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Adam Schiff at House debate: if Trump's conduct isn't impeachable, 'nothing is' – live Adam Schiff at House debate: if Trump's conduct isn't impeachable, 'nothing is' – live
(32 minutes later)
The intelligence committee chairman detailed the allegations against Trump ahead of a vote that is all but certain to impeach the presidentThe intelligence committee chairman detailed the allegations against Trump ahead of a vote that is all but certain to impeach the president
Several House Republicans actually booed just now as Adam Schiff was challenging their defenses of the president, a first for this historic day in Congress.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced she and the committe chairs who led the impeachment inquiry would hold a press conference tonight, following the expected passage of the articles of impeachment.
Before Trump departed the White House for his campaign rally in Michigan, some of his advisers -- including his daugher, Ivanka Trump -- were spotted in the Oval Office, sitting near a poster showing the 2016 election results by acreage.
Earlier today, a judge dismissed Paul Manafort’s state charges -- undermining New York prosecutors’ attempts to ensure jail time for Trump’s former campaign chair, despite a potential presidential pardon.
Manafort is currently serving a 7.5 year prison sentence after being convicted in federal court on charges stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller III’s Russia probe. The Manhattan district attorney additionally charged Manafort, 70, with mortgage fraud and more than a dozen other state felonies. Manafort’s lawyers argued that the state charges should be dismissed because they overlapped with his federal charges. A state judge in Manhattan agreed. “Basically, the law of double jeopardy in New York State provides a very narrow window for prosecution,” he said, before submitting his decision to dismiss the charges. Manafort, 70, did not appear in court. He was hospitalized last week after a cardiac health issue.
Congressman Matt Gaetz, one of the president’s closest House allies, has taken the floor, and he has come out swinging.Congressman Matt Gaetz, one of the president’s closest House allies, has taken the floor, and he has come out swinging.
“This is not about Ukraine; this is about power,” the Florida Republican said. “Donald Trump has it, and Democrats want it.”“This is not about Ukraine; this is about power,” the Florida Republican said. “Donald Trump has it, and Democrats want it.”
Gaetz accused the Democrats of “adhering to no sense of honor” in their handling of the impeachment inquiry, claiming his colleagues on the left have “plotted and planned” Trump’s removal since his inauguration.Gaetz accused the Democrats of “adhering to no sense of honor” in their handling of the impeachment inquiry, claiming his colleagues on the left have “plotted and planned” Trump’s removal since his inauguration.
Gaetz called the impeachment resolution a “slap in the face” to the Americans who voted for Trump and argued Democrats were merely looking for an “insurance policy” because they cannot defeat Trump.Gaetz called the impeachment resolution a “slap in the face” to the Americans who voted for Trump and argued Democrats were merely looking for an “insurance policy” because they cannot defeat Trump.
“But we have an insurance policy, too,” Gaetz said. “It’s the next election, and we intend to win it.”“But we have an insurance policy, too,” Gaetz said. “It’s the next election, and we intend to win it.”
Time check: congresswoman Diana DeGette, who is presiding over the impeachment proceedings, said two hours remain in the impeachment debate.Time check: congresswoman Diana DeGette, who is presiding over the impeachment proceedings, said two hours remain in the impeachment debate.
Democrats and Republicans each have another hour to make their cases, although the Republican caucus has about six minutes more in their remaining time than their Democratic counterparts.Democrats and Republicans each have another hour to make their cases, although the Republican caucus has about six minutes more in their remaining time than their Democratic counterparts.
Trump is on his way to a campaign rally in Michigan, ignoring reporters’ questions about today’s impeachment proceedings as he left the White House.Trump is on his way to a campaign rally in Michigan, ignoring reporters’ questions about today’s impeachment proceedings as he left the White House.
The rally is scheduled to begin at 7pm ET, which means Trump could be speaking to his supporters when he becomes the third president in US history to be impeached.The rally is scheduled to begin at 7pm ET, which means Trump could be speaking to his supporters when he becomes the third president in US history to be impeached.
Congressman Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party over his opposition to Trump, was given two minutes by the Democrats to make a floor speech in favor of impeachment.Congressman Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party over his opposition to Trump, was given two minutes by the Democrats to make a floor speech in favor of impeachment.
“I come to this floor, not as a Republican, not as a Democrat, but as an American,” Amash said.“I come to this floor, not as a Republican, not as a Democrat, but as an American,” Amash said.
The Michigan lawmaker went on to argue House members have a duty to vote in favor of the impeachment resolution. “Impeachment is about maintaining the integrity of the office of the presidency,” Amash said.The Michigan lawmaker went on to argue House members have a duty to vote in favor of the impeachment resolution. “Impeachment is about maintaining the integrity of the office of the presidency,” Amash said.
Adam Schiff mocked a talking point from his Republican colleagues, who have repeatedly slammed the “secretive” nature of the impeachment inquiry.Adam Schiff mocked a talking point from his Republican colleagues, who have repeatedly slammed the “secretive” nature of the impeachment inquiry.
Specifically, Republicans have complained about the House committees leading the inquiry holding meetings in a basement “bunker,” referring to the room in the Capitol where lawmakers receive classified information.Specifically, Republicans have complained about the House committees leading the inquiry holding meetings in a basement “bunker,” referring to the room in the Capitol where lawmakers receive classified information.
“This is apparently what they call depositions,” Schiff joked.“This is apparently what they call depositions,” Schiff joked.
Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights icon who marched alongside Martin Luther King, called on his colleagues to support impeachment, arguing they have a “moral obligation to say something, to do something.”Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights icon who marched alongside Martin Luther King, called on his colleagues to support impeachment, arguing they have a “moral obligation to say something, to do something.”
“We didn’t ask for this,” Lewis said. “Our nation is founded on the principle that we do not have kings, we have presidents, and the Constituion is our compass.”“We didn’t ask for this,” Lewis said. “Our nation is founded on the principle that we do not have kings, we have presidents, and the Constituion is our compass.”
Lewis asserted the House had “a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history.” The Georgia Democrat predicted future generations would ask this question: “What did you do?”Lewis asserted the House had “a mission and a mandate to be on the right side of history.” The Georgia Democrat predicted future generations would ask this question: “What did you do?”
Republican congressman Francis Rooney, who had said he was open to supporting impeachment, has officially announced he will vote “no” tonight, virtually ensuring every House Republican will oppose the resolution.
“Based on the limited evidence provided to the House of Representatives, the President’s behavior, while inappropriate, was neither criminal, nor does it rise to the level of justifying impeachment,” Rooney said in a statement explaining his decision.
A Republican congressman, Bill Johnson, just used his floor speech to hold a moment of silence for the 63 million Americans who backed Trump in 2016, whose votes are supposedly being ignored in the impeachment inquiry.
Of course, that 63 million figure is almost 3 million votes fewer than Hillary Clinton received in 2016.
Congressman Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party over his opposition to Trump and has become a vocal supporter of impeachment, has asked Democrats for two minutes to deliver a floor speech.
Adam Schiff used his floor speech to detail the allegations against Trump and warn that Congress would set a dangerous precedent if members did not vote to impeach him.
“If the president’s conduct isn’t impeachable, then nothing is impeachable,” Schiff said.
The intelligence committee chairman also quoted Alexander Hamilton’s warning of a leader who is “unprincipled in private life, desperate in his fortune, bold in his temper,” who would “throw things into confusion” and “may ride the storm and direct the whirlwind.”
Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, has taken over from Jerry Nadler to oversee Democrats’ floor speeches in the impeachment debate.
“I rise to support the impeachment of Donald J Trump,” Schiff said upon taking the floor.
The handoff from Nadler to Schiff indicates we are halfway through the floor debate, with three hours remaining.
Congressman Louie Gohmert, a fervent defender of Trump’s, used his floor speech to peddle baseless claims against Ukraine.
When the floor was turned over to Jerry Nadler, the judiciary committee chairman said, “I’m deeply concerned that any member of the House would spew Russian propaganda on the floor of the House.”
Gohmert could be heard shouting back at Nadler from the floor, but his objections were drowned out by congresswoman Diana DeGette, who is presiding over the debate, banging her gavel.
Gohmert then walked over to Nadler and appeared to be angrily confronting him, although Nadler said few words in response.
Congressman Will Hurd, a retiring Republican who was once viewed as a potential impeachment supporter by Democrats, used his floor speech to condemn the “rushed process” of the inquiry, so his “no” vote is secured.
It’s still unclear how many votes will be needed to pass the articles of impeachment because the number depends on how many members participate in the vote, as a Fox News reporter noted.
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.
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Speaker Nancy Pelosi has spent much of the afternoon sitting on the House floor, listening to members’ speeches about the impeachment resolution.