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/18/trump-impeachment-vote-today-live-latest-news-updates-democrats-house

The article has changed 33 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 12 Version 13
Pelosi says Democrats have 'no choice' but to impeach Trump as formal debate begins – live Pelosi says Democrats have 'no choice' but to impeach Trump as formal debate begins – live
(32 minutes later)
House speaker Nancy Pelosi opens debate, which will culminate later today with a vote that is all but certain to impeach the presidentHouse speaker Nancy Pelosi opens debate, which will culminate later today with a vote that is all but certain to impeach the president
Giving an interview in the White House briefing room, senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway accused Nancy Pelosi of making the impeachment inquiry “personal,” claiming the House speaker threw a “hissy fit” when she met with the president in the cabinet room.
Congressman Mike Kelly has just compared today’s impeachment vote to Pearl Harbor, predicting Dec. 18 would be “another date that will live in infamy,” referring to FDR’s famous quote about Dec. 7, 1941.
Kelly’s comparison adds to a growing list of inappropriate references Trump’s Republican allies have made to lament the president’s impeachment, including the crucifixion of Jesus and the Salem witch trials.
At least two more House members, Democrat Jose Serrano and Republican John Shimkus, will not be present for today’s impeachment vote, slightly lowering the threshold needed to approve the articles of impeachment.
But it’s still unclear whether Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who is running for president and missed this morning’s procedural votes, will participate.
Gabbard, who has been harshly critical of some of her presidential primary opponents, called for Trump’s censure yesterday, and it’s unclear how she will vote on the articles of impeachment if she appears on Capitol Hill.
House members were just told a little more than four hours remain in the impeachment debate, so the chamber appears to be on schedule for a final vote between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. E.T.
Republican congressman Barry Loudermilk just made a comparison between the Trump impeachment inquiry and the trial of Jesus in the Bible, shockingly arguing Pontius Pilate was more fair to Jesus than Democrats have been to the president.Republican congressman Barry Loudermilk just made a comparison between the Trump impeachment inquiry and the trial of Jesus in the Bible, shockingly arguing Pontius Pilate was more fair to Jesus than Democrats have been to the president.
Congressman Steve Chabot, the Republican lawmaker who just warned Trump’s impeachment would set a dangerously low standard going forward, was an impeachment manager during Bill Clinton’s presidency.Congressman Steve Chabot, the Republican lawmaker who just warned Trump’s impeachment would set a dangerously low standard going forward, was an impeachment manager during Bill Clinton’s presidency.
Two other former Clinton impeachment managers, congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and senator Lindsey Graham, also still serve in Congress.Two other former Clinton impeachment managers, congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and senator Lindsey Graham, also still serve in Congress.
Several thousand Trump supporters are standing in line, waiting to get in to the venue for his Michigan campaign rally tonight despite that it’s -4 with the wind chill. Not surprisingly, the crowd’s opinions on impeachment were firmly pro-Trump.“Its a shitshow. Its been a waste of time from the start. The Democrats want to overturn the election and they can’t, so they’re wasting everyone’s time,” said Debra Schulz from Kalamazoo, who had a Trump-Pence flag draped around her shoulders.Several thousand Trump supporters are standing in line, waiting to get in to the venue for his Michigan campaign rally tonight despite that it’s -4 with the wind chill. Not surprisingly, the crowd’s opinions on impeachment were firmly pro-Trump.“Its a shitshow. Its been a waste of time from the start. The Democrats want to overturn the election and they can’t, so they’re wasting everyone’s time,” said Debra Schulz from Kalamazoo, who had a Trump-Pence flag draped around her shoulders.
“Did you watch the hearings? They didn’t present any evidence. It was all speculation and hearsay. There’s nothing there,” said Mike Ostafin from Ceresco.“Did you watch the hearings? They didn’t present any evidence. It was all speculation and hearsay. There’s nothing there,” said Mike Ostafin from Ceresco.
Steve King, the Republican congressman who was stripped of his committee assignments over his comments about white nationalism, just delivered his floor speech criticizing the impeachment inquiry.Steve King, the Republican congressman who was stripped of his committee assignments over his comments about white nationalism, just delivered his floor speech criticizing the impeachment inquiry.
The Iowa lawmaker made the dubious argument that Trump could not have abused his power by pushing for an investigation into Joe Biden because the former vice president is not actually his political rival.The Iowa lawmaker made the dubious argument that Trump could not have abused his power by pushing for an investigation into Joe Biden because the former vice president is not actually his political rival.
King argued Biden was competing against “21” other Democratic presidential candidates and “running third in the polls,” so Trump’s request for an investigation was therefore not inherently political.King argued Biden was competing against “21” other Democratic presidential candidates and “running third in the polls,” so Trump’s request for an investigation was therefore not inherently political.
In a matter of hours, Donald Trump faces an impeachment vote in the House. This vote marks the latest twist in one of the most turbulent presidencies in US history.In a matter of hours, Donald Trump faces an impeachment vote in the House. This vote marks the latest twist in one of the most turbulent presidencies in US history.
But the challenges to American democracy do not end today. Over the last three years, much of what we hold dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. The need for a robust, independent press has never been greater.But the challenges to American democracy do not end today. Over the last three years, much of what we hold dear has been threatened – democracy, civility, truth. The need for a robust, independent press has never been greater.
2020 promises to be an epic year – and could define the country for a generation. With your help we will continue to provide fact-based reporting that offers public scrutiny and oversight.2020 promises to be an epic year – and could define the country for a generation. With your help we will continue to provide fact-based reporting that offers public scrutiny and oversight.
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’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.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.Make a contribution.
Congressman Cedric Richmond tried to appeal to the reputations of his Republican colleagues in his floor speech, arguing Trump was not worthy of the loyalty his party is showing.Congressman Cedric Richmond tried to appeal to the reputations of his Republican colleagues in his floor speech, arguing Trump was not worthy of the loyalty his party is showing.
The Louisiana Democrat warned the president would not stand by Republican lawmakers “past the next tweet or next week.”The Louisiana Democrat warned the president would not stand by Republican lawmakers “past the next tweet or next week.”
Here is the full text of Clay Higgins’ floor speech, in which the Republican congressman criticized the Democrats supporting impeachment by referring to them as “the same socialists who threaten unborn life in the womb.”Here is the full text of Clay Higgins’ floor speech, in which the Republican congressman criticized the Democrats supporting impeachment by referring to them as “the same socialists who threaten unborn life in the womb.”
Meanwhile, over in the Senate, senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway is attending the Republican caucus lunch and working hard to prevent defections in the likely event of an impeachment trial.Meanwhile, over in the Senate, senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway is attending the Republican caucus lunch and working hard to prevent defections in the likely event of an impeachment trial.
There was just a bizarre moment on the House floor, as judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler reminded his Republican colleagues that Mike Pence would become president if Trump were impeached, not Hillary Clinton.There was just a bizarre moment on the House floor, as judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler reminded his Republican colleagues that Mike Pence would become president if Trump were impeached, not Hillary Clinton.
This ackowledgement was met by laughs and cheers on the Republican side of the aisle.This ackowledgement was met by laughs and cheers on the Republican side of the aisle.
Congressman Chris Stewart, a Republican member of the House intelligence committee, warned Trump’s impeachment would set a precedent for future presidents.Congressman Chris Stewart, a Republican member of the House intelligence committee, warned Trump’s impeachment would set a precedent for future presidents.
“The next president, I promise you, is going to be impeached,” Stewart said in his floor speech. “If you set this bar as being impeachable, every president in our future will be impeached.”“The next president, I promise you, is going to be impeached,” Stewart said in his floor speech. “If you set this bar as being impeachable, every president in our future will be impeached.”
Congressman Clay Higgins attracted Republican applause and Democratic scorn for his floor speech, which was accompanied by a poster showing the results of the 2016 election by acreage.Congressman Clay Higgins attracted Republican applause and Democratic scorn for his floor speech, which was accompanied by a poster showing the results of the 2016 election by acreage.
“They call us deplorables,” Higgins said. “They fear our faith, they fear our strength, they fear our unity, they fear our vote, and they fear our president.” He added, “Our republic shall survive this threat from within.”“They call us deplorables,” Higgins said. “They fear our faith, they fear our strength, they fear our unity, they fear our vote, and they fear our president.” He added, “Our republic shall survive this threat from within.”
But commentators pointed out Trump actually lost the popular vote in 2016, taking some of the air out of Higgins’ argument.But commentators pointed out Trump actually lost the popular vote in 2016, taking some of the air out of Higgins’ argument.
Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, whose name has been floated as a possible impeachment manager, pledged that Democrats would impeach Trump to send a message about the Constitution.Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, whose name has been floated as a possible impeachment manager, pledged that Democrats would impeach Trump to send a message about the Constitution.
“We will impeach Donald John Trump,” Jeffries said on the House floor. “And we will clarify that, in America, no one is above the law.”“We will impeach Donald John Trump,” Jeffries said on the House floor. “And we will clarify that, in America, no one is above the law.”
Jeffries’ remarks were followed by those of Republican Tom McClintock, who referred to abuse of power (one of the articles of impeachment) as a “made-up crime.”Jeffries’ remarks were followed by those of Republican Tom McClintock, who referred to abuse of power (one of the articles of impeachment) as a “made-up crime.”