This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/dec/17/trump-news-today-live-impeachment-democrats-republicans

The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Trump impeachment: McConnell tries to discredit 'most unfair' inquiry – live Trump accuses Democrats of 'open war on American democracy' in stinging impeachment letter – live
(32 minutes later)
Freshman congressman Anthony Brindisi, from a Trump-supporting district, announces backing for impeachment before tomorrow’s vote President sends six-page letter to House speaker Nancy Pelosi condemning inquiry as ‘unprecedented and unconstitutional abuse of power’
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.”
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.”
“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.
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The first of the two bills -- which repealed three taxes in the Affordable Care Act and rasied the minimum age to buy tobacco products to 21, among other things -- passed 297-120.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.
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.
Another House Democrat from a Trump district, Cindy Axne of Iowa, has announced she will support impeachment when the resolution is taken up for a chamber-wide vote tomorrow.
Trump carried Iowa’s 3rd congressional district by 3 points in 2016, but Axne won her race last year by 2 points.
The vice president, Mike Pence, said in an interview this week with a local Des Moines news outlet that Iowans should contact Axne to encourage her to vote “no” on impeachment.
Apparently, the congresswoman chose to ignore the vice president’s advice.
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
The House rules committee is in the middle of holding its hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution, although the panel’s discussion so far has focused on relitigating the accusations against Trump.The House rules committee is in the middle of holding its hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution, although the panel’s discussion so far has focused on relitigating the accusations against Trump.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell rejected Chuck Schumer’s suggestion of tying the resolution outlining impeachment trial procedures to Democratic requestsfor White House officials to testify.Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell rejected Chuck Schumer’s suggestion of tying the resolution outlining impeachment trial procedures to Democratic requestsfor White House officials to testify.
More House Democrats from Trump districts, including Kendra Horn of Oklahoma and Abby Finkenauer of Iowa, have said they will vote in favor of impeachment -- stemming Republican hopes of crafting bipartisan opposition to the resolution.More House Democrats from Trump districts, including Kendra Horn of Oklahoma and Abby Finkenauer of Iowa, have said they will vote in favor of impeachment -- stemming Republican hopes of crafting bipartisan opposition to the resolution.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Jim McGovern, the Democratic chairman of the House rules committee, has recessed the panel’s hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution to allow for floor votes.Jim McGovern, the Democratic chairman of the House rules committee, has recessed the panel’s hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution to allow for floor votes.
After more than two hours of questioning from McGovern and Tom Cole, the Republican ranking member, the committee has not yet turned to discussing debate procedures.After more than two hours of questioning from McGovern and Tom Cole, the Republican ranking member, the committee has not yet turned to discussing debate procedures.
Intead, Democrat Jamie Raskin and Republican Doug Collins, two members of the House judiciary committee, have simply relitigated the accusations against Trump and whether they are legitimate.Intead, Democrat Jamie Raskin and Republican Doug Collins, two members of the House judiciary committee, have simply relitigated the accusations against Trump and whether they are legitimate.
Congressman Steny Hoyer, the Democratic House majority leader, has said he expects a “significant” number of “hours” for floor debate on the impeachment resolution, throwing the timing of the chamber-wide vote tomorrow into question.Congressman Steny Hoyer, the Democratic House majority leader, has said he expects a “significant” number of “hours” for floor debate on the impeachment resolution, throwing the timing of the chamber-wide vote tomorrow into question.
Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, another freshman House Democrat whose district voted for Trump in 2016, has said she will support impeaching the president.Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, another freshman House Democrat whose district voted for Trump in 2016, has said she will support impeaching the president.
Finkenauer’s Iowa district voted for Trump by 4 points in 2016, while the congresswoman won her seat by 5 points last year.Finkenauer’s Iowa district voted for Trump by 4 points in 2016, while the congresswoman won her seat by 5 points last year.
The House rules committee hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution has dissolved into a partisan debate over the intelligence committee’s handling of the inquiry.The House rules committee hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution has dissolved into a partisan debate over the intelligence committee’s handling of the inquiry.
Republicans Tom Cole, the ranking member of the rules committee, and Doug Collins, the ranking member of the judiciary committee, are arguing the intelligence committee oversaw an unfair process that reflected poorly upon the president, while Democrat Jamie Raskin has emphasized Trump chose not to send a representative to the judiciary committee hearings to defend himself.Republicans Tom Cole, the ranking member of the rules committee, and Doug Collins, the ranking member of the judiciary committee, are arguing the intelligence committee oversaw an unfair process that reflected poorly upon the president, while Democrat Jamie Raskin has emphasized Trump chose not to send a representative to the judiciary committee hearings to defend himself.
The hearing has been underway for almost two hours at this point, and the conversation has not yet turned to specific debate procedures for tomorrow’s floor debate.The hearing has been underway for almost two hours at this point, and the conversation has not yet turned to specific debate procedures for tomorrow’s floor debate.
Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for tax fraud and conspiracy, has reportedly been hospitalized for a “cardiac event.”Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence for tax fraud and conspiracy, has reportedly been hospitalized for a “cardiac event.”
ABC News reports:ABC News reports:
The news comes the same day that Manafort’s former deputy, Rick Gates, was sentenced to 45 days in jail stemming from his 2018 guilty plea for conspiracy and lying to the FBI.The news comes the same day that Manafort’s former deputy, Rick Gates, was sentenced to 45 days in jail stemming from his 2018 guilty plea for conspiracy and lying to the FBI.
Jerry Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the House judiciary committee, is not present for today’s rules committee hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution -- which has somewhat hampered Republicans’ strategy today.Jerry Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the House judiciary committee, is not present for today’s rules committee hearing on debate procedures for the impeachment resolution -- which has somewhat hampered Republicans’ strategy today.
Nadler traveled back to New York for a family medical emergency but is expected to return to Washington for tomorrow’s floor debate on the impeachment resolution.Nadler traveled back to New York for a family medical emergency but is expected to return to Washington for tomorrow’s floor debate on the impeachment resolution.
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.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.”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.“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.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.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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.