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Trump impeachment: Schiff says Trump tried to 'cheat' way to re-election – live Trump impeachment: Schiff says Trump tried to 'cheat' way to re-election – live
(32 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
Here’s what the senators are up to
As impeachment managers carry on, taking turns laying out a detailed case against Donald Trump, the senators are taking notes — or not. They’re sitting at their desks, they’re pacing, they’re drinking milk and filling crossword puzzles.
The rules also say lawmakers should refrain from talking, but reporters at the trial have spotted a few whispered conversations.
Another convention, if not an explicit rule, is that senators can’t eat, but can drink water or milk while in the chamber. Senator Tom Cotton seems to be making the most of it (milking it, we could say).
Elizabeth Warren seems to have a system for her notes:
Bernie Sanders isn’t big into note-taking:
As the impeachment managers carry on, presenting their case against Donald Trump, the president has announced all sorts of new plans, policies, and programs that on any other day, may have dominated the news cycle.
Speaking with reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump announced that he intends to expand his controversial travel ban. “We’re adding a couple of countries to it. We have to be safe,” he said. “You see what’s going on in the world. Our country has to be safe.” According to the AP, anonymous officials familiar with the matter said seven countries were added to a draft of the proposed restrictions: Belarus, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Tanzania. “It’s going to be announced very shortly. Okay?” the president teased.
In an interview with CNBC, Trump actively reached for what has long been the third rail of politics, indicating a willingness to revamp Social Security and Medicare. Trump said that entitlement programs are “ the easiest of all things” to tackle.
The president also revealed plans to speak at an anti-abortion demonstration on Friday, organized by the group March for Life. He will be the first president to attend a March for Life event — though this isn’t the first time he’s endorsed the group. He addressed anti-abortion demonstrators via telecast in 2018.
Donald Trump put out 132 tweets and retweets as of 4:45 pm ET today, setting a record for the most of any single day since he became president.Donald Trump put out 132 tweets and retweets as of 4:45 pm ET today, setting a record for the most of any single day since he became president.
Most of the messages were retweets from supporters, including Fox News’ Sean Hannity, the GOP, and senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.Most of the messages were retweets from supporters, including Fox News’ Sean Hannity, the GOP, and senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul.
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog as the impeachment trial continues.That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog as the impeachment trial continues.
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
House impeachment managers began presenting their opening arguments, with lead manager Adam Schiff speaking for two and a half hours on the Senate floor. He accused Trump of “abusing the power of his office to seek help from abroad to improve his re-election prospects at home... In other words, to cheat.”House impeachment managers began presenting their opening arguments, with lead manager Adam Schiff speaking for two and a half hours on the Senate floor. He accused Trump of “abusing the power of his office to seek help from abroad to improve his re-election prospects at home... In other words, to cheat.”
The House intelligence committee chairman argued the trial represented a battle for the soul of American democracy.The House intelligence committee chairman argued the trial represented a battle for the soul of American democracy.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said Democratic senators were not considering leveraging potential testimony from Joe Biden or his son, Hunter, to hear from Trump administration officials, like former national security adviser John Bolton.Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said Democratic senators were not considering leveraging potential testimony from Joe Biden or his son, Hunter, to hear from Trump administration officials, like former national security adviser John Bolton.
Biden similarly said he would not participate in a witness swap, arguing that such a move would turn the impeachment trial into “some kind of political theatre”.Biden similarly said he would not participate in a witness swap, arguing that such a move would turn the impeachment trial into “some kind of political theatre”.
Trump and his allies expressed wariness about having Bolton testify, citing executive privilege.Trump and his allies expressed wariness about having Bolton testify, citing executive privilege.
The DC attorney general has sued Trump’s inaugural committee for alleged misuse of funds at the president’s Washington hotel.The DC attorney general has sued Trump’s inaugural committee for alleged misuse of funds at the president’s Washington hotel.
Maanvi will have more updates and analysis to come, so stay tuned.Maanvi will have more updates and analysis to come, so stay tuned.
Trump is still tweeting away, using his favorite social-media platform to amplify his allies and belittle the Senate impeachment trial as a “sham.”Trump is still tweeting away, using his favorite social-media platform to amplify his allies and belittle the Senate impeachment trial as a “sham.”
Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia has concluded speaking for now, and fellow impeachment manager Jason Crow has taken the Senate floor to continue presenting his side’s opening arguments.Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia has concluded speaking for now, and fellow impeachment manager Jason Crow has taken the Senate floor to continue presenting his side’s opening arguments.
Of the seven impeachment managers, Crow is the only one who faces an arguably difficult reelection later this year.Of the seven impeachment managers, Crow is the only one who faces an arguably difficult reelection later this year.
The freshman congressman won his race in 2018 by 9 points, defeating Republican incumbent Mike Coffman.The freshman congressman won his race in 2018 by 9 points, defeating Republican incumbent Mike Coffman.
Campaigning in Iowa, Joe Biden threw cold water on the possibility of testifying in the Senate trial if Trump administration officials, such as former national security adviser John Bolton, also agreed to do so.Campaigning in Iowa, Joe Biden threw cold water on the possibility of testifying in the Senate trial if Trump administration officials, such as former national security adviser John Bolton, also agreed to do so.
“This is a constitutional issue, and we’re not going to turn it into a farce, into some kind of political theatre,” Biden said. “I want no part of being any part of that.”“This is a constitutional issue, and we’re not going to turn it into a farce, into some kind of political theatre,” Biden said. “I want no part of being any part of that.”
The presidential candidate added he was focused on defeating Trump at the ballot box. “The Senate’s job is now to try him,” Biden said. “My job is to beat him.”The presidential candidate added he was focused on defeating Trump at the ballot box. “The Senate’s job is now to try him,” Biden said. “My job is to beat him.”
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer similarly said during the last trial recess that the idea of a witness swap was “off the table”.Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer similarly said during the last trial recess that the idea of a witness swap was “off the table”.
Impeachment manager Jerry Nadler has finished speaking (for now), and he has ceded the Senate floor to another member of the House team, congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.Impeachment manager Jerry Nadler has finished speaking (for now), and he has ceded the Senate floor to another member of the House team, congresswoman Sylvia Garcia.
The impeachment managers have been presenting their opening arguments for a collective three hours or so now, leaving them 21 hours to finish making their case.The impeachment managers have been presenting their opening arguments for a collective three hours or so now, leaving them 21 hours to finish making their case.
Speaking on the Senate floor, impeachment manager Jerry Nadler incorporated tweets from Trump and his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, to argue the president and his allies participated in a “smear campaign” against Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine.Speaking on the Senate floor, impeachment manager Jerry Nadler incorporated tweets from Trump and his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, to argue the president and his allies participated in a “smear campaign” against Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine.
During the recess, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer spoke to reporters and praised the performance of lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff.During the recess, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer spoke to reporters and praised the performance of lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff.
Schumer also dismissed the possibility of “trading” the testimony of Hunter Biden, the former vice president’s son, for the testimony of John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser.Schumer also dismissed the possibility of “trading” the testimony of Hunter Biden, the former vice president’s son, for the testimony of John Bolton, Trump’s former national security adviser.
“I think it’s off the table,” Schumer said when asked about the potential witness swap.“I think it’s off the table,” Schumer said when asked about the potential witness swap.
The recess has ended, and impeachment manager Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the House judiciary committee, has taken the Senate floor to continue presenting his side’s opening arguments.The recess has ended, and impeachment manager Jerry Nadler, the chairman of the House judiciary committee, has taken the Senate floor to continue presenting his side’s opening arguments.
Outrage over Trump downplaying troop injuriesOutrage over Trump downplaying troop injuries
While there’s a brief recess in the impeachment trial, we can bring you the development that a leading New York expert in traumatic brain injuries has criticized Donald Trump for downplaying the injuries suffered by US military personnel in Iraq during Iran’s missile attacks on bases where they were stationed earlier this month.While there’s a brief recess in the impeachment trial, we can bring you the development that a leading New York expert in traumatic brain injuries has criticized Donald Trump for downplaying the injuries suffered by US military personnel in Iraq during Iran’s missile attacks on bases where they were stationed earlier this month.
Michael Kaplen, chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council and past president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State said that he was “shocked at the ignorant statement” made by Trump at a press conference earlier today discussing traumatic brain injuries.Michael Kaplen, chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council and past president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State said that he was “shocked at the ignorant statement” made by Trump at a press conference earlier today discussing traumatic brain injuries.
Though Trump initially said no US troops were harmed in the 8 January attack on two Iraqi bases housing them, the Pentagon announced last week that 11 service members had been flown to medical hospitals in Germany and Kuwait to be “treated for concussion symptoms from the blast”, my Middle East correspondent colleague Michael Safi reports.Though Trump initially said no US troops were harmed in the 8 January attack on two Iraqi bases housing them, the Pentagon announced last week that 11 service members had been flown to medical hospitals in Germany and Kuwait to be “treated for concussion symptoms from the blast”, my Middle East correspondent colleague Michael Safi reports.
Asked about the discrepancy on Wednesday, Trump said he learned about the injuries “numerous days later”.Asked about the discrepancy on Wednesday, Trump said he learned about the injuries “numerous days later”.
“I heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things, but I would say and I can report it is not very serious,” he told a news conference in Davos, Switzerland. “I don’t consider them very serious injuries relative to other injuries I have seen.”“I heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things, but I would say and I can report it is not very serious,” he told a news conference in Davos, Switzerland. “I don’t consider them very serious injuries relative to other injuries I have seen.”
But Kaplen vigorously disagreed.But Kaplen vigorously disagreed.
“To equate traumatic brain injuries as just a headache is insulting and disrespectful to the thousands of military service members suffering from the signature wound of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict,” he said.“To equate traumatic brain injuries as just a headache is insulting and disrespectful to the thousands of military service members suffering from the signature wound of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict,” he said.
He added that the condition, also known as TBI, is a “life altering” injury.He added that the condition, also known as TBI, is a “life altering” injury.
“It’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral consequences affect every aspect of an individual’s life,” he said. “A brain injury is only ‘mild’ if it is someone else’s brain. There is nothing “mild” about a mild brain injury.”“It’s physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral consequences affect every aspect of an individual’s life,” he said. “A brain injury is only ‘mild’ if it is someone else’s brain. There is nothing “mild” about a mild brain injury.”
Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff has concluded his presentation after speaking on the Senate floor for about two and a half hours.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.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.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.