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| Trump accuses Democrats of 'open war on American democracy' in stinging impeachment letter – live | Trump accuses Democrats of 'open war on American democracy' in stinging impeachment letter – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President sends six-page letter to House speaker Nancy Pelosi condemning inquiry as ‘unprecedented and unconstitutional abuse of power’ | President sends six-page letter to House speaker Nancy Pelosi condemning inquiry as ‘unprecedented and unconstitutional abuse of power’ |
| Three more staffers working for congressman Jeff Van Drew, the House Democrat who has signaled he will switch parties over his opposition to impeachment, have reportedly resigned. | |
| Van Drew has dodged reporters’ questions today about whether he will switch his party affiliation to Republican, but Trump praised the New Jersey lawmaker in a tweet late last night. | |
| The timing of tomorrow’s impeachment debate is starting to become clearer, with the final House vote expected no earlier than 4:30 p.m. E.T., according to a Fox News reporter. | |
| House members will meet at 9 a.m. E.T., but they will not be able to debate the impeachment resolution itself right away. First, members will have to vote on the rules establishing parameters for debate on the resolution, which the House rules committee is currently discussing. | |
| Once the rule is passed, members will move on to debating the actual impeachment resolution, which could last several hours. It’s likely the bill will pass shortly before Trump takes the stage for his campaign rally in Michigan tomorrow night. | |
| In case there wasn’t enough happening on Capitol Hill this week, the House is on track to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada trade agreeement by Thursday, likely making it the last piece of business before lawmakers leave for the holidays. | |
| The FISA court has issued a public rebuke of the FBI over its handling of warrant applications on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, ordering the bureau to tell the court how it intends to improve its practices. | |
| The Wall Street Journal reports: | |
| Joe Biden has released a summary of his medical history, providing the most in-depth look at his health since the former vice president ran alongside Barack Obama in 2008. | |
| “Vice President Biden is a healthy, vigorous, 77-year-old male, who is fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State, and Commander in Chief,” wrote Kevin C. O’Connor, the director of executive medicine at the GW Medical Faculty Associates who served as Biden’s physician when he was vice president. | |
| O’Connor noted Biden was being treated for several conditions, including an irregular heartbeat and gastroesophageal reflux, but said those ailments should not prevent him from performing his duties as president. | |
| “He does not use any tobacco products, does not drink alcohol at all, and he works out at least five days per week,” O’Connor wrote. | |
| The three top-polling candidates in the Democratic presidential primary --Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders -- are all in their 70’s, raising concerns about the health of the eventual nominee. | |
| Warren released a letter from her longtime doctor earlier this month, which described the Massachusetts senator as “very healthy.” Sanders, who suffered a heart attack in October, has promised to release his medical records by the end of the year. | |
| 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. |
| Congressman Jeff Van Drew, the House Democrat who has signaled he intends to switch parties over his opposition to impeachment, has reportedly bashed Trump in the past. | Congressman Jeff Van Drew, the House Democrat who has signaled he intends to switch parties over his opposition to impeachment, has reportedly bashed Trump in the past. |
| The Daily Beast reports: | The Daily Beast reports: |
| Of the 31 House Democrats representing districts that Trump won in 2016, only two have not yet signaled how they will vote on the impeachment resolution. | Of the 31 House Democrats representing districts that Trump won in 2016, only two have not yet signaled how they will vote on the impeachment resolution. |
| The overwhelming majority of the Democratic lawmakers -- 27 of them -- have said they will vote to impeach the president, while two have indicated they will oppose the resolution. | The overwhelming majority of the Democratic lawmakers -- 27 of them -- have said they will vote to impeach the president, while two have indicated they will oppose the resolution. |
| Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who reportedly plans to switch his party affiliation to Republican over his opposition to impeachment, is now dodging reporters’ questions about whether he will make the change. | Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who reportedly plans to switch his party affiliation to Republican over his opposition to impeachment, is now dodging reporters’ questions about whether he will make the change. |
| But several of Van Drew’s staffers have already quit in protest of his plans, and the president tweeted out praise for the New Jersey congressman late last night. | But several of Van Drew’s staffers have already quit in protest of his plans, and the president tweeted out praise for the New Jersey congressman late last night. |
| Two more House Democrats from Trump districts, Haley Stevens of Michigan and Lauren Underwood of Illinois, have confirmed they intend to vote in favor of impeaching the president. | Two more House Democrats from Trump districts, Haley Stevens of Michigan and Lauren Underwood of Illinois, have confirmed they intend to vote in favor of impeaching the president. |
| The announcements from the two congresswomen leave very few House Democrats who have not yet declared their support, quashing Republican hopes of picking off lawmakers across the aisle in order to claim bipartisan opposition to impeachment. | The announcements from the two congresswomen leave very few House Democrats who have not yet declared their support, quashing Republican hopes of picking off lawmakers across the aisle in order to claim bipartisan opposition to impeachment. |
| Over on Capitol Hill, the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats, have just ejected congressman Jeff Van Drew as a member following reports the New Jersey lawmaker intended to switch parties over his opposition to impeachment. | Over on Capitol Hill, the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats, have just ejected congressman Jeff Van Drew as a member following reports the New Jersey lawmaker intended to switch parties over his opposition to impeachment. |
| “Per our by laws, which require all members to be a member of the Democratic Party, Congressman Van Drew is no longer a member of the Blue Dog Coalition,” chairwoman Stephanie Murray said. | “Per our by laws, which require all members to be a member of the Democratic Party, Congressman Van Drew is no longer a member of the Blue Dog Coalition,” chairwoman Stephanie Murray said. |
| However, when asked about the news by a reporter, Van Drew interestingly appeared to raise doubt about whether he would actually switch his party affiliation to Republican. | However, when asked about the news by a reporter, Van Drew interestingly appeared to raise doubt about whether he would actually switch his party affiliation to Republican. |
| “They are doing that on the basis of the fact that it is a Demcoratic — and a good one — organization, and you could not be a member if you were to change. And they are assuming I’m going to change,” Van Drew said. | “They are doing that on the basis of the fact that it is a Demcoratic — and a good one — organization, and you could not be a member if you were to change. And they are assuming I’m going to change,” Van Drew said. |
| The president certainly seems to be under the impression that Van Drew is switching parties, tweeting out praise for the congressman late last night. | The president certainly seems to be under the impression that Van Drew is switching parties, tweeting out praise for the congressman late last night. |
| While speaking to reporters in the Oval Office moments ago, Trump slammed the impeachment inquiry as a “disgrace” and a “mark on our country.” | While speaking to reporters in the Oval Office moments ago, Trump slammed the impeachment inquiry as a “disgrace” and a “mark on our country.” |
| “Other presidents, in the future, unless they do something about this, other presidents are going to have to live with this,” Trump said, echoing an argument fro his Republican allies in Congress. | “Other presidents, in the future, unless they do something about this, other presidents are going to have to live with this,” Trump said, echoing an argument fro his Republican allies in Congress. |
| Asked by a reporter in the Oval Office whether he assumed any responsibility for the trajectory of the impeachment inquiry, Trump replied that he did not. | Asked by a reporter in the Oval Office whether he assumed any responsibility for the trajectory of the impeachment inquiry, Trump replied that he did not. |
| “No, I don’t take any. Zero, to put it mildly,” Trump responded. | “No, I don’t take any. Zero, to put it mildly,” Trump responded. |
| As Trump condemned the impeachment inquiry as an unconstitutional abuse of congressional power, Mitch McConnell was busy foreclosing any chance of an impartial Senate trial. | As Trump condemned the impeachment inquiry as an unconstitutional abuse of congressional power, Mitch McConnell was busy foreclosing any chance of an impartial Senate trial. |
| “I am not an impartial juror,” the Senate majority leader told reporters on Capitol Hill. “This is a political process. ... I expect we will have a largely partisan outcome in the Senate. I’m not impartial about this at all.” | “I am not an impartial juror,” the Senate majority leader told reporters on Capitol Hill. “This is a political process. ... I expect we will have a largely partisan outcome in the Senate. I’m not impartial about this at all.” |
| As the White House released an angry letter from Trump condemning the impeachment inquiry, the president himself similarly criticized House Democrats while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. | As the White House released an angry letter from Trump condemning the impeachment inquiry, the president himself similarly criticized House Democrats while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. |
| “The whole impeachment thing is a hoax,” Trump told reporters as he welcomed the Guatemalan president to the White House. “We look forward to getting on to the Senate. ... We’re not entitled to anything in the House. It’s a total sham.” | “The whole impeachment thing is a hoax,” Trump told reporters as he welcomed the Guatemalan president to the White House. “We look forward to getting on to the Senate. ... We’re not entitled to anything in the House. It’s a total sham.” |
| Trump defended his July phone call with the Ukrainian president, which kicked off the impeachment inquiry, as “absolutely perfect” and insisted Republicans are united in supporting him. | Trump defended his July phone call with the Ukrainian president, which kicked off the impeachment inquiry, as “absolutely perfect” and insisted Republicans are united in supporting him. |
| Trump’s letter to House speaker Nancy Pelosi condemning the impeachment inquiry reads much like his Twitter feed, complete with exclamation points and accusations of Democrats “declaring open war on American Democracy.” | Trump’s letter to House speaker Nancy Pelosi condemning the impeachment inquiry reads much like his Twitter feed, complete with exclamation points and accusations of Democrats “declaring open war on American Democracy.” |
| “You have cheapened the importance of the very ugly word, impeachment!” Trump wrote in the letter. | “You have cheapened the importance of the very ugly word, impeachment!” Trump wrote in the letter. |
| The president goes on to claim he has done nothing wrong in regards to his actions toward Ukraine, predicting Democrats will suffer electoral losses next year because of the impeachment inquiry. | The president goes on to claim he has done nothing wrong in regards to his actions toward Ukraine, predicting Democrats will suffer electoral losses next year because of the impeachment inquiry. |
| Trump has sent a six-page letter to House speaker Nancy Pelosi condemning the impeachment inquiry, calling it an “unprecedented and unconstiutional abuse of power.” | Trump has sent a six-page letter to House speaker Nancy Pelosi condemning the impeachment inquiry, calling it an “unprecedented and unconstiutional abuse of power.” |
| The House has passed its $1.3 trillion funding bill, likely avoiding a government shutdown at the end of the week -- assuming Trump follows through on signing it. | The House has passed its $1.3 trillion funding bill, likely avoiding a government shutdown at the end of the week -- assuming Trump follows through on signing it. |
| The first of the two bills -- which repealed three taxes in the Affordable Care Act and rasied the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21, among other things -- passed 297-120. | The first of the two bills -- which repealed three taxes in the Affordable Care Act and rasied the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21, among other things -- passed 297-120. |
| The second -- which controversially included funding for Trump’s border wall -- passed with a vote of 280-138. | The second -- which controversially included funding for Trump’s border wall -- passed with a vote of 280-138. |
| Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House adviser, said this morning the president was expected to sign the bills to avoid a government shutdown, even though Trump has previously complained about such massive spending bills. | Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House adviser, said this morning the president was expected to sign the bills to avoid a government shutdown, even though Trump has previously complained about such massive spending bills. |