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Trump faces impeachment as House convenes to debate historic vote – live Trump faces impeachment as House convenes to debate historic vote – live
(32 minutes later)
Outcome of today’s vote is all but certain as Trump lashes against Democrats and acknowledges likely impeachmentOutcome of today’s vote is all but certain as Trump lashes against Democrats and acknowledges likely impeachment
Debate has now concluded on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s impeachment proceedings, and House members have moved on to a vote series to adop the rule.
Democratic congressman Joe Kennedy used his floor speech to explain to his children why he intended to vote in favor of impeaching the president. “Dear Ellie and James: This is a moment that you’ll read about in your history books,” the Massachusetts lawmaker said.
As the president lashes out against Nancy Pelosi, some commentators have started recirculating this 2008 video, in which Trump commends Pelosi and suggests she should have tried to impeach George W. Bush.
“When [Pelosi] first got in and was named speaker, I met her,” Trump told CNN host Wolf Blitzer at the time. “And I’m very impressed by her. I think she’s a very impressive person, I like her a lot.”
Trump continued, “But I was surprised that she didn’t do more in terms of Bush and going after Bush. It just seemed like she was really going to look to impeach Bush and get him out of office. Which personally I think would have been a wonderful thing.”
Trump argued Bush should have been impeached for the “lies” he told before invading Iraq.
Trump has already tweeted a few dozen times this morning to slam the impeachment inquiry and speaker Nancy Pelosi as debate continues on the House floor.
The president has nothing on his public schedule this morning until he leaves for his Michigan campaign rally at 4:25 p.m. E.T., so more tweets will likely be forthcoming as the House takes up the articles of impeachment.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sitting on the House floor as debate continues on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s proceedings.Speaker Nancy Pelosi is sitting on the House floor as debate continues on the “rule” outlining procedures for today’s proceedings.
The vote on the “rule” should take place in about ten minutes. Once it is adopted, members will be given six hours to debate the impeachment resolution itself, split evenly between the majority and the minority.The vote on the “rule” should take place in about ten minutes. Once it is adopted, members will be given six hours to debate the impeachment resolution itself, split evenly between the majority and the minority.
Congressman Jeff Van Drew, the Democrat who has signaled he will switch his party affiliation to Republican over his opposition to impeachment, did not vote in this morning’s procedural motions.Congressman Jeff Van Drew, the Democrat who has signaled he will switch his party affiliation to Republican over his opposition to impeachment, did not vote in this morning’s procedural motions.
House Republicans are trying to introduce more procedural motions to delay the vote, suggesting that debate on the articles of impeachment should be six hours longer than scheduled and that memebers should be made to cast votes manually, but Democrats have rejected the proposals.House Republicans are trying to introduce more procedural motions to delay the vote, suggesting that debate on the articles of impeachment should be six hours longer than scheduled and that memebers should be made to cast votes manually, but Democrats have rejected the proposals.
Congressman Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip, delivered a floor speech outlining Democrats’ argument for impeachment.Congressman Jim Clyburn, the House majority whip, delivered a floor speech outlining Democrats’ argument for impeachment.
“Today we have a president who seems to believe he is a king or above the law,” the longtime South Carolina lawmaker said.“Today we have a president who seems to believe he is a king or above the law,” the longtime South Carolina lawmaker said.
Just outside the US Capitol, pro-impeachment protesters have found some fun, holiday-themed ways of expressing their displeasure with the president.Just outside the US Capitol, pro-impeachment protesters have found some fun, holiday-themed ways of expressing their displeasure with the president.
Walking to the House floor, Nancy Pelosi would only tell reporters she felt “sad” about today’s proceedings, echoing reports that the speaker has intstructed her Democratic caucus to treat today as a solemn occasion.Walking to the House floor, Nancy Pelosi would only tell reporters she felt “sad” about today’s proceedings, echoing reports that the speaker has intstructed her Democratic caucus to treat today as a solemn occasion.
The sadness of today’s vote may be the only point of agreement between House Democrats and Republicans, as Tom Cole, the top Republican on the rules committee, made a similar comment on the floor.The sadness of today’s vote may be the only point of agreement between House Democrats and Republicans, as Tom Cole, the top Republican on the rules committee, made a similar comment on the floor.
The Republican minority whip, Steve Scalise, tried to raise a point of order, but Diana DeGette, the Democratic congresswoman presiding over today’s debate, ruled it to be out of order.
Debate has now begun on the “rule” establishing procedures for today’s impeachment proceedings.
Congressman Jim McGovern, the Democratic chairman of the House rules committee, has introduced the “rule” that will establish parameters for debate on the impeachment resolution.
House members will now have an hour to debate the rule before voting on the proposal, so it’s looking like an 11 a.m. E.T. vote before discussion can turn to the impeachment resolution itself.
The motion to table Kevin McCarthy’s resolution condemning Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler has succeeded, hopefully clearing the way (finally) for an hour of debate on the procedures for today.
True to form, the House of representatives is already behind schedule for today’s impeachment proceedings.
The optimistic estimate that the final vote on articles of impeachment would take place by 7:30 p.m. E.T. is feeling more unlikely by the minute.
The Democratic majority leader, Steny Hoyer, has now introduced a motion to table Kevin McCarthy’s resolution condemning Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler for their handling of the impeachment inquiry, triggering another 15-minute vote.
It appears Republicans are trying to delay the inevitable for as long as possible in the hope of forcing Democrats to take some uncomfortable votes before the all-important vote on articles of impeachment later tonight.
These procedural motions could disrupt the optimistic timeline of concluding today’s proceedings by 7:30 p.m. E.T., but they will not affect the end result. The day will end in Trump’s impeachment no matter how many technical maneuvers Republicans deploy.
Kevin McCarthy is calling for a vote on a resolution condemning the Democratic chairmen of the intelligence and judiciary committees, Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler, for their handling of the impeachment inquiry. This will also be rejected by the Democratic majority.
Well, not so fast. The Republican minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, is now offering a parliamentary question before the House begins debating the rules for today’s proceedings.
The Republican motion to adjourn before taking up the articles of impeachment has been defeated, clearing the way for debate to begin on the procedures for today’s historic proceedings.
House judiciary committee chairman Jerry Nadler is on the floor today, having returned from a last-minute trip to New York yesterday to attend to a family medical emergency.
Nadler’s absence from Washington yesterday meant that congressman Jamie Raskin, a former constitutional law professor, presented the Democrats’ argument for impeachment before the House rules committee.
A House Democratic aide provided more context on why congresswoman Diana DeGette, a Colorado Democrat who has served since 1997, is presiding over today’s debate.