘impeachment inquiry,’ we reluctantly write to request any firsthand information you have about President Trump’s actions toward Ukraine between April and September 2019,” representatives Jim Jordan and Devin Nunes wrote to senator Ron Johnson. |
| The Wisconsin Republican said yesterday he likely would not testify in the inquiry but would be willing to “supply my telling of events” in a written statement. | The Wisconsin Republican said yesterday he likely would not testify in the inquiry but would be willing to “supply my telling of events” in a written statement. |
| Johnson told the Wall Street Journal last month that Sondland explicitly tied the frozen aid to an announcement of investigations, but Trump later told the Senate Republican that the two were not connected. | Johnson told the Wall Street Journal last month that Sondland explicitly tied the frozen aid to an announcement of investigations, but Trump later told the Senate Republican that the two were not connected. |
| According to a new poll, 70% of Americans believe Trump’s alleged efforts to have Ukraine investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, were wrong. | According to a new poll, 70% of Americans believe Trump’s alleged efforts to have Ukraine investigate his political rival, Joe Biden, were wrong. |
| The ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 51% of Americans think Trump should be impeached and removed from office. Another 19% say Trump’s actions were wrong but that he should not be removed from office, and 25% believe the president did nothing wrong. | The ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 51% of Americans think Trump should be impeached and removed from office. Another 19% say Trump’s actions were wrong but that he should not be removed from office, and 25% believe the president did nothing wrong. |
| And as the second week of impeachment hearings begins tomorrow, only 21% of Americans say they are following the hearings very closely. | And as the second week of impeachment hearings begins tomorrow, only 21% of Americans say they are following the hearings very closely. |
| Lawyers for the House suggested in a previous court filing that the grand jury material from Robert Mueller’s investigation could help them determine whether Trump was truthful in his answers to the special counsel. | Lawyers for the House suggested in a previous court filing that the grand jury material from Robert Mueller’s investigation could help them determine whether Trump was truthful in his answers to the special counsel. |
| “Not only could those materials demonstrate the president’s motives for obstructing the special counsel’s investigation, they also could reveal that Trump was aware of his campaign’s contacts with WikiLeaks,” the lawyer’s wrote in the late September filing. | “Not only could those materials demonstrate the president’s motives for obstructing the special counsel’s investigation, they also could reveal that Trump was aware of his campaign’s contacts with WikiLeaks,” the lawyer’s wrote in the late September filing. |
| They added, “Those materials therefore have direct bearing on whether the president was untruthful, and further obstructed the special counsel’s investigation, when in providing written responses to the special counsel’s questions he denied being aware of any communications between his campaign and WikiLeaks.” | They added, “Those materials therefore have direct bearing on whether the president was untruthful, and further obstructed the special counsel’s investigation, when in providing written responses to the special counsel’s questions he denied being aware of any communications between his campaign and WikiLeaks.” |
| The House told a federal court that it is investigating whether Trump lied to Robert Mueller as the Justice Department seeks a stay on lawmakers receiving grand jury material from the special counsel’s investigation. | The House told a federal court that it is investigating whether Trump lied to Robert Mueller as the Justice Department seeks a stay on lawmakers receiving grand jury material from the special counsel’s investigation. |
| The president provided Mueller with written answers to some of the special counsel’s questions but refused to sit for an interview with his team. Mueller also wrote in his final report that he considered some of Trump’s answers to be incomplete or imprecise. | The president provided Mueller with written answers to some of the special counsel’s questions but refused to sit for an interview with his team. Mueller also wrote in his final report that he considered some of Trump’s answers to be incomplete or imprecise. |
| Even though he has not yet officially launched his presidential bid, billionaire Michael Bloomberg has already picked up a key endorsement in the early voting state of South Carolina. | Even though he has not yet officially launched his presidential bid, billionaire Michael Bloomberg has already picked up a key endorsement in the early voting state of South Carolina. |
| The AP reports: | The AP reports: |
| Other Democratic presidential candidates have struggled to put a dent in Joe Biden’s lead in South Carolina. A new CBS News/YouGov poll from the state showed Biden attracting the support of 45% of South Carolina Democrats, putting him 28 points ahead of second-place finisher Elizabeth Warren. | Other Democratic presidential candidates have struggled to put a dent in Joe Biden’s lead in South Carolina. A new CBS News/YouGov poll from the state showed Biden attracting the support of 45% of South Carolina Democrats, putting him 28 points ahead of second-place finisher Elizabeth Warren. |
| An endorsement from a prominent African American politician could help Bloomberg start to chip away at Biden’s polling advantage, particularly given South Carolina’s large black electorate. The former New York mayor also visited a black church yesterday to apologize for championing “stop and frisk” despite its disproportionate effect on people of color. | An endorsement from a prominent African American politician could help Bloomberg start to chip away at Biden’s polling advantage, particularly given South Carolina’s large black electorate. The former New York mayor also visited a black church yesterday to apologize for championing “stop and frisk” despite its disproportionate effect on people of color. |
| Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has sent a letter to defense secretary Mark Esper asking him to ensure that two of the witnesses in this week’s impeachment hearing, Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Laura Cooper, are protected from retaliation. | Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has sent a letter to defense secretary Mark Esper asking him to ensure that two of the witnesses in this week’s impeachment hearing, Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Laura Cooper, are protected from retaliation. |
| “Since their identities were revealed, LTC Vindman and Ms. Cooper have been vilified and attacked by individuals in the media and elsewhere,” Schumer wrote. | “Since their identities were revealed, LTC Vindman and Ms. Cooper have been vilified and attacked by individuals in the media and elsewhere,” Schumer wrote. |
| “Accordingly, I request that you formally notify all civilian and military personnel of their legal rights to make protected disclosures to Congress. I also request that you brief me on what actions are being taken to ensure that LTC Vindman, Ms. Cooper, and other whistleblowers like them are afforded appropriate protections—both from workplace reprisals and for their personal safety and that of their families.” | “Accordingly, I request that you formally notify all civilian and military personnel of their legal rights to make protected disclosures to Congress. I also request that you brief me on what actions are being taken to ensure that LTC Vindman, Ms. Cooper, and other whistleblowers like them are afforded appropriate protections—both from workplace reprisals and for their personal safety and that of their families.” |
| Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the national security council, is scheduled to testify tomorrow morning, and Cooper, a deputy assistant secretary of defense, will speak to impeachment investigators on Wednesday afternoon. | Vindman, the top Ukraine expert on the national security council, is scheduled to testify tomorrow morning, and Cooper, a deputy assistant secretary of defense, will speak to impeachment investigators on Wednesday afternoon. |
| The Federal Reserve has just announced that its chairman, Jerome Powell, met with Trump and Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin in a sit-down that was not on the president’s original public schedule. | The Federal Reserve has just announced that its chairman, Jerome Powell, met with Trump and Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin in a sit-down that was not on the president’s original public schedule. |
| The central bank said in a statement after the meeting, “At the President’s invitation, Chair Powell met with the President and the Treasury Secretary Monday morning at the White House to discuss the economy, growth, employment and inflation. | The central bank said in a statement after the meeting, “At the President’s invitation, Chair Powell met with the President and the Treasury Secretary Monday morning at the White House to discuss the economy, growth, employment and inflation. |
| “Chair Powell’s comments were consistent with his remarks at his congressional hearings last week. He did not discuss his expectations for monetary policy, except to stress that the path of policy will depend entirely on incoming information that bears on the outlook for the economy. | “Chair Powell’s comments were consistent with his remarks at his congressional hearings last week. He did not discuss his expectations for monetary policy, except to stress that the path of policy will depend entirely on incoming information that bears on the outlook for the economy. |
| “Finally, Chair Powell said that he and his colleagues on the Federal Open Market Committee will set monetary policy, as required by law, to support maximum employment and stable prices and will make those decisions based solely on careful, objective and non-political analysis.” | “Finally, Chair Powell said that he and his colleagues on the Federal Open Market Committee will set monetary policy, as required by law, to support maximum employment and stable prices and will make those decisions based solely on careful, objective and non-political analysis.” |
| That final sentences appears to be a clear dig at Trump, who has tried to pressure Powell to lower interest rates more quickly by criticizing him over Twitter. | That final sentences appears to be a clear dig at Trump, who has tried to pressure Powell to lower interest rates more quickly by criticizing him over Twitter. |
| However, Trump was purely positive in his latest tweet about Powell, claiming their meeting was “very good & cordial.” | However, Trump was purely positive in his latest tweet about Powell, claiming their meeting was “very good & cordial.” |
| Testifying to Congress last week, Powell said that he was confident the Fed’s plan for lowering interest rates would help the US economy, although he acknowledged the trade war with China (among other factors) has harmed growth. | Testifying to Congress last week, Powell said that he was confident the Fed’s plan for lowering interest rates would help the US economy, although he acknowledged the trade war with China (among other factors) has harmed growth. |