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| Impeachment hearing: White House Twitter account attacks Vindman's judgment – live | Impeachment hearing: White House Twitter account attacks Vindman's judgment – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Tweet attempts to cast doubt on Lt Col Alexander Vindman testimony after he criticized Trump’s ‘improper’ call with Ukrainian president | Tweet attempts to cast doubt on Lt Col Alexander Vindman testimony after he criticized Trump’s ‘improper’ call with Ukrainian president |
| Republicans on the House intelligence committee pushed back against Democratic accusations that questions about Lt Col Alexander Vindman being offered the job of Ukrainian defense minister were meant to resurface baseless allegations of dual loyalty. | |
| When Vindman responded to questions about the defense minister job, the lieutenant colonel emphasized he was an American above all else and never entertained the “comical” offer. | |
| The two witnesses in this afternoon’s public impeachment hearing, former NSC official Tim Morrison and former Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker, have arrived on Capitol Hill, but it’s unclear when they will begin their testimony. | |
| The second hearing was originally scheduled to begin about 10 minutes ago, but the House intelligence committee appears to be running behind. | |
| The White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has released a statement condemning the impeachment inquiry following this morning’s public hearing. | The White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has released a statement condemning the impeachment inquiry following this morning’s public hearing. |
| “We have learned nothing new in today’s illegitimate ‘impeachment’ proceedings,” the statement reads. “However, buried among the witnesses’ personal opinions and conjecture about a call the White House long ago released to the public, both witnesses testified the July 25 transcript was ‘accurate’ and nothing President Trump has done or said amounts to ‘bribery’ or any other crime.” | “We have learned nothing new in today’s illegitimate ‘impeachment’ proceedings,” the statement reads. “However, buried among the witnesses’ personal opinions and conjecture about a call the White House long ago released to the public, both witnesses testified the July 25 transcript was ‘accurate’ and nothing President Trump has done or said amounts to ‘bribery’ or any other crime.” |
| Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams did testify to the accuracy of the White House memo on Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president. However, that memo shows the US president asking Ukraine for a “favor,” and Vindman testified he believed Trump was trying to pressure Ukraine’s president to investigate Joe Biden. | Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams did testify to the accuracy of the White House memo on Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president. However, that memo shows the US president asking Ukraine for a “favor,” and Vindman testified he believed Trump was trying to pressure Ukraine’s president to investigate Joe Biden. |
| Committee chairman Adam Schiff argued during the hearing that Vindman and Williams were not asked to make a determination on whether Trump attempted to bribe Ukraine because they were merely meant to serve as “fact witnesses” in the inquiry. | Committee chairman Adam Schiff argued during the hearing that Vindman and Williams were not asked to make a determination on whether Trump attempted to bribe Ukraine because they were merely meant to serve as “fact witnesses” in the inquiry. |
| The first public impeachment hearing today has concluded, and the second hearing with former NSC official Tim Morrison and former Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker is scheduled to begin in about 40 minutes. | The first public impeachment hearing today has concluded, and the second hearing with former NSC official Tim Morrison and former Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker is scheduled to begin in about 40 minutes. |
| Here’s what we learned from the first hearing: | Here’s what we learned from the first hearing: |
| Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams provided firsthand accounts of Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian president, which sparked the impeachment inquiry. Vindman said he immediately notified White House lawyers of the “improper” call because he was alarmed by Trump’s apparent efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. Williams added that Trump’s mention of Biden and his son sounded “political” to her, which was not in keeping with a typical call to a foreign leader. | Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams provided firsthand accounts of Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian president, which sparked the impeachment inquiry. Vindman said he immediately notified White House lawyers of the “improper” call because he was alarmed by Trump’s apparent efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. Williams added that Trump’s mention of Biden and his son sounded “political” to her, which was not in keeping with a typical call to a foreign leader. |
| Republicans on the House intelligence committee tried to undermine Vindman’s credibility by alluding to a possible loyalty to Ukraine, which he denied, and by accusing him of going outside the chain of command to report his concerns on the call, which he contradicted. But GOP members did not try to seriously contest the witnesses’ key assertions about Trump’s Ukraine call. | Republicans on the House intelligence committee tried to undermine Vindman’s credibility by alluding to a possible loyalty to Ukraine, which he denied, and by accusing him of going outside the chain of command to report his concerns on the call, which he contradicted. But GOP members did not try to seriously contest the witnesses’ key assertions about Trump’s Ukraine call. |
| The White House sent a tweet raising doubts about Vindman’s judgement by quoting the closed-door testimony of Morrison. However, during the hearing, Vindman pushed back against Morrison’s concerns by quoting a glowing performance review by former White House official Fiona Hill. | The White House sent a tweet raising doubts about Vindman’s judgement by quoting the closed-door testimony of Morrison. However, during the hearing, Vindman pushed back against Morrison’s concerns by quoting a glowing performance review by former White House official Fiona Hill. |
| Williams and Vindman denied they are “never Trumpers,” despite the president’s accusations. Vindman said he would describe himself as “never partisan.” | Williams and Vindman denied they are “never Trumpers,” despite the president’s accusations. Vindman said he would describe himself as “never partisan.” |
| The blog will have much more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have much more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| The first of two public hearings in the House impeachment inquiry has concluded after about four and a half hours of testimony from Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams. | The first of two public hearings in the House impeachment inquiry has concluded after about four and a half hours of testimony from Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams. |
| In his closing statement, Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, declared, “Act one of today’s circus is over.” | In his closing statement, Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, declared, “Act one of today’s circus is over.” |
| But committee chairman Adam Schiff used his opening statement to once again lay out the accusations against Trump and argue the witnesses’ testimony today had contradicted Republicans’ claims that the president mentioned investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election because he cared about Ukrainian corruption. | But committee chairman Adam Schiff used his opening statement to once again lay out the accusations against Trump and argue the witnesses’ testimony today had contradicted Republicans’ claims that the president mentioned investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election because he cared about Ukrainian corruption. |
| Democratic representative Raja Krishamoorthi expressed his concerns that Lt Col Alexnader Vindman was being attacked partly because he is an immigrant. | Democratic representative Raja Krishamoorthi expressed his concerns that Lt Col Alexnader Vindman was being attacked partly because he is an immigrant. |
| Krishamoorthi, a fellow immigrant, added that he hoped Vindman was as proud to be an American as he was, becoming emotional as he spoke. | Krishamoorthi, a fellow immigrant, added that he hoped Vindman was as proud to be an American as he was, becoming emotional as he spoke. |
| Moments ago, Lt Col Alexander Vindman dismissed a conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 presidential election as a “Russian narrative that President Putin has promoted.” | Moments ago, Lt Col Alexander Vindman dismissed a conspiracy theory that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 presidential election as a “Russian narrative that President Putin has promoted.” |
| The US intelligence community has thoroughly confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, but Republicans on the House intelligence committee have attempted to resurface the baseless allegations against Ukraine during the public impeachment hearings. | The US intelligence community has thoroughly confirmed that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, but Republicans on the House intelligence committee have attempted to resurface the baseless allegations against Ukraine during the public impeachment hearings. |
| Some of those watching today’s impeachment testimony from the public seating section of the hearing room applauded after Lt Col Alexander Vindman explained why he felt comfortable publicly sharing his concerns about the president. | Some of those watching today’s impeachment testimony from the public seating section of the hearing room applauded after Lt Col Alexander Vindman explained why he felt comfortable publicly sharing his concerns about the president. |
| “This is America,” Vindman said in response to a question from Democratic representative Sean Maloney about whether his father was concerned about him testifying. “Here, right matters.” | “This is America,” Vindman said in response to a question from Democratic representative Sean Maloney about whether his father was concerned about him testifying. “Here, right matters.” |
| For a lighter moment in the impeachment hearing, presidential candidate Julián Castro responded to a claim from his brother, representative Joaquin Castro, that he made him grow a beard to make it easier to tell the identical twins apart. | For a lighter moment in the impeachment hearing, presidential candidate Julián Castro responded to a claim from his brother, representative Joaquin Castro, that he made him grow a beard to make it easier to tell the identical twins apart. |
| Representative Jim Jordan, one of Trump’s closest congressional allies, used his final five minutes of questioning to accuse Democrats of trying to undo the results of the 2016 presidential election through the impeachment inquiry. | Representative Jim Jordan, one of Trump’s closest congressional allies, used his final five minutes of questioning to accuse Democrats of trying to undo the results of the 2016 presidential election through the impeachment inquiry. |
| The Ohio Republican did not ask a single question to today’s witnesses, Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams. | The Ohio Republican did not ask a single question to today’s witnesses, Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams. |
| The White House tweet raising doubts about the judgement of Lt Col Alexander Vindman is particularly shocking considering the Iraq war veteran still serves on the national security council. | The White House tweet raising doubts about the judgement of Lt Col Alexander Vindman is particularly shocking considering the Iraq war veteran still serves on the national security council. |
| Meanwhile, over on Trump’s Twitter account, the president is resharing messages from Republican accounts downplaying the testimony from Vindman and Jennifer Williams. | Meanwhile, over on Trump’s Twitter account, the president is resharing messages from Republican accounts downplaying the testimony from Vindman and Jennifer Williams. |
| The White House Twitter account has just sent a message raising doubts about the judgement of Lt Col Alexander Vindman as the NSC official testifies in the impeachment inquiry. | The White House Twitter account has just sent a message raising doubts about the judgement of Lt Col Alexander Vindman as the NSC official testifies in the impeachment inquiry. |
| The White House tweet quoted the closed-door testimony from Tim Morrison, who was Vindman’s superior on the national security council. | The White House tweet quoted the closed-door testimony from Tim Morrison, who was Vindman’s superior on the national security council. |
| However, asked about Morrison’s testimony earlier, Vindman cited his glowing performance review from former White House official Fiona Hill, who praised the Iraq war veteran’s “brilliant” and “unflappable” demeanor. | However, asked about Morrison’s testimony earlier, Vindman cited his glowing performance review from former White House official Fiona Hill, who praised the Iraq war veteran’s “brilliant” and “unflappable” demeanor. |
| Representative Joaquin Castro got a laugh during the impeachment hearing by making a joke about being an identical twin, as Lt Col Alexander Vindman is. | Representative Joaquin Castro got a laugh during the impeachment hearing by making a joke about being an identical twin, as Lt Col Alexander Vindman is. |
| Castro said it was “great to talk to a fellow identical twin” and added he hoped Vindman’s brother was “nicer to you” and doesn’t “make you grow a beard.” | Castro said it was “great to talk to a fellow identical twin” and added he hoped Vindman’s brother was “nicer to you” and doesn’t “make you grow a beard.” |
| The Texas congressman’s brother, Julián Castro, is currently running for president, and Joaquin grew a beard in part to help tell the two apart. | The Texas congressman’s brother, Julián Castro, is currently running for president, and Joaquin grew a beard in part to help tell the two apart. |
| Under questioning from Republican representative Elise Stefanik, Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams both acknowledged there was the potential for the appearance of a conflict of interest in Hunter Biden’s work for the Ukrainian company Burisma. | Under questioning from Republican representative Elise Stefanik, Lt Col Alexander Vindman and Jennifer Williams both acknowledged there was the potential for the appearance of a conflict of interest in Hunter Biden’s work for the Ukrainian company Burisma. |
| George Kent, the state department official who raised concerns about the appearance of a conflict of interest in Biden’s work for Burisma in 2015, testified last week that he never saw any effort by US officials to shield the company from scrutiny. | George Kent, the state department official who raised concerns about the appearance of a conflict of interest in Biden’s work for Burisma in 2015, testified last week that he never saw any effort by US officials to shield the company from scrutiny. |
| Republican representative Chris Stewart pressed Lt Col Alexander Vindman on why he corrected Devin Nunes after the GOP ranking member incorrectly called the Iraq war veteran “Mr Vindman.” | Republican representative Chris Stewart pressed Lt Col Alexander Vindman on why he corrected Devin Nunes after the GOP ranking member incorrectly called the Iraq war veteran “Mr Vindman.” |
| “You always insist on civilians calling you by your rank?” Stewart asked. Vindman, a Purple Heart recipient, replied that he considered the correction appropriate given that he is in his military uniform and because he has been the subject of attacks meant to “marginalize” his service. | “You always insist on civilians calling you by your rank?” Stewart asked. Vindman, a Purple Heart recipient, replied that he considered the correction appropriate given that he is in his military uniform and because he has been the subject of attacks meant to “marginalize” his service. |
| Trump also touched on Vindman’s correction of Nunes when speaking to reporters during his cabinet meeting this afternoon. | Trump also touched on Vindman’s correction of Nunes when speaking to reporters during his cabinet meeting this afternoon. |
| “I don’t know him,” Trump said of Vindman. “I don’t know, as he says, ‘Lt Colonel.’ I understand somebody had him the misfortune of calling him ‘Mr’ and he corrected them. I never saw the man. I understand now he wears his uniform when he goes in. No, I don’t know Vindman at all.” | “I don’t know him,” Trump said of Vindman. “I don’t know, as he says, ‘Lt Colonel.’ I understand somebody had him the misfortune of calling him ‘Mr’ and he corrected them. I never saw the man. I understand now he wears his uniform when he goes in. No, I don’t know Vindman at all.” |
| It’s worth noting that active duty service members are required to wear their military uniforms when appearing before Congress. | It’s worth noting that active duty service members are required to wear their military uniforms when appearing before Congress. |