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Trump impeachment: House managers argue for removal of president – live Trump impeachment: House managers argue for removal of president – live
(30 minutes later)
House impeachment managers have 24 hours, spread over three days, to make their case before focus shifts to Trump’s legal teamHouse impeachment managers have 24 hours, spread over three days, to make their case before focus shifts to Trump’s legal team
Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff has concluded his presentation after speaking on the Senate floor for about two and a half hours.
Once Schiff stepped away from the podium, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell called for a roughly 20-minute recess.
Schiff concluded his presentation by quoting the oft-repeated line from Benjamin Franklin. On the final day of the 1787 constitutional convention, Franklin was asked whether America would have a monarchy or a republic. “A republic, if you can keep it,” Franklin replied.
It appears Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell is ready for lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff to wrap up his presentation.
Schiff said several minutes ago that 10 minutes remained in his presentation. “So the end is in sight,” he added.
As lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff neared the end of his two-hour presentation, the House intelligence committee chairman laid out what he believes is at stake in the Senate trial.
Schiff pointed to the rise of autocratic leaders around the world to argue that democracy is not “immutable” and that Americans must fight to defend their system of government.
“There’s nothing immutable about this,” Schiff said. “Every generation has to fight for it. We’re fighting for it right now. There’s no guarantee that this democracy that has served us so well will continue to prosper.”
Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff has been speaking on the Senate floor for more than two hours, and the congressman just said he still has 10 minutes to go, at which point the Senate will likely call a brief recess.Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff has been speaking on the Senate floor for more than two hours, and the congressman just said he still has 10 minutes to go, at which point the Senate will likely call a brief recess.
Schiff said each of the other House impeachment managers -- Jerry Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Hakeem Jeffries, Val Demings, Jason Crow and Sylvia Garcia -- would present part of the team’s opening arguments.Schiff said each of the other House impeachment managers -- Jerry Nadler, Zoe Lofgren, Hakeem Jeffries, Val Demings, Jason Crow and Sylvia Garcia -- would present part of the team’s opening arguments.
The president, who is traveling back to Washington from the World Economic Forum in Davos, appears to be watching the Senate impeachment trial from Air Force One.The president, who is traveling back to Washington from the World Economic Forum in Davos, appears to be watching the Senate impeachment trial from Air Force One.
Trump told CNBC earlier today that he managed to watch some of the proceedings yesterday.Trump told CNBC earlier today that he managed to watch some of the proceedings yesterday.
“I had a busy day yesterday, as you know,” Trump said. “But I did get to see some of it. It’s a hoax. It’s a total hoax.”“I had a busy day yesterday, as you know,” Trump said. “But I did get to see some of it. It’s a hoax. It’s a total hoax.”
Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff made clear that Americans should not “get over” how the Trump administration allowed political calculations to affect foreign policy, as acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney argued in October.Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff made clear that Americans should not “get over” how the Trump administration allowed political calculations to affect foreign policy, as acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney argued in October.
The latest clip that lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff played on the Senate floor included Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, acknowledging a quid pro quo in connection to the freeze on Ukraine’s military assistance.The latest clip that lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff played on the Senate floor included Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, acknowledging a quid pro quo in connection to the freeze on Ukraine’s military assistance.
“The look back to what happened in 2016 certainly was part of the thing that he was worried about in corruption with that nation,” Mulvaney said in October.“The look back to what happened in 2016 certainly was part of the thing that he was worried about in corruption with that nation,” Mulvaney said in October.
“Did he also mention to me in the past the corruption that related to the DNC server? Absolutely, no question about that,” Mulvaney continued. “But that’s it. That’s why we held up the money.”“Did he also mention to me in the past the corruption that related to the DNC server? Absolutely, no question about that,” Mulvaney continued. “But that’s it. That’s why we held up the money.”
Asked about the concern that political calculations were affecting foreign policy, Mulvaney told White House reporters, “We do that all the time with foreign policy … I have news for everybody. Get over it. There is going to be political influence in foreign policy. Elections have consequences.”Asked about the concern that political calculations were affecting foreign policy, Mulvaney told White House reporters, “We do that all the time with foreign policy … I have news for everybody. Get over it. There is going to be political influence in foreign policy. Elections have consequences.”
Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff is still speaking on the Senate floor, delivering his team’s opening arguments for why Trump should be removed from office.Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff is still speaking on the Senate floor, delivering his team’s opening arguments for why Trump should be removed from office.
The California Democrat argued Trump’s misconduct stretched far beyond his July call to the Ukrainian president to include his efforts before and after the call to push for investigations into his political enemies.The California Democrat argued Trump’s misconduct stretched far beyond his July call to the Ukrainian president to include his efforts before and after the call to push for investigations into his political enemies.
As opening arguments continue, congressional reporters have raised additional concerns about the press restrictions imposed during the impeachment trial.As opening arguments continue, congressional reporters have raised additional concerns about the press restrictions imposed during the impeachment trial.
Reporters on Capitol Hill are generally allowed relatively free rein, giving them many opportunities to pose questions to lawmakers in hallways, but the restrictions have made that more difficult.Reporters on Capitol Hill are generally allowed relatively free rein, giving them many opportunities to pose questions to lawmakers in hallways, but the restrictions have made that more difficult.
Like yesterday, lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff is playing clips of Trump that he says proves the president’s abuse of power.Like yesterday, lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff is playing clips of Trump that he says proves the president’s abuse of power.
One of the clips that Schiff just played was this interview Trump gave on the White House lawn in October:One of the clips that Schiff just played was this interview Trump gave on the White House lawn in October:
“If they were honest about it, they would start a major investigation into the Bidens,” Trump said at the time, when asked what he wanted the Ukrainian president to do.“If they were honest about it, they would start a major investigation into the Bidens,” Trump said at the time, when asked what he wanted the Ukrainian president to do.
“I would say President Zelenskiy, if it was me, I would start an investigation into the Bidens.”“I would say President Zelenskiy, if it was me, I would start an investigation into the Bidens.”
Inside the Senate chamber, congressional reporters said senators looked visibly exhausted as they heard the House impeachment managers present their opening arguments.Inside the Senate chamber, congressional reporters said senators looked visibly exhausted as they heard the House impeachment managers present their opening arguments.
Yesterday’s debate over the impeachment trial rules stretched past 2 a.m. ET, and senators were back on Capitol Hill this morning.Yesterday’s debate over the impeachment trial rules stretched past 2 a.m. ET, and senators were back on Capitol Hill this morning.
As the House impeachment managers present their opening arguments, the White House appears to be pushing back against the allegations in real time, sending out email blasts defending Trump.
Even though Senate Democrats’ multiple efforts to force new witness testimony failed yesterday, lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff used the beginning of his team’s opening arguments to emphasize the need to hear from administration officials.
“You will hear their testimony at the same time as the American people — that is, if you allow it,” Schiff said.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer has pushed for subpoenas of four Trump administration officials: acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney; former national security adviser John Bolton; Robert Blair, a senior adviser to Mulvaney; and Michael Duffey, associate director for national security at the office of management and budget.
Shortly before taking the Senate floor, lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff dismissed a report that some Democratic senators have weighed leveraging the testimony of Hunter Biden, the former vice president’s son, in order to hear from John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser.
“This isn’t like some fantasy football trade,” Schiff said just before the impeachment trial resumed. “Trials aren’t trades for witnesses.”
Campaigning in Iowa, Joe Biden also denied that Senate Democrats were considering such a proposal. “No, they’re not,” the presidential candidate said when asked about the report.
But one of the Washington Post reporters who spoke to Democratic officials about the proposal insisted the denials simply showed how sensitive the discussions were:
Echoing his earlier comments, lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff argued Trump’s actions toward Ukraine and House investigators prove the president believes he is “above the law.”
The House intelligence committee chairman applauded the administration officials who testified during the public impeachment hearings, but he insisted other officials -- including former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney -- should be asked to testify for the Senate trial.
Schiff argued the documents that Trump was “unable to suppress” clearly “expose the president’s scheme in detail.”
The House impeachment managers now presenting their opening arguments will have 24 hours, spread over three days, to make their case, but it’s unclear whether they will use the full 24 hours.
The focus will then shift to Trump’s legal team, who will also get 24 hours to present their opening arguments. The president’s lawyers have so far kept mum on how much of their 24 hours they intend to use.
Adam Schiff, the lead House impeachment manager, began his team’s opening arguments by thanking Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts for his handling of the trial yesterday.
As yesterday’s proceedings concluded, Roberts admonished both sides for engaging in attacks against each other. “Those addressing the Senate should remember where they are,” Roberts said.
Schiff then moved on to his team’s arguments, starting with a reading of an Alexander Hamilton quote that warned of “a man unprincipled in private life desperate in his fortune.”
Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts has assumed his post, and Trump’s impeachment trial has officially resumed.
House impeachment managers will soon begin presenting their opening arguments for why the president should be removed from office.
The trial rules allows each side 24 hours, spread over three days, to present its opening arguments, but it’s unclear whether the managers will use the whole time.
As the House impeachment managers explained their plans for presenting their opening argument today, three Republican senators held a dueling press conference to defend Trump.
Lindsey Graham, one of the president’s closest Senate allies, said House Democrats are “on a crusade to destroy” Trump and accused reporters of being “complicit” in his impeachment.
“To my Democratic colleagues, you can say what you want about me, but I’m covering up nothing,” Graham said.
Adam Schiff, the lead House impeachment manager, told reporters on Capitol Hill that his team would present “a factual chronology” of the events surrounding Trump’s impeachment.
The California Democrat also dismissed a suggestion that John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser, could be called in to testify in exchange for calling Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, to Capitol Hill.
“This isn’t like some fantasy football trade,” Schiff said. “Trials aren’t trades for witnesses.”
He concluded by offering a somber note about the managers presenting their case for Trump’s removal to the American public. “We’re trying this case to two juries: the Senate and the American people,” Schiff said.
The House impeachment managers will start presenting their opening arguments in favor of Trump’s removal from office in about a half an hour.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer accused his Republican colleagues of trying to prevent a fair trial from taking place, saying the president’s legal team appeared “unprepared, confused and unconvincing” yesterday.
Early this morning, Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts, who is overseeing the trial, admonished both sides for their attacks on each other. “Those addressing the Senate should remember where they are,” Roberts said.
The DC attorney general sued Trump’s inaugural committee for alleged misuse of funds at the president’s Washington hotel.
The blog will be providing updates and analysis once the trial resumes, so stay tuned.