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/19/donald-trump-news-today-impeachment-ukraine-live
The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 23 | Version 24 |
|---|---|
| Impeachment hearing: Volker says he now realizes 'corruption' inquiry was tied to Biden – as happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Former Ukraine envoy appears to amend his earlier testimony in opening statement to lawmakers | Former Ukraine envoy appears to amend his earlier testimony in opening statement to lawmakers |
| Thanks for following along! | |
| We’ll be back early tomorrow, when House investigators will hear from more witnesses including Gordon Sondland, the EU ambassador; Laura Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs; and David Hale, the under secretary of state for political affairs. | |
| You can catch up on the day’s excitement with reporting from my Washington colleagues Tom McCarthy and Lauren Gambino. | |
| The afternoon hearing has finally concluded, after hours of fascinating testimony. | |
| Republican Devin Nunes used his closing remarks to broadly attack the impeachment investigation, which he described as the “culmination of three years of Democratic efforts” to find an excuse to impeach the president. | |
| “Today we are witnesses the Ukraine hoax … the plot is hard to follow and the evidence shifts from day to day,” he said. | |
| Democrat Adam Schiff used his closing remarks to focus on Volker’s testimony | |
| . Addressing viewers directly, he said: “Why should Americans care about Ukraine?” | |
| “They will need to ask themselves – are we prepared to accept that a president of the United States can leverage official acts, military assistance, White House meetings, to get an investigation of a political rival?” he said. | |
| “I don’t think we want to go there.” | |
| The hearings are still going, but energy from the crowd has evidently waned after hours and hours of testimony. | The hearings are still going, but energy from the crowd has evidently waned after hours and hours of testimony. |
| A reporter from the Huffington Post tweeted a photo showing a row of empty chair. | A reporter from the Huffington Post tweeted a photo showing a row of empty chair. |
| Time Magazine is reporting that Mike Pompeo has told three prominent Republicans that he plans to resign as secretary of state to run for senate in Kansas in the 2020 election. | Time Magazine is reporting that Mike Pompeo has told three prominent Republicans that he plans to resign as secretary of state to run for senate in Kansas in the 2020 election. |
| The Republicans told Time that Pompeo initially planned to stay on as secretary of state until next year, but is now rethinking his decision amid the impeachment inquiry. | The Republicans told Time that Pompeo initially planned to stay on as secretary of state until next year, but is now rethinking his decision amid the impeachment inquiry. |
| More from Time: | More from Time: |
| As the afternoon’s testimony approaches its conclusion, here are some striking images from inside the hearing room. | As the afternoon’s testimony approaches its conclusion, here are some striking images from inside the hearing room. |
| Members of the House intelligence committee are now taking short turns questioning the witness. | Members of the House intelligence committee are now taking short turns questioning the witness. |
| Donald Trump, it appears, has been following along too. | Donald Trump, it appears, has been following along too. |
| Trump fiercely attacked impeachment witness Maria Yovanovitch during her testimony on Friday. Democrats described his tweets as “witness intimidation”. This afternoon Trump has spent his time retweeting favorable clips from Fox News and from fellow Republicans. | Trump fiercely attacked impeachment witness Maria Yovanovitch during her testimony on Friday. Democrats described his tweets as “witness intimidation”. This afternoon Trump has spent his time retweeting favorable clips from Fox News and from fellow Republicans. |
| He shared an exchange between Republican counsel Steve Castor and Kurt Volker in which Castor asked Volker to confirm that he had “in no way shape or form” received indication of anything that resembled a quid-pro-quo. Volker replied that was correct. | He shared an exchange between Republican counsel Steve Castor and Kurt Volker in which Castor asked Volker to confirm that he had “in no way shape or form” received indication of anything that resembled a quid-pro-quo. Volker replied that was correct. |
| In non-impeachment news, California governor Gavin Newsom halted approval for hundred of fracking permits until independent scientists can approve them. | In non-impeachment news, California governor Gavin Newsom halted approval for hundred of fracking permits until independent scientists can approve them. |
| Newsom also temporarily banned new wells using a high-pressure steam to extract oil – a process that regulators believe is linked to the spill at a Chevron oil field in the Central Valley. | Newsom also temporarily banned new wells using a high-pressure steam to extract oil – a process that regulators believe is linked to the spill at a Chevron oil field in the Central Valley. |
| More from the AP: | More from the AP: |
| Adam Schiff, the House intelligence committee chair, questioned Volker about a 10 July meeting with Ukrainian officials, in which he was present alongside Gordon Sondland, the EU ambassador, and John Bolton, the former national security adviser. | Adam Schiff, the House intelligence committee chair, questioned Volker about a 10 July meeting with Ukrainian officials, in which he was present alongside Gordon Sondland, the EU ambassador, and John Bolton, the former national security adviser. |
| Schiff asked Volker why he did not mention in his deposition that Sondland made a “generic comment” about “investigations” at the meeting. | Schiff asked Volker why he did not mention in his deposition that Sondland made a “generic comment” about “investigations” at the meeting. |
| Volker said the testimony of others reminded him that it came up. He added that “I think all of us thought it was inappropriate” to bring it up and described it as an “eye roll” moment. | Volker said the testimony of others reminded him that it came up. He added that “I think all of us thought it was inappropriate” to bring it up and described it as an “eye roll” moment. |
| In news relating to the earlier testimony of Jennifer Williams this morning, the White House has released a statement from Keith Kellogg, the national security advisor to vice-president Mike Pence. | In news relating to the earlier testimony of Jennifer Williams this morning, the White House has released a statement from Keith Kellogg, the national security advisor to vice-president Mike Pence. |
| Williams was Kellogg’s direct report at the vice-president’s office, and she testified she found the 25 July phone call “unusual” since it “involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter”. | Williams was Kellogg’s direct report at the vice-president’s office, and she testified she found the 25 July phone call “unusual” since it “involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter”. |
| “I heard nothing wrong or improper on the call. I had and have no concerns,” Kellogg wrote in his statement today. “Ms Williams was also on the call, and as she testified, she never reported any personal or professional concerns to me, her direct supervisor, regarding the call.” | “I heard nothing wrong or improper on the call. I had and have no concerns,” Kellogg wrote in his statement today. “Ms Williams was also on the call, and as she testified, she never reported any personal or professional concerns to me, her direct supervisor, regarding the call.” |
| My colleague Tom McCarthy rounded up the key top things to know from this morning’s hearings. | My colleague Tom McCarthy rounded up the key top things to know from this morning’s hearings. |
| For the first time, witnesses who listened to a 25 July phone call in which Donald Trump asked for a “favor” from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy testified publicly, confirming the facts of the call and the widespread concern it prompted.* Vindman, a combat veteran who received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq, appeared in his US army dress uniform – but found himself under attack from Republicans who questioned his loyalty to the United States. | For the first time, witnesses who listened to a 25 July phone call in which Donald Trump asked for a “favor” from Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy testified publicly, confirming the facts of the call and the widespread concern it prompted.* Vindman, a combat veteran who received a Purple Heart after being wounded in Iraq, appeared in his US army dress uniform – but found himself under attack from Republicans who questioned his loyalty to the United States. |
| One witness requested by Republicans, Kurt Volker, a former special envoy to Ukraine, said that Trump’s request of an investigation of Joe Biden made him realize that he failed to equate discussions of the gas company Burisma with Biden. | One witness requested by Republicans, Kurt Volker, a former special envoy to Ukraine, said that Trump’s request of an investigation of Joe Biden made him realize that he failed to equate discussions of the gas company Burisma with Biden. |
| Testimony on Tuesday provided evidence of Trump’s direct role in the plot. Volker and a fellow witness, the National Security Council official Tim Morrison, both testified that Sondland was in regular communication with Trump. Three witnesses confirmed that they had heard the president personally request, in his July call with Zelenskiy, an investigation of Joe Biden and coordination with Giuliani. | Testimony on Tuesday provided evidence of Trump’s direct role in the plot. Volker and a fellow witness, the National Security Council official Tim Morrison, both testified that Sondland was in regular communication with Trump. Three witnesses confirmed that they had heard the president personally request, in his July call with Zelenskiy, an investigation of Joe Biden and coordination with Giuliani. |
| Witness after witness has described Sondland as a key figure pressing the Ukrainians at various moments for specific “investigations”. When he was originally deposed last month, Sondland said he took Trump at his word that “there was no quid pro quo” involving US military aid. Sondland is scheduled to testify on Wednesday morning. | Witness after witness has described Sondland as a key figure pressing the Ukrainians at various moments for specific “investigations”. When he was originally deposed last month, Sondland said he took Trump at his word that “there was no quid pro quo” involving US military aid. Sondland is scheduled to testify on Wednesday morning. |
| And we’re back! | And we’re back! |
| The House intelligence committee has called for a short break in the impeachment hearing, which will likely become more like a 20-minute recess. | The House intelligence committee has called for a short break in the impeachment hearing, which will likely become more like a 20-minute recess. |