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Trump impeachment: McConnell tries to discredit 'most unfair' inquiry – live Trump impeachment: McConnell tries to discredit 'most unfair' inquiry – live
(32 minutes later)
Freshman congressman Anthony Brindisi, from a Trump-supporting district, announces backing for impeachment before tomorrow’s voteFreshman congressman Anthony Brindisi, from a Trump-supporting district, announces backing for impeachment before tomorrow’s vote
As the House rules committee holds it hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution, intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff has called on the vice president’s office to declassify a supplemental letter from aide Jennifer Williams, who testified during the public impeachment hearings.
Schiff argued the letter “raises profound questions” about what Mike Pence knew of Trump’s efforts to push Ukraine to open investigations and is “directly relevant to Congress’s consideration of articles of impeachment.”
“Furthermore, your unwillingness to declassify the Supplemental Submission raises the serious question of whether your continuing efforts to obstruct the House’s impeachment inquiry are intended not just to protect President Trump, but yourself as well,” Schiff wrote.
A Democratic senator praised the performance of congressman Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the House judiciary committee and a former constitutional law professor presenting the party’s position on the articles of impeachment.
Raskin’s experitse has proven helpful to House Democrats as they navigate the impeachment inquiry, and his name has been raised as a potential impeachment manager.
Congressman Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the House judiciary committee and a former constitutional law professor, is explaining why impeachment is in the constitution and why abuse of power is an impeachable offense, demonstrating the expertise he has offered throughout the inquiry.
CNN has more details on the sentencing of Rick Gates, the former deputy to Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort who became a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation:
Congressman Doug Collins, the Republican ranking member of the House judidicary committee, warned that Democrats’ handling of the impeachment inquiry would come back to haunt them.
“The clock and the calendar are terrible masters, and they leave to awful results,” Collins said while appearing before the rules committee. “And yes, there will be a day of reckoning.”
Rick Gates, the former Trump campaign official who was a close ally of Paul Manafort’s, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail and three years probation.Rick Gates, the former Trump campaign official who was a close ally of Paul Manafort’s, has been sentenced to 45 days in jail and three years probation.
Gates pleaded guilty to conspiracy and lying to the FBI last year.Gates pleaded guilty to conspiracy and lying to the FBI last year.
Congressman Doug Collins, the Republican ranking member of the House judiciary committee, told the rules committee that it was a “sad day,” criticizing Democratic leaders’ handling of the impeachment inquiry.Congressman Doug Collins, the Republican ranking member of the House judiciary committee, told the rules committee that it was a “sad day,” criticizing Democratic leaders’ handling of the impeachment inquiry.
The Georgia Republican said Democrats were making decisions on impeachment based on “the clock and the calendar,” rather than working in a bipartisan manner.The Georgia Republican said Democrats were making decisions on impeachment based on “the clock and the calendar,” rather than working in a bipartisan manner.
Congressman Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the House judiciary committee, outlined the accusations against Trump, accusing the president of “systematic abuses of his powers.”Congressman Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the House judiciary committee, outlined the accusations against Trump, accusing the president of “systematic abuses of his powers.”
Raskin argued Trump’s actions toward Ukraine represented the worst fears of America’s founders about presidential overreach, requiring Congress to act.Raskin argued Trump’s actions toward Ukraine represented the worst fears of America’s founders about presidential overreach, requiring Congress to act.
The Maryland Democrat also warned Trump’s actions marked a “constitutional crime in progress up to this very minute,” noting Rudy Giuliani’s recent comments that he wanted Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, “out of the way” to push for investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.The Maryland Democrat also warned Trump’s actions marked a “constitutional crime in progress up to this very minute,” noting Rudy Giuliani’s recent comments that he wanted Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, “out of the way” to push for investigations into Joe Biden and the 2016 election.
Congressman Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the House judiciary committee and a former constitutional law professor, is now presenting his party’s argument about the two articles of impeachment.Congressman Jamie Raskin, a Democratic member of the House judiciary committee and a former constitutional law professor, is now presenting his party’s argument about the two articles of impeachment.
Raskin is appearing in the place of judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler, who had to briefly leave Washinton for a family medical emergency. Raskin, as well as the chairman and ranking member of the House rules committee, offered warm wishes to Nadler and his family.Raskin is appearing in the place of judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler, who had to briefly leave Washinton for a family medical emergency. Raskin, as well as the chairman and ranking member of the House rules committee, offered warm wishes to Nadler and his family.
Congressman Tom Cole, the Republican ranking member of the House rules committee, used his opening statement to criticize Democratic leaders’ handling of the impeachment inquriy.Congressman Tom Cole, the Republican ranking member of the House rules committee, used his opening statement to criticize Democratic leaders’ handling of the impeachment inquriy.
“Mr. Chairman, it didn’t have to be this way,” Cole said, noting polling has shown the American public is evenly split on whether Trump should be impeached and removed from office.“Mr. Chairman, it didn’t have to be this way,” Cole said, noting polling has shown the American public is evenly split on whether Trump should be impeached and removed from office.
But Cole and chairman Jim McGovern both began their remarks by praising each other’s work on the committee.But Cole and chairman Jim McGovern both began their remarks by praising each other’s work on the committee.
Kendra Horn, a freshman House Democrat whose congressional district voted for Trump by more than 13 points in 2016, has just announced she will support impeachment.Kendra Horn, a freshman House Democrat whose congressional district voted for Trump by more than 13 points in 2016, has just announced she will support impeachment.
Given the relatively conservative make-up of her district, Horn had been watched closely for how she would vote on impeachment, but she has now confirmed she will join the overwhelming majority of the Democratic caucus to support the resolution.Given the relatively conservative make-up of her district, Horn had been watched closely for how she would vote on impeachment, but she has now confirmed she will join the overwhelming majority of the Democratic caucus to support the resolution.
Congressman Jim McGovern, the chairman of the House rules committee, called on his Republican colleagues to criticize Trump’s actions toward Ukraine.Congressman Jim McGovern, the chairman of the House rules committee, called on his Republican colleagues to criticize Trump’s actions toward Ukraine.
“I get it – it’s hard to criticize a president of your own party,” McGovern said. “But that shouldn’t matter here.”“I get it – it’s hard to criticize a president of your own party,” McGovern said. “But that shouldn’t matter here.”
The Massachusetts Democrat went on to extol the virtues of American democracy, recalling how he handed out leaflets as a young man for former presidential candidate George McGovern. “No relation, by the way,” McGovern joked.The Massachusetts Democrat went on to extol the virtues of American democracy, recalling how he handed out leaflets as a young man for former presidential candidate George McGovern. “No relation, by the way,” McGovern joked.
Congressman Jim McGovern, the chairman of the House rules committee, has gaveled in the panel’s hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution.
McGovern began the hearing by outlining the allegations against Trump, accusing the president of holding up military assistance to a key ally, Ukraine, to extract a political favor.
The House rules committee has gathered in its hearing room to start discussing debate procedures for the impeachment resolution, but senior Democratic aides say they have little sense of when the chamber-wide vote will take place.
Chuck Schumer suggested there would be Senate votes on whether White House officials, including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton, would be called to testify during the likely impeachment trial.
“Senators who oppose this plan will have to explain why less evidence is better than more evidence,” Schumer said of the Democratic proposal to have the four White House officials testify.
In his Senate floor speech criticizing Mitch McConnell for rejecting his witness request, Chuck Schumer cited a new poll showing a significant majority of Americans believe Trump should allow his advisers to testify during a Senate impeachment trial.
According to the Washington Post/ABC News poll, seven in 10 Americans say Trump should allow his aides to testify, and six in 10 expect a fair Senate trial.
However, the American public remains sharply divided on the question of whether Trump should be removed from office. The poll found that 49% support removal, compared to 46% who oppose it.
The House rules committee hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution, which was set to start a few minutes ago, appears to be delayed.
Chuck Schumer went to the Senate floor to criticize Mitch McConnell after the majority leader rejected Democrats’ request to have four White House officials testify during the Senate impeachment trial.
Schumer called the request a “good-faith proposal to kickstart the discussions that Leader McConnell has so far delayed,” adding that he did not hear the Republican leader make a “single argument” as to why the requested witnesses should not testify.
Schumer has asked that four White House officials, including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and former national security adviser John Bolton, be called to testify. “Impeachment trials, like most trials, have witnesses,” Schumer said. “To have none would be an abberation.”
The New York Democrat called on McConnell to provide “specific reasons why the four witnesses we’ve asked for shouldn’t testify.” “What is Leader McConnell afriad of? What is President Trump afraid of? The truth?” Schumer said. “But the American people want the truth.”
In his fiery floor speech, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell rejected Chuk Schumer’s efforts to tie a resolution outlining impeachment trial procedures to a Democratic request for White House officials to testify.
Criticizing House Democrats’ handling of the impeachment inquiry, McConnell accused Schumer of trying to launch a “fishing expedition to see whether his own ideas can make Chairman Schiff’s sloppy work more persuasive than Chairman Schiff himself bothered to make it.”
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell argued Chuck Schumer’s request to have White House officials testify during the impeachment trial was an effort to make up for the House’s inability to compel the Trump advisers to appear before impeachment investigators.
“It is not the Senate’s job to leap into the breach and search desperately for ways to “get to ‘guilty,” McConnell said. “That would hardly be impartial justice.”
The Kentucky Republican suggested House Democrats should not vote to impeach if they are expecting the Senate to do additional fact-finding. “If House Democrats’ case is this deficient, this thin, the answer is not for the judge and jury to cure it here in the Senate,” McConnell said. “The answer is that the House should not impeach on this basis in the first place.”
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.”