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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/dec/17/trump-news-today-live-impeachment-democrats-republicans
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| Trump impeachment: House committee to set terms of debate – live | Trump impeachment: House committee to set terms of debate – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Freshman congressman Anthony Brindisi, from a Trump-supporting district, announces backing for impeachment before tomorrow’s vote | Freshman congressman Anthony Brindisi, from a Trump-supporting district, announces backing for impeachment before tomorrow’s vote |
| On the subject of Chuck Schumer’s letter calling on White House officials to testify during the likely impeachment trial, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell accused the minority leader of trying to “short circuit” efforts to reach an agreement on trial procedures. | |
| McConnell said he would still meet with Schumer to discuss trial procedures, but he seemed very skeptical of allowing witnesses to testify. In his letter, Schumer specifically called on acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton to testify. | |
| “The Democratic leader wants to write a completely new set of rules,” McConnell said. | |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is speaking on the Senate floor about the impeachment inquiry, calling the investigation the “most rushed, least thorough and most unfair impeachment inquiry in recent history.” | |
| The Kentucky Republican argued the result of the Democrats’ months-long investigation was a “slapdash work product.” | |
| McConnell also offered a word of advice on the eve of the House’s expected vote on the impeachment resolution. “House Democrats still have an opportunity to do the right thing for the country,” the Senate leader said. “The House can turn back and not deploy this constitutional remedy of last resort.” | |
| In an interview with the New York Times, Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, detailed his conversations with Trump about Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine who was recalled earlier this year. | |
| The Times reports: | |
| The Times’ story came the same day that the New Yorker published an article in which Giuliani was quoted as saying he wanted Yovanovitch “out of the way” to push for investigations into Biden and the 2016 election. | |
| Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House adviser, said Trump would sign the massive government spending deal, which is expected to pass the House this afternoon, to avoid a shutdown. | Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House adviser, said Trump would sign the massive government spending deal, which is expected to pass the House this afternoon, to avoid a shutdown. |
| But the $1.3 trillion spending bill has consequences far beyond keeping the government open. The Washington Post has more details: | But the $1.3 trillion spending bill has consequences far beyond keeping the government open. The Washington Post has more details: |
| A message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief: | A message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief: |
| This year, readers across all 50 states supported our journalism, allowing us to thrive in a challenging climate for publishers. Thank you. | This year, readers across all 50 states supported our journalism, allowing us to thrive in a challenging climate for publishers. Thank you. |
| In the coming year, many vital aspects of American public life are in play – the supreme court, abortion rights, climate policy, wealth inequality, Big Tech and much more. The stakes could hardly be higher – and the need for a robust, independent press has never been greater. | In the coming year, many vital aspects of American public life are in play – the supreme court, abortion rights, climate policy, wealth inequality, Big Tech and much more. The stakes could hardly be higher – and the need for a robust, independent press has never been greater. |
| As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism. We hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift. | As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism. We hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift. |
| We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Guardian in 2019. You provide us with the motivation and financial support to keep doing what we do.Make a contribution. | We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Guardian in 2019. You provide us with the motivation and financial support to keep doing what we do.Make a contribution. |
| The majority of House Democrats representing districts that Trump carried in 2016 have now signaled they intend to support the president’s impeachment, but several vulnerable Democratic lawmakers have not yet indicated how they will vote. | The majority of House Democrats representing districts that Trump carried in 2016 have now signaled they intend to support the president’s impeachment, but several vulnerable Democratic lawmakers have not yet indicated how they will vote. |
| The positions of these lawmakers will likely become clearer by tomorrow, when the impeachment resolution reaches the House floor for debate. | The positions of these lawmakers will likely become clearer by tomorrow, when the impeachment resolution reaches the House floor for debate. |
| The House is expected to vote this afternoon on its government spending deal, which would avoid a shutdown at the end of the week. | The House is expected to vote this afternoon on its government spending deal, which would avoid a shutdown at the end of the week. |
| Trump has not yet sent a clear signal on whether he will support the deal, although an adviser to former Republican House speaker Paul Ryan noted lawmakers have used a technicality to try to secure the president’s signature. | Trump has not yet sent a clear signal on whether he will support the deal, although an adviser to former Republican House speaker Paul Ryan noted lawmakers have used a technicality to try to secure the president’s signature. |
| It appears the food services company Sodexo has reached an agreement with its employees at Loyola Marymount University, the site of Thursday’s Democratic debate. | It appears the food services company Sodexo has reached an agreement with its employees at Loyola Marymount University, the site of Thursday’s Democratic debate. |
| The presidential candidates who have qualified for the debate threatened to boycott the event if the union dispute was not resolved, but this announcement should clear the way for the debate to continue as scheduled. | The presidential candidates who have qualified for the debate threatened to boycott the event if the union dispute was not resolved, but this announcement should clear the way for the debate to continue as scheduled. |
| Neil Gorsuch, the first of two US supreme court justices appointed by Trump, has appeared on Fox and Friends to tout his book “A Republic, If You Can Keep It.” | Neil Gorsuch, the first of two US supreme court justices appointed by Trump, has appeared on Fox and Friends to tout his book “A Republic, If You Can Keep It.” |
| His live interview on Trump’s favorite morning TV show provoked expressions of disapproval on social media. Brian Stelter of CNN sniped: “How is it appropriate for a Supreme Court justice to try to goose sales of his three-month-old book by chatting on one of the most partisan shows on TV?” | His live interview on Trump’s favorite morning TV show provoked expressions of disapproval on social media. Brian Stelter of CNN sniped: “How is it appropriate for a Supreme Court justice to try to goose sales of his three-month-old book by chatting on one of the most partisan shows on TV?” |
| In the end, the most outrageous thing about the Fox and Friends interview was that it failed to elicit a single interesting comment from the conservative justice. Plenty of folksy banter about Colorado fly-fishing, female in-laws and how the justices sing together at Christmas and on birthdays. | In the end, the most outrageous thing about the Fox and Friends interview was that it failed to elicit a single interesting comment from the conservative justice. Plenty of folksy banter about Colorado fly-fishing, female in-laws and how the justices sing together at Christmas and on birthdays. |
| But no questions on impeachment, Trump, Roe v Wade or any of the other seismic conflicts battering the nation’s highest court. About the most grabby remark Gorsuch made was to lament that almost one in 10 American college graduates believe that Judith Sheindlin - better known as Judge Judy - sits on the US supreme court. The way this interview went, she might as well have been. | But no questions on impeachment, Trump, Roe v Wade or any of the other seismic conflicts battering the nation’s highest court. About the most grabby remark Gorsuch made was to lament that almost one in 10 American college graduates believe that Judith Sheindlin - better known as Judge Judy - sits on the US supreme court. The way this interview went, she might as well have been. |
| Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious set of reforms to fight global corruption, arguing that “financial transparency is a necessary component of any responsible domestic and international policy agenda.” | Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious set of reforms to fight global corruption, arguing that “financial transparency is a necessary component of any responsible domestic and international policy agenda.” |
| “Around the world -- in places including Chile, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran – protesters are rising up against corruption and economic inequality,” Warren wrote in a Medium post. “The United States must stand with them. Financial transparency is a necessary component of any responsible domestic and international policy agenda, but international controls are only as strong as their weakest links. The United States has the means to compel change, and we must lead by example.” | “Around the world -- in places including Chile, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran – protesters are rising up against corruption and economic inequality,” Warren wrote in a Medium post. “The United States must stand with them. Financial transparency is a necessary component of any responsible domestic and international policy agenda, but international controls are only as strong as their weakest links. The United States has the means to compel change, and we must lead by example.” |
| Her plan would: | Her plan would: |
| Require the disclosure of “ultimate beneficial owner of a company” – the real owners behind shell companies that allow individuals to mask their identities and the sources of their money | Require the disclosure of “ultimate beneficial owner of a company” – the real owners behind shell companies that allow individuals to mask their identities and the sources of their money |
| Gather better data on cross-border financial flows | Gather better data on cross-border financial flows |
| Expand anti-bribery laws that penalize foreign officials who extort American companies | Expand anti-bribery laws that penalize foreign officials who extort American companies |
| Impose new rules to clamp down on dark money with stiff penalties for violations | Impose new rules to clamp down on dark money with stiff penalties for violations |
| Deploy targeted sanctions to “investigate, name, and shame corrupt individuals and their criminal rings” | Deploy targeted sanctions to “investigate, name, and shame corrupt individuals and their criminal rings” |
| Warren’s proposal makes multiple references to the Panama Papers, an unprecedented leak of records from one of the world’s largest offshore law firms that exposed the many ways the wealthy and powerful exploit secretive offshore tax havens. The records were shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, who worked with a network of media partners, including the Guardian. | Warren’s proposal makes multiple references to the Panama Papers, an unprecedented leak of records from one of the world’s largest offshore law firms that exposed the many ways the wealthy and powerful exploit secretive offshore tax havens. The records were shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, who worked with a network of media partners, including the Guardian. |
| “Laundered money represents 2 to 5 percent of global GDP, or as much as $2 trillionannually,” she writes. “And the flow of illicit money and lack of financial transparency are not just problems for developing countries or systems exploited by autocrats – they also affect the United States and its interests around the world.” | “Laundered money represents 2 to 5 percent of global GDP, or as much as $2 trillionannually,” she writes. “And the flow of illicit money and lack of financial transparency are not just problems for developing countries or systems exploited by autocrats – they also affect the United States and its interests around the world.” |
| The plan also comes ahead of a House vote on impeachment that centers on the US’ anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine. Multiple diplomats and administration testified during the impeachment investigation this year that those efforts were disrupted by a parallel pressure campaign by Trump’s allies to extract a political favor from the country’s newly elected president. | The plan also comes ahead of a House vote on impeachment that centers on the US’ anti-corruption efforts in Ukraine. Multiple diplomats and administration testified during the impeachment investigation this year that those efforts were disrupted by a parallel pressure campaign by Trump’s allies to extract a political favor from the country’s newly elected president. |
| Another freshman House Democrat, Mikie Sherill of New Jersey, has announced she will vote to impeach Trump, who carried her congressional district by 1 point in 2016. | Another freshman House Democrat, Mikie Sherill of New Jersey, has announced she will vote to impeach Trump, who carried her congressional district by 1 point in 2016. |
| So far, the only House Democrats to signal they will oppose impeachment are Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew, who has indicated he will switch his party affiliation. Trump, who helped convince Van Drew to change sides, tweeted praise at the freshman congressman late last night. | So far, the only House Democrats to signal they will oppose impeachment are Collin Peterson and Jeff Van Drew, who has indicated he will switch his party affiliation. Trump, who helped convince Van Drew to change sides, tweeted praise at the freshman congressman late last night. |
| Good morning, live blog readers! | Good morning, live blog readers! |
| The House rules committee is set to meet at 11am ET to discuss the parameters for the impeachment debate, which will take place tomorrow on the House floor before a chamber-wide vote. | The House rules committee is set to meet at 11am ET to discuss the parameters for the impeachment debate, which will take place tomorrow on the House floor before a chamber-wide vote. |
| Although the rules committee meeting will likely not be as chaotic as tomorrow’s floor debate, viewers can expect some heated moments as two representatives from the judiciary committee – Democrat Jamie Raskin and Republican Doug Collins – take questions from members of the panel about the two articles of impeachment. (Judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler was originally scheduled to attend but will be unable to appear due to a family emergency.) | Although the rules committee meeting will likely not be as chaotic as tomorrow’s floor debate, viewers can expect some heated moments as two representatives from the judiciary committee – Democrat Jamie Raskin and Republican Doug Collins – take questions from members of the panel about the two articles of impeachment. (Judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler was originally scheduled to attend but will be unable to appear due to a family emergency.) |
| Democratic leadership also received some good news this morning; congressman Anthony Brindisi, a freshman House Democrat whose district voted for Donald Trump by 15 points in 2016, said he would support impeachment. | Democratic leadership also received some good news this morning; congressman Anthony Brindisi, a freshman House Democrat whose district voted for Donald Trump by 15 points in 2016, said he would support impeachment. |
| Brindisi is one of more than a dozen vulnerable House Democrats who have now signaled their support for impeaching Trump, indicating the Democratic caucus will likely be largely unified when the vote takes place. But once the House approves the articles of impeachment, which seems all but certain at this point, the debate will then move to the Republican-controlled Senate, where Trump has already been guaranteed a much more favorable audience. | Brindisi is one of more than a dozen vulnerable House Democrats who have now signaled their support for impeaching Trump, indicating the Democratic caucus will likely be largely unified when the vote takes place. But once the House approves the articles of impeachment, which seems all but certain at this point, the debate will then move to the Republican-controlled Senate, where Trump has already been guaranteed a much more favorable audience. |
| Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on: | Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on: |
| Trump will welcome the Guatemalan president and first lady to the White House and later speak at a Christmas reception. | Trump will welcome the Guatemalan president and first lady to the White House and later speak at a Christmas reception. |
| The House is expected to vote on government funding to avoid a shutdown. | The House is expected to vote on government funding to avoid a shutdown. |
| Joe Biden is attending a fundraiser in his home state of Delaware. | Joe Biden is attending a fundraiser in his home state of Delaware. |
| The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |