This article is from the source 'washpo' 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.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-impeachment-live-updates/2019/12/11/a5b7a6be-1c03-11ea-b4c1-fd0d91b60d9e_story.html
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Impeachment live updates: House Judiciary panel poised to debate articles of impeachment against Trump tonight | Impeachment live updates: House Judiciary panel poised to debate articles of impeachment against Trump tonight |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The House Judiciary Committee is poised to start weighing articles of impeachment Wednesday accusing President Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, with both parties girding for a spirited debate about his conduct toward Ukraine. | The House Judiciary Committee is poised to start weighing articles of impeachment Wednesday accusing President Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, with both parties girding for a spirited debate about his conduct toward Ukraine. |
| Trump is just the fourth president in U.S. history to face the prospect of such a sanction for misconduct in office, which could be approved by next week on the House floor. | Trump is just the fourth president in U.S. history to face the prospect of such a sanction for misconduct in office, which could be approved by next week on the House floor. |
| At the heart of the Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump tried to leverage a White House meeting and military aid, sought by Ukraine to combat Russian military aggression, to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a probe of an unfounded theory that Kyiv conspired with Democrats to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. | At the heart of the Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump tried to leverage a White House meeting and military aid, sought by Ukraine to combat Russian military aggression, to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to launch an investigation of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden, as well as a probe of an unfounded theory that Kyiv conspired with Democrats to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. |
| ●A day of history accentuates America’s divide and the distortions of truth in the Trump era. | ●A day of history accentuates America’s divide and the distortions of truth in the Trump era. |
| ●Democrats charge Trump with two impeachment articles, setting up historic vote. | ●Democrats charge Trump with two impeachment articles, setting up historic vote. |
| ●House Democrats say Trump is unfit for office but eagerly deal with him on trade. | ●House Democrats say Trump is unfit for office but eagerly deal with him on trade. |
| ●Trump personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani says Trump asked him to brief Justice Department and GOP senators on his Ukraine findings. | ●Trump personal lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani says Trump asked him to brief Justice Department and GOP senators on his Ukraine findings. |
| How impeachment works |House resolution impeaching Trump | House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment inquiry report | Key figures on the House Judiciary Committee | How impeachment works |House resolution impeaching Trump | House Intelligence Committee’s impeachment inquiry report | Key figures on the House Judiciary Committee |
| Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Wednesday that the Senate impeachment trial will begin early next year if the House approves its articles before the holiday recess. | |
| “If the House continues this destructive road and sends us articles of impeachment, the Senate will take them up in the new year and proceed to a fair trial,” McConnell said on the Senate floor. “Assuming that House Democrats send us articles of impeachment next week, a Senate trial will have to be our first item of business in January.” | |
| The leader had suggested on Tuesday that this would be the timeline. On Wednesday, he repeated that legislation on a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico would also wait until next year, calling it a “casualty of Democrats’ impeachment obsession.” | |
| Trump on Wednesday morning retweeted a spate of commentary on impeachment and FBI surveillance of his 2016 campaign from Republican lawmakers, conservative commentators and other allies. | Trump on Wednesday morning retweeted a spate of commentary on impeachment and FBI surveillance of his 2016 campaign from Republican lawmakers, conservative commentators and other allies. |
| The tweets shared by Trump included one by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) calling House impeachment proceedings an “absolute circus,” a “show trial” and a “propaganda trial.” | The tweets shared by Trump included one by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) calling House impeachment proceedings an “absolute circus,” a “show trial” and a “propaganda trial.” |
| A tweet by Jenna Ellis, a legal adviser to Trump’s campaign, referred to “the Dem’s crazytown” and argued Democrats were trying to impeach Trump for “setting foreign policy” and “ensuring foreign aid was not used for corrupt purposes.” | A tweet by Jenna Ellis, a legal adviser to Trump’s campaign, referred to “the Dem’s crazytown” and argued Democrats were trying to impeach Trump for “setting foreign policy” and “ensuring foreign aid was not used for corrupt purposes.” |
| Trump also shared several tweets by talk show host Buck Sexton, who argued in one that the “Democrats are willing to burn down any institution or tradition of governance when they don’t win.” | Trump also shared several tweets by talk show host Buck Sexton, who argued in one that the “Democrats are willing to burn down any institution or tradition of governance when they don’t win.” |
| Former energy secretary Rick Perry voiced support Wednesday for an unfounded notion advanced by Trump and other Republicans that Ukraine interfered in the U.S. presidential election in 2016. | Former energy secretary Rick Perry voiced support Wednesday for an unfounded notion advanced by Trump and other Republicans that Ukraine interfered in the U.S. presidential election in 2016. |
| “Before this is said and done, there will be evidence that you can point to that clearly shows that the Ukrainians were engaged in trying to manipulate the election,” Perry said during an interview on Fox News. | “Before this is said and done, there will be evidence that you can point to that clearly shows that the Ukrainians were engaged in trying to manipulate the election,” Perry said during an interview on Fox News. |
| Perry’s assessment is at odds with that of FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, who said in an interview with ABC News on Monday that there was “no indication” that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. | Perry’s assessment is at odds with that of FBI Director Christopher A. Wray, who said in an interview with ABC News on Monday that there was “no indication” that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election. |
| Perry was among the “three amigos” — along with European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland and former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker — who operated an irregular foreign policy channel to push Ukraine to announce the investigations Trump sought. | Perry was among the “three amigos” — along with European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland and former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker — who operated an irregular foreign policy channel to push Ukraine to announce the investigations Trump sought. |
| During the Fox News interview, Perry noted that he had made trips to Ukraine, starting before this year’s election of Zelensky, and had many “casual conversations” about what happened during the 2016 election in the United States. | During the Fox News interview, Perry noted that he had made trips to Ukraine, starting before this year’s election of Zelensky, and had many “casual conversations” about what happened during the 2016 election in the United States. |
| “There was some interest in our election, and it wasn’t necessarily in Trump’s favor,” Perry said. | “There was some interest in our election, and it wasn’t necessarily in Trump’s favor,” Perry said. |
| Time magazine has picked teen climate activist Greta Thunberg over three key figures involved in the impeachment drama as its “Person of the Year.” | Time magazine has picked teen climate activist Greta Thunberg over three key figures involved in the impeachment drama as its “Person of the Year.” |
| Other finalists for the distinction included Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the inquiry — as well as the Hong Kong protesters who have spent months in the streets calling for democratic reform. | Other finalists for the distinction included Trump, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the anonymous whistleblower whose complaint sparked the inquiry — as well as the Hong Kong protesters who have spent months in the streets calling for democratic reform. |
| Time has chosen a “Person of the Year” since 1927, though the distinction originally was called “Man of the Year.” The title is not necessarily a positive award but, rather, one that recognizes “the man, woman, group or concept that has had the most influence on the world during the previous 12 months.” | Time has chosen a “Person of the Year” since 1927, though the distinction originally was called “Man of the Year.” The title is not necessarily a positive award but, rather, one that recognizes “the man, woman, group or concept that has had the most influence on the world during the previous 12 months.” |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| The House Judiciary Committee is set to begin debate Wednesday night on the two narrowly drafted articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. | The House Judiciary Committee is set to begin debate Wednesday night on the two narrowly drafted articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. |
| House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) is scheduled to gavel the meeting open at 7 p.m. The panel is expected to hear opening statements from its 41 members before recessing until Thursday morning, when it will debate proposed amendments to the articles before voting on the articles themselves. | House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) is scheduled to gavel the meeting open at 7 p.m. The panel is expected to hear opening statements from its 41 members before recessing until Thursday morning, when it will debate proposed amendments to the articles before voting on the articles themselves. |
| That would set up a full House vote on Trump’s impeachment for next week before Congress breaks for the holidays. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he expects a trial to begin in his chamber in early January. | That would set up a full House vote on Trump’s impeachment for next week before Congress breaks for the holidays. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that he expects a trial to begin in his chamber in early January. |
| Congress has impeached only two presidents in history: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before the House could vote on articles of impeachment in the Watergate scandal. Lawmakers drafted three articles against Nixon, including charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors” that mirror the abuse-of-power and obstruction allegations Trump now faces. | Congress has impeached only two presidents in history: Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. President Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before the House could vote on articles of impeachment in the Watergate scandal. Lawmakers drafted three articles against Nixon, including charges of “high crimes and misdemeanors” that mirror the abuse-of-power and obstruction allegations Trump now faces. |
| Following a night of fiery rhetoric on impeachment at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Trump has a quiet day scheduled at the White House on Wednesday. | Following a night of fiery rhetoric on impeachment at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, Trump has a quiet day scheduled at the White House on Wednesday. |
| According to his public schedule, Trump will participate in the swearing in of his new energy secretary, Dan Brouillette, at the White House, before attending two Hanukkah receptions with first lady Melania Trump. None of the events is advertised as open to the press. | According to his public schedule, Trump will participate in the swearing in of his new energy secretary, Dan Brouillette, at the White House, before attending two Hanukkah receptions with first lady Melania Trump. None of the events is advertised as open to the press. |
| At a rally Tuesday night in Hershey, Pa., Trump called the impeachment process a “sham,” and a desperate tactic by Democrats to gain an advantage in next year’s election. | At a rally Tuesday night in Hershey, Pa., Trump called the impeachment process a “sham,” and a desperate tactic by Democrats to gain an advantage in next year’s election. |
| “You know why, because they want to win an election and this is the only way they can do it,” Trump said. | “You know why, because they want to win an election and this is the only way they can do it,” Trump said. |
| Trump added that any Democrat who votes for the “flimsy, pathetic, ridiculous” articles of impeachment against him would be sacrificing their dignity. | Trump added that any Democrat who votes for the “flimsy, pathetic, ridiculous” articles of impeachment against him would be sacrificing their dignity. |
| “Everybody said, ‘This is impeachment lite. This is the lightest impeachment in the history of the country by far,’ ” Trump said. “It’s not even like an impeachment. These people are stone-cold crooked.” | “Everybody said, ‘This is impeachment lite. This is the lightest impeachment in the history of the country by far,’ ” Trump said. “It’s not even like an impeachment. These people are stone-cold crooked.” |
| Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz is set to testify Wednesday about his findings that the FBI investigation of Trump’s 2016 campaign featured “serious performance failures” but was not motivated by political bias. | Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz is set to testify Wednesday about his findings that the FBI investigation of Trump’s 2016 campaign featured “serious performance failures” but was not motivated by political bias. |
| The inspector general is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee two days after releasing a 434-page report analyzing the FBI investigation that was launched in the summer of 2016 to determine if anyone in the Trump campaign was conspiring with Russia to interfere in the presidential election. | The inspector general is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee two days after releasing a 434-page report analyzing the FBI investigation that was launched in the summer of 2016 to determine if anyone in the Trump campaign was conspiring with Russia to interfere in the presidential election. |
| The report has exposed major disagreements among Trump, Attorney General William P. Barr, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray and Horowitz, and lawmakers are likely to press the inspector general further on the areas where there are disputes. | The report has exposed major disagreements among Trump, Attorney General William P. Barr, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray and Horowitz, and lawmakers are likely to press the inspector general further on the areas where there are disputes. |
| Republicans and Democrats have trumpeted the parts of the report that validate their wildly opposing views regarding the nature of the FBI’s investigation, as either a baseless “witch hunt” or a fundamental defense of American democracy. | Republicans and Democrats have trumpeted the parts of the report that validate their wildly opposing views regarding the nature of the FBI’s investigation, as either a baseless “witch hunt” or a fundamental defense of American democracy. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, a Democratic presidential contender, will donate $10 million Thursday to defend vulnerable Democratic House members against paid Republican attacks on their support for impeachment proceedings against Trump. | Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg, a Democratic presidential contender, will donate $10 million Thursday to defend vulnerable Democratic House members against paid Republican attacks on their support for impeachment proceedings against Trump. |
| The money, which is meant to even an arms race on the 2020 congressional battlefield, was cheered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has been fielding concerns from some of her members over a costly Republican advertising offensive as the House moves toward an impeachment vote next week. | The money, which is meant to even an arms race on the 2020 congressional battlefield, was cheered by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who has been fielding concerns from some of her members over a costly Republican advertising offensive as the House moves toward an impeachment vote next week. |
| “In 2018, Mayor Bloomberg was a critical ally in helping House Democrats regain the majority,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Now, the stakes are even higher as we work to make health care more affordable by reducing the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, increase wages and root out corruption. We welcome and thank Mayor Bloomberg for his support.” | “In 2018, Mayor Bloomberg was a critical ally in helping House Democrats regain the majority,” Pelosi said in a statement. “Now, the stakes are even higher as we work to make health care more affordable by reducing the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs, increase wages and root out corruption. We welcome and thank Mayor Bloomberg for his support.” |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| On Tuesday, Trump lashed out at House Democrats after they unveiled two articles of impeachment against him, tweeting “WITCH HUNT!” in capital letters and slamming House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) as “a totally corrupt politician.” | On Tuesday, Trump lashed out at House Democrats after they unveiled two articles of impeachment against him, tweeting “WITCH HUNT!” in capital letters and slamming House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) as “a totally corrupt politician.” |
| But as Trump raged, his campaign appeared to be busy thinking of a way to leverage the historic announcement — a milestone for Democrats leading the impeachment process — in the president’s favor. And by Tuesday afternoon, they had come up with an idea. | But as Trump raged, his campaign appeared to be busy thinking of a way to leverage the historic announcement — a milestone for Democrats leading the impeachment process — in the president’s favor. And by Tuesday afternoon, they had come up with an idea. |
| A 21-second video shared by the Trump War Room Twitter account featured the dramatic scene from Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” in which supervillain Thanos is about to carry out his mission of wiping out half of all life in the universe — only the clip had been edited. Trump’s face is superimposed on Thanos and when the character snaps his fingers, a group of Democratic leaders are turned to dust. | A 21-second video shared by the Trump War Room Twitter account featured the dramatic scene from Marvel’s “Avengers: Endgame,” in which supervillain Thanos is about to carry out his mission of wiping out half of all life in the universe — only the clip had been edited. Trump’s face is superimposed on Thanos and when the character snaps his fingers, a group of Democratic leaders are turned to dust. |
| The short video instantly triggered a flood of reactions. Many mocked the campaign for portraying Trump as a supervillain and questioned if the president’s reelection team had even watched the 2019 film, pointing out that the scene actually comes moments before Thanos realizes the Avengers outsmarted him. The altered clip even prompted a scathing response from Thanos co-creator, comic book writer and artist Jim Starlin. | The short video instantly triggered a flood of reactions. Many mocked the campaign for portraying Trump as a supervillain and questioned if the president’s reelection team had even watched the 2019 film, pointing out that the scene actually comes moments before Thanos realizes the Avengers outsmarted him. The altered clip even prompted a scathing response from Thanos co-creator, comic book writer and artist Jim Starlin. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Following a raucous campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night, Trump tweeted a clip of a Fox News interview with former independent counsel Robert W. Ray, who argued that neither article of impeachment constitutes an impeachable offense. | Following a raucous campaign rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday night, Trump tweeted a clip of a Fox News interview with former independent counsel Robert W. Ray, who argued that neither article of impeachment constitutes an impeachable offense. |
| “Neither one of those is a high crime or misdemeanor,” said Ray, who succeeded Ken Starr as the head of the Office of the Independent Counsel in 1999 and issued the final reports on the Whitewater scandal during President Bill Clinton’s tenure. | “Neither one of those is a high crime or misdemeanor,” said Ray, who succeeded Ken Starr as the head of the Office of the Independent Counsel in 1999 and issued the final reports on the Whitewater scandal during President Bill Clinton’s tenure. |
| Assuming the House votes to impeach Trump, Ray said he would encourage a motion to dismiss in the Republican-led Senate ahead of a trial. | Assuming the House votes to impeach Trump, Ray said he would encourage a motion to dismiss in the Republican-led Senate ahead of a trial. |
| “I wonder really whether the country should be put through that given the fact that I do not think that the two articles that the House is now apparently going to vote on actually constitute impeachable offenses,” he said. | “I wonder really whether the country should be put through that given the fact that I do not think that the two articles that the House is now apparently going to vote on actually constitute impeachable offenses,” he said. |