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House intelligence committee Democrats release Trump impeachment report – live House intelligence committee votes to pass impeachment report – live
(about 1 hour later)
Report outlines the lawmakers’ argument that Trump abused the power of the presidency to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and the 2016 election Report, approved along party lines, outlines lawmakers’ argument that Trump abused power
Kamala Harris to Trump: ‘I’ll see you at your trial’
When Kamala Harris announced she was dropping out of the presidential race earlier today, Donald Trump’s campaign reacted by congratulating Tulsi Gabbard, who often clashed with Harris on the debate stage. Trump tweeted, “Too bad. We will miss you Kamala!”.
Harris responded, “Don’t worry” — she’s still a senator who, if the House votes to impeach the president, will be at the trial deciding whether he should be removed from office.
The committee voted 13-9 along party lines to adopt the report.
Read key takeaways here:
The report alleges that Trump “abused the power of his office for personal and political gain, at the expense of national security”. Though it doesn’t recommend specific articles of impeachment, the document hints at charges of obstruction of justice, among others.
Democratic members of the Intelligence Committee also accuse Trump of a cover-up, contending that the president “ordered and implemented a campaign to conceal his conduct from the public and frustrate and obstruct the House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry”.
Norman Eisen of the Brookings Institution will question experts at the Judiciary Committee hearing tomorrow, the Washington Post reports. Eisen was the chief ethics lawyer for Barack Obama and US ambassador to the Czech Republic.Norman Eisen of the Brookings Institution will question experts at the Judiciary Committee hearing tomorrow, the Washington Post reports. Eisen was the chief ethics lawyer for Barack Obama and US ambassador to the Czech Republic.
The Judiciary Committee is expected to question four law professors during the hearing scheduled for tomorrow. The judiciary committee is expected to question four law professors during the hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
The Republican representative from California pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges relating to his misuse of more than $200,000 in campaign funds.The Republican representative from California pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges relating to his misuse of more than $200,000 in campaign funds.
Federal prosecutors had charged him with using campaign money to pay for a $14,000 Italian vacation and other expenses including dog food, groceries, bedding and utilities.Federal prosecutors had charged him with using campaign money to pay for a $14,000 Italian vacation and other expenses including dog food, groceries, bedding and utilities.
“Congressman Duncan D. Hunter violated the trust of his supporters by diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars they donated in good faith to his reelection campaign for personal expenditures,” said assistant U.S. attorney David Leshner said in a statement.“Congressman Duncan D. Hunter violated the trust of his supporters by diverting hundreds of thousands of dollars they donated in good faith to his reelection campaign for personal expenditures,” said assistant U.S. attorney David Leshner said in a statement.
Hunter had previously said that he was the victim of a “witch hunt”.Hunter had previously said that he was the victim of a “witch hunt”.
In his plea agreement today, the congressman admitted that he knowingly and willfully stole money to fund their lifestye.In his plea agreement today, the congressman admitted that he knowingly and willfully stole money to fund their lifestye.
Well, that was a full day of news, and my west coast colleague Maanvi Singh will have more updates in the next few hours.Well, that was a full day of news, and my west coast colleague Maanvi Singh will have more updates in the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
Democrats on the House intelligence committee released their report on the impeachment inquiry, which accused Trump of both abusing his power to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and obstructing the investigation into his actions.Democrats on the House intelligence committee released their report on the impeachment inquiry, which accused Trump of both abusing his power to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and obstructing the investigation into his actions.
Kamala Harris suspended her presidential campaign. The California senator was considered a frontrunner in the race earlier this year but saw her polling and fundraising numbers dwindle as she struggled to craft a consistent pitch for her candidacy.Kamala Harris suspended her presidential campaign. The California senator was considered a frontrunner in the race earlier this year but saw her polling and fundraising numbers dwindle as she struggled to craft a consistent pitch for her candidacy.
A federal appeals court ruled Deutsche Bank and Capitol One must comply with a congressional subpoena seeking Trump’s financial records, but the president’s legal team is likely to appeal the decision.A federal appeals court ruled Deutsche Bank and Capitol One must comply with a congressional subpoena seeking Trump’s financial records, but the president’s legal team is likely to appeal the decision.
Trump and Emmanuel Macron clashed during a news conference in London, where the French president criticized his US counterpart’s stances on a number of foreign-policy issues -- including outreach to Russia and the state of ISIS.Trump and Emmanuel Macron clashed during a news conference in London, where the French president criticized his US counterpart’s stances on a number of foreign-policy issues -- including outreach to Russia and the state of ISIS.
The House judiciary committee will hold its first hearing in the impeachment inquiry tomorrow morning.The House judiciary committee will hold its first hearing in the impeachment inquiry tomorrow morning.
Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
AT&T said in a statement that it was “required by law” to hand over phone records to the House intelligence committee, which were requested as part of the panel’s impeachment inquiry.AT&T said in a statement that it was “required by law” to hand over phone records to the House intelligence committee, which were requested as part of the panel’s impeachment inquiry.
The phone records showed Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, was in contact with Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, and an official at the office of management and budget as he started to peddle baseless corruption allegations against Joe Biden.The phone records showed Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, was in contact with Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, and an official at the office of management and budget as he started to peddle baseless corruption allegations against Joe Biden.
“Like all companies, we are required by law to provide information to government and law enforcement agencies,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. “In all cases, we ensure that requests for assistance are valid and that we act in compliance with the law.”“Like all companies, we are required by law to provide information to government and law enforcement agencies,” a spokesperson for the company said in a statement. “In all cases, we ensure that requests for assistance are valid and that we act in compliance with the law.”
Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, dodged a question about why he was calling an official at the office of management and budget as he was simultaneously pushing for the ouster of Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine.Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, dodged a question about why he was calling an official at the office of management and budget as he was simultaneously pushing for the ouster of Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine.
Call records included in the impeachment report from Democrats on the House intelligence committee indicate Giuliani was in contact with not only the OMB official but also Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee.Call records included in the impeachment report from Democrats on the House intelligence committee indicate Giuliani was in contact with not only the OMB official but also Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee.
As Trump combats the impeachment inquiry, his personal lawyers have reportedly been sidelined by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and his team of attorneys.As Trump combats the impeachment inquiry, his personal lawyers have reportedly been sidelined by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and his team of attorneys.
The Washington Post reports:The Washington Post reports:
A lawyer for Lev Parnas, the former associate of Rudy Giuliani’s who aided the Trump lawyer’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to launch investigations into the Democrats, suggested congressman Devin Nunes should have recused himself from the impeachment inquiry.A lawyer for Lev Parnas, the former associate of Rudy Giuliani’s who aided the Trump lawyer’s efforts to pressure Ukraine to launch investigations into the Democrats, suggested congressman Devin Nunes should have recused himself from the impeachment inquiry.
The impeachment report from Democrats on the House intelligence committee showed Parnas and Nunes were in communication as Giuliani began spreading baseless corruption allegations against Joe Biden.The impeachment report from Democrats on the House intelligence committee showed Parnas and Nunes were in communication as Giuliani began spreading baseless corruption allegations against Joe Biden.
Ro Khanna, a Democratic member of the House oversight committee, suggested the judiciary committee should quickly begin drafting articles of impeachment against Trump following the release of the intelligence committee’s report on the inquiry.Ro Khanna, a Democratic member of the House oversight committee, suggested the judiciary committee should quickly begin drafting articles of impeachment against Trump following the release of the intelligence committee’s report on the inquiry.
The judiciary committee will hold its first public hearing in the inquiry tomorrow, which will focus on the constitutional standard for impeaching a president.The judiciary committee will hold its first public hearing in the inquiry tomorrow, which will focus on the constitutional standard for impeaching a president.
Adam Schiff has just concluded his news conference following the release of the House intelligence committee’s report on the impeachment inquiry.
The committee chairman concluded his remarks by answering a reporter’s question about Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the panel who was apparently in contact with Rudy Giuliani as the president’s personal lawyer began to peddle baseless corruption allegations against Joe Biden.
Schiff acknoweldged it was “deeply concerning” that there “may have been members of Congres complicit in” trying to dig up dirt on Biden, but the chairman warned there was still much left to uncover about those communications.
“Our focus is on the president’s conduct first and foremost,” Schiff said, suggesting it may be up to others -- possibly the House ethics committee? -- to investigate the actions of some of Trump’s allies.
Adam Schiff said he would “continue to reserve judgement” on whether Trump should be impeached and removed from office, even though his panel just released a report accusing the president of abusing his power to have a political rival investigated.
But the intelligence committee chairman did acknowledge he was “gravely concerned” about the allegations outlined in the impeachment report, warning that Trump’s actions could “invite further corruption of our elections.”
Adam Schiff encouraged his Republican colleagues to seriously consider the allegations against Trump, warning that their dismissal of the inquiry could set a dangerous precedent for future presidents.
“To my Republican colleagues, they need to consider when we have a Democratic president, are they willing to say to their oversight that the president can simply refuse?” the House intelligence committee said.
But Schiff emphasized Democrats would not abandon the investigation, despite Republican opposition. “I firmly believe that if one party relinquishes its responsibility to the constitution and to their oath, it does not relieve us of our obligation to the same,” Schiff said.
House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff said his panel’s report on the impeachment inquiry “chronicles a scheme” by Trump to pressure Ukraine into “doing the president’s political dirty work.”
The California Democrat asserted Trump had leveraged a potential White House meeting and military assistance to pursue his political agenda. “These were things that Ukraine desperately wanted and needed,” Schiff said.
“This is not about Ukraine. This is about our democracy,” the chairman added, accusing Trump of “betraying that oath that he took to the constitution to protect our country and defend its institutions.”
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, is holding a news conference following the release of his panel’s report on the impeachment inquiry.
The impeachment report from Democrats on the House intelligence committee outlines frequent communication between Rudy Giuliani and the White House as the president’s personal lawyer pushed for the ouster of Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine.
Yovanovitch was recalled from her post in May, even though the deputy secretary of state told her she had done nothing wrong in the role.
The editor-in-chief of the Hill said the newspaper was launching a “meticulous review” of John Solomon’s columns after the impeachment report from Democrats on the House intelligence committee revealed the former opinion writer was in frequent contact with former Giuliani associate Lev Parnas.
The impeachment report from Democrats on the House intelligence committee lays out the findings from their hearings but does not offer an explicit recommendation on articles of impeachment, instead leaving that matter up to the House judiciary commitee.
The judiciary committee will hold its first public hearing of the inquiry tomorrow, and it will focus on the constitutional standard for impeaching a president.
The White House slammed the impeachment report from Democrats on the House intelligence committee, saying the document “reads like the ramblings of a basement blogger.”
“At the end of a one-sided sham process, Chairman Schiff and the Democrats utterly failed to produce any evidence of wrongdoing by President Trump,” press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.
“This report reflects nothing more than their frustrations. Chairman Schiff’s report reads like the ramblings of a basement blogger straining to prove something when there is evidence of nothing.”
Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House intelligence committee, was repeatedly in contact with Rudy Giulaini as the president’s personal lawyer started spreading baseless corruption allegations against Joe Biden, according to the impeachment report.
CNN reported late last month that Nunes, who has been one of the president’s most ardent defenders against the impeachment inquiry, met with a former Ukrainian prosecutor in an effort to get dirt on Biden.