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| Impeachment trial live updates: Trump team to resume defense amid fallout from new report on Bolton’s claim on withholding military aid from Ukraine | Impeachment trial live updates: Trump team to resume defense amid fallout from new report on Bolton’s claim on withholding military aid from Ukraine |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Trump’s legal team is set to resume its defense Monday in his Senate impeachment trial amid fallout from a new report that Trump told then-national security adviser John Bolton in August that he wanted to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless it aided investigations of former vice president Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. | |
| The defense team, led by White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, offered a preview of its case in an abbreviated session on Saturday in which they argued that Trump had valid reasons for withholding military aid from Ukraine and that House prosecutors overlooked facts more favorable to him. | The defense team, led by White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow, offered a preview of its case in an abbreviated session on Saturday in which they argued that Trump had valid reasons for withholding military aid from Ukraine and that House prosecutors overlooked facts more favorable to him. |
| The crux of House Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son, who served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president. Trump’s lawyers are expected to argue that the president was justified in seeking the investigation because of a history of corruption involving the company. | The crux of House Democrats’ case is the allegation that Trump withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son, who served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president. Trump’s lawyers are expected to argue that the president was justified in seeking the investigation because of a history of corruption involving the company. |
| ●Democrats call for Bolton to testify in Trump impeachment trial after new report on aid to Ukraine. | ●Democrats call for Bolton to testify in Trump impeachment trial after new report on aid to Ukraine. |
| ●Trump denies telling Bolton that Ukraine aid was tied to investigations as explosive book that claims otherwise leaks. | ●Trump denies telling Bolton that Ukraine aid was tied to investigations as explosive book that claims otherwise leaks. |
| ●House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) ‘has not paid the price’ for impeachment, Trump says in what appears to be a veiled threat. | ●House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) ‘has not paid the price’ for impeachment, Trump says in what appears to be a veiled threat. |
| The Senate impeachment trial process | The impeachment managers |Which senators support removing Trump | Trump’s legal team brief | House Democrats’ response | The Senate impeachment trial process | The impeachment managers |Which senators support removing Trump | Trump’s legal team brief | House Democrats’ response |
| Rep. Douglas A. Collins (R-Ga.), who is advising the Trump legal team, on Monday questioned why House Democrats did not subpoena Bolton if they consider him so significant in the case against Trump. | |
| “The question really becomes this: Is it new information? Not really,” Collins said during an appearance on Fox News. | |
| Schiff “could have actually subpoenaed John Bolton, went through this process in the House. He chose not to,” Collins added. | |
| House investigators invited Bolton to voluntarily testify in November. He declined, citing a White House directive to remain silent. The House declined to issue a subpoena to Bolton after he indicated he would allow a potentially lengthy court case to play out before appearing. | |
| Earlier this month, Bolton issued a statement saying he was prepared to testify in the Senate trial if a subpoena is issued. | |
| Trump returned to Twitter to share a three-word message in all capital letters with his 71.7 million followers: “READ THE TRANSCRIPTS!” | Trump returned to Twitter to share a three-word message in all capital letters with his 71.7 million followers: “READ THE TRANSCRIPTS!” |
| In the past, Trump has argued that the rough transcripts of his calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were “perfect.” His allies have argued that there is no explicit link between military aid and investigations in the call transcripts. | In the past, Trump has argued that the rough transcripts of his calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were “perfect.” His allies have argued that there is no explicit link between military aid and investigations in the call transcripts. |
| Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), the lead House impeachment manager, said Monday that the new report on Bolton’s forthcoming book poses a key test for senators sitting as jurors in Trump’s trial. | Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), the lead House impeachment manager, said Monday that the new report on Bolton’s forthcoming book poses a key test for senators sitting as jurors in Trump’s trial. |
| According to a New York Times report, Bolton says in an unpublished manuscript of his book, scheduled for publication on March 17, that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine to investigations of the Bidens. | According to a New York Times report, Bolton says in an unpublished manuscript of his book, scheduled for publication on March 17, that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine to investigations of the Bidens. |
| “Senators, on March 17, when this book comes out, are going to be asked if they don’t support calling him as a witness, why didn’t you want to hear from him when he could have given you information before you rendered your verdict?” Schiff said during an appearance on CNN. “And I just would not want to be in a position of having to answer that question.” | “Senators, on March 17, when this book comes out, are going to be asked if they don’t support calling him as a witness, why didn’t you want to hear from him when he could have given you information before you rendered your verdict?” Schiff said during an appearance on CNN. “And I just would not want to be in a position of having to answer that question.” |
| “At the end of the day, this is the test for these senators,” Schiff added. “They’ve taken an oath to be impartial. They’ve just learned there’s a key witness going to the heart of the allegations. The question they have to answer is, do they want to hear the truth?” | “At the end of the day, this is the test for these senators,” Schiff added. “They’ve taken an oath to be impartial. They’ve just learned there’s a key witness going to the heart of the allegations. The question they have to answer is, do they want to hear the truth?” |
| Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who is advising Trump’s legal team, said Monday that nothing has changed as a result of the New York Times report that Bolton says in an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine to investigations of the Bidens. | Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who is advising Trump’s legal team, said Monday that nothing has changed as a result of the New York Times report that Bolton says in an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine to investigations of the Bidens. |
| “You got someone telling the New York Times what supposedly John Bolton’s manuscript says, and that’s going to change everything?” Jordan said during an appearance on Fox News. “I mean, I just don’t buy that. It doesn’t alter in any way the fundamental facts, the facts that have been clear from the get-go.” | “You got someone telling the New York Times what supposedly John Bolton’s manuscript says, and that’s going to change everything?” Jordan said during an appearance on Fox News. “I mean, I just don’t buy that. It doesn’t alter in any way the fundamental facts, the facts that have been clear from the get-go.” |
| Jordan again said that there is no explicit “quid pro quo” in the rough transcript of a July call between Trump and the Ukrainian president, that the military aid was eventually released and that the investigations sought by Trump did not happen. | |
| “No amount of New York Times reporting on some speculation from some unnamed source is going to change the fundamental facts,” Jordan said. | “No amount of New York Times reporting on some speculation from some unnamed source is going to change the fundamental facts,” Jordan said. |
| Trump returned to Twitter to share several assessments of conservative commentators that play down the significance of the New York Times report that Bolton says in an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine to investigations of the Bidens. | Trump returned to Twitter to share several assessments of conservative commentators that play down the significance of the New York Times report that Bolton says in an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to Ukraine to investigations of the Bidens. |
| Among them was that of Lou Dobbs of Fox Business Network, who wrote: “Rejected Neocon, Failing NYTimes, Deep State’s Last Desperate Act After @POTUS Attorneys Destroy Radical Dems.” | Among them was that of Lou Dobbs of Fox Business Network, who wrote: “Rejected Neocon, Failing NYTimes, Deep State’s Last Desperate Act After @POTUS Attorneys Destroy Radical Dems.” |
| White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham on Monday criticized Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), the lead House impeachment manager, for “playing the pity card” on Sunday when he said he believed a tweet by Trump was intended to threaten him. | White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham on Monday criticized Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.), the lead House impeachment manager, for “playing the pity card” on Sunday when he said he believed a tweet by Trump was intended to threaten him. |
| “Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN, and probably a very sick man,” Trump tweeted Sunday morning. “He has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our Country!” | “Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN, and probably a very sick man,” Trump tweeted Sunday morning. “He has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our Country!” |
| Schiff responded in an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” saying he believes Trump’s remarks were intended as a threat. | Schiff responded in an interview on NBC News’s “Meet the Press,” saying he believes Trump’s remarks were intended as a threat. |
| “This is a wrathful and vindictive president; I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” Schiff said in the interview. “And if you think there is, look at the president’s tweets about me today, saying that I should ‘pay a price.’ ” | “This is a wrathful and vindictive president; I don’t think there’s any doubt about it,” Schiff said in the interview. “And if you think there is, look at the president’s tweets about me today, saying that I should ‘pay a price.’ ” |
| Asked about the exchange during an appearance Monday on Fox News, Grisham said, “I think Schiff has shockingly thin skin if he thinks that was any kind of a threat from the president of the United States.” | Asked about the exchange during an appearance Monday on Fox News, Grisham said, “I think Schiff has shockingly thin skin if he thinks that was any kind of a threat from the president of the United States.” |
| “It means that there will be consequences with the American people and at the ballot box,” Grisham said. “I think [Schiff] was grandstanding once again and playing the pity card that he just got threatened by the president. I think people see through that.” | “It means that there will be consequences with the American people and at the ballot box,” Grisham said. “I think [Schiff] was grandstanding once again and playing the pity card that he just got threatened by the president. I think people see through that.” |
| By: John Wagner | By: John Wagner |
| Trump’s legal team is poised to resume its defense of the president’s conduct toward Ukraine when the Senate reconvenes at 1 p.m. on Monday. | Trump’s legal team is poised to resume its defense of the president’s conduct toward Ukraine when the Senate reconvenes at 1 p.m. on Monday. |
| The president’s lawyers offered a preview of their case during an abbreviated two-hour session on Saturday in which they argued that Trump had valid reasons for withholding military aid from Ukraine and that House prosecutors overlooked facts more favorable to him. | The president’s lawyers offered a preview of their case during an abbreviated two-hour session on Saturday in which they argued that Trump had valid reasons for withholding military aid from Ukraine and that House prosecutors overlooked facts more favorable to him. |
| Part of the defense Trump’s team is expected to offer in coming days is that the offenses alleged by House managers do not rise to the level of impeachable offenses. | Part of the defense Trump’s team is expected to offer in coming days is that the offenses alleged by House managers do not rise to the level of impeachable offenses. |
| During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Alan Dershowitz, an emeritus professor at Harvard Law School and a member of Trump’s legal team, said that he thought the House managers “presented the strongest case they could” but “didn’t come close to alleging impeachable offenses.” | During an appearance on “Fox News Sunday,” Alan Dershowitz, an emeritus professor at Harvard Law School and a member of Trump’s legal team, said that he thought the House managers “presented the strongest case they could” but “didn’t come close to alleging impeachable offenses.” |
| “They completely failed to meet that high constitutional standard, and therefore it would be unconstitutional to remove a president based on the allegations that were made against him in the articles of impeachment,” Dershowitz said. | |
| Trump’s lawyers have also signaled that they plan to use some of their time to target Joe Biden and his son. Trump’s allies believe that if they can argue that the president had a plausible reason for requesting the Biden investigation in Ukraine, they can both defend him against the impeachment charges and gain the bonus of undercutting a political adversary. | Trump’s lawyers have also signaled that they plan to use some of their time to target Joe Biden and his son. Trump’s allies believe that if they can argue that the president had a plausible reason for requesting the Biden investigation in Ukraine, they can both defend him against the impeachment charges and gain the bonus of undercutting a political adversary. |
| Once the defense team wraps up its presentation, senators will be given up to 16 hours to ask written questions of both the House managers and Trump’s lawyers. | Once the defense team wraps up its presentation, senators will be given up to 16 hours to ask written questions of both the House managers and Trump’s lawyers. |
| Trump falsely claimed in a tweet Monday morning that House Democrats had never asked Bolton to testify in impeachment proceedings. | Trump falsely claimed in a tweet Monday morning that House Democrats had never asked Bolton to testify in impeachment proceedings. |
| “The Democrat controlled House never even asked John Bolton to testify. It is up to them, not up to the Senate!” Trump wrote on Twitter. | “The Democrat controlled House never even asked John Bolton to testify. It is up to them, not up to the Senate!” Trump wrote on Twitter. |
| In fact, House investigators invited Bolton to voluntarily testify in November. He declined, citing a White House directive to remain silent. The House declined to issue a subpoena to Bolton after he indicated he would allow a court case to play out before appearing. | In fact, House investigators invited Bolton to voluntarily testify in November. He declined, citing a White House directive to remain silent. The House declined to issue a subpoena to Bolton after he indicated he would allow a court case to play out before appearing. |
| Earlier this month, Bolton issued a statement saying he was prepared to testify in the Senate trial if a subpoena is issued. | Earlier this month, Bolton issued a statement saying he was prepared to testify in the Senate trial if a subpoena is issued. |
| Democrats have ratcheted up calls for Bolton to testify following a New York Times report that he says in an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to investigations of the Bidens. | Democrats have ratcheted up calls for Bolton to testify following a New York Times report that he says in an unpublished manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly tied the holdup of nearly $400 million in military assistance to investigations of the Bidens. |
| With the Senate trial set to resume, Trump plans to welcome both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his challenger in upcoming elections, Benny Gantz, to the White House on Monday for separate discussions of Trump’s long-awaited Middle East peace plan. | With the Senate trial set to resume, Trump plans to welcome both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his challenger in upcoming elections, Benny Gantz, to the White House on Monday for separate discussions of Trump’s long-awaited Middle East peace plan. |
| Vice President Pence extended the invitations last week while he was in Israel, where he met with the embattled longtime Israeli leader and his rival, and hours later Trump said he would probably release the plan as soon as this week. | Vice President Pence extended the invitations last week while he was in Israel, where he met with the embattled longtime Israeli leader and his rival, and hours later Trump said he would probably release the plan as soon as this week. |
| Trump begins his reelection year in a more competitive position than he was last fall against potential Democratic challengers, aided by rising approval for his handling of the economy, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. | Trump begins his reelection year in a more competitive position than he was last fall against potential Democratic challengers, aided by rising approval for his handling of the economy, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll. |
| The state of the economy and perceptions of Trump’s handling of it pose a challenge for Democratic presidential candidates, who have criticized the president’s policies and focused their economic messaging on inequities between the richest Americans and everyone else and on alleviating the financial struggles of many families who are dealing with rising health-care, child-care or educational costs. | The state of the economy and perceptions of Trump’s handling of it pose a challenge for Democratic presidential candidates, who have criticized the president’s policies and focused their economic messaging on inequities between the richest Americans and everyone else and on alleviating the financial struggles of many families who are dealing with rising health-care, child-care or educational costs. |
| Despite Americans’ concerns that the economic system favors the wealthy, the latest Post-ABC poll finds that fewer than half are worried about maintaining their own standard of living, a shift from 2016, when most expressed concern about losing their financial footing. | Despite Americans’ concerns that the economic system favors the wealthy, the latest Post-ABC poll finds that fewer than half are worried about maintaining their own standard of living, a shift from 2016, when most expressed concern about losing their financial footing. |
| With just over nine months until Election Day, Americans see Trump as a slight favorite for reelection, with 49 percent expecting him to win and 43 percent predicting that his Democratic challenger will prevail. But those expectations are highly partisan, with 87 percent of Republicans saying they believe Trump will win reelection while a somewhat smaller 78 percent majority of Democrats say they believe their party’s nominee will win. | With just over nine months until Election Day, Americans see Trump as a slight favorite for reelection, with 49 percent expecting him to win and 43 percent predicting that his Democratic challenger will prevail. But those expectations are highly partisan, with 87 percent of Republicans saying they believe Trump will win reelection while a somewhat smaller 78 percent majority of Democrats say they believe their party’s nominee will win. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Trump said early Monday morning that he “never told John Bolton that aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into the Bidens or Democrats,” contrary to assertions Bolton reportedly made in the manuscript of his soon-to-be-published book, aptly titled “The Room Where It Happened.” | Trump said early Monday morning that he “never told John Bolton that aid to Ukraine was tied to investigations into the Bidens or Democrats,” contrary to assertions Bolton reportedly made in the manuscript of his soon-to-be-published book, aptly titled “The Room Where It Happened.” |
| The president’s tweet, just after midnight Monday, was his first reaction to a story in the New York Times about the forthcoming book by the president’s former national security adviser. | The president’s tweet, just after midnight Monday, was his first reaction to a story in the New York Times about the forthcoming book by the president’s former national security adviser. |
| The book excerpt, and the leak, has the potential to increase pressure on the Senate to call witnesses in the impeachment trial of the president and, beyond that, to challenge the core defense of Trump, his lawyers and his supporters in Congress. | The book excerpt, and the leak, has the potential to increase pressure on the Senate to call witnesses in the impeachment trial of the president and, beyond that, to challenge the core defense of Trump, his lawyers and his supporters in Congress. |
| The Times reported late Sunday that, in the manuscript, Bolton writes of Trump telling him in August that “he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped him with investigations” into Democrats including Joe Biden and his son, who had been employed by a Ukrainian energy company. | The Times reported late Sunday that, in the manuscript, Bolton writes of Trump telling him in August that “he wanted to continue freezing $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine until officials there helped him with investigations” into Democrats including Joe Biden and his son, who had been employed by a Ukrainian energy company. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), one of the seven House impeachment managers, said he will miss Monday’s session of the impeachment trial to spend time with his wife, who is being treated for pancreatic cancer. | House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), one of the seven House impeachment managers, said he will miss Monday’s session of the impeachment trial to spend time with his wife, who is being treated for pancreatic cancer. |
| “In December, following the House Judiciary Committee markup of the Articles of Impeachment against President Donald J. Trump, my wife was admitted to the hospital where she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer,” Nadler said in a statement Sunday. “She has undergone surgery and is taking further steps to address the spread of the cancer. On Monday, I will be in New York with her to meet with doctors, determine a path forward, and begin her treatment. I am sorry to miss some of the Senate Impeachment Trial, which is of critical importance to our democracy.” | “In December, following the House Judiciary Committee markup of the Articles of Impeachment against President Donald J. Trump, my wife was admitted to the hospital where she was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer,” Nadler said in a statement Sunday. “She has undergone surgery and is taking further steps to address the spread of the cancer. On Monday, I will be in New York with her to meet with doctors, determine a path forward, and begin her treatment. I am sorry to miss some of the Senate Impeachment Trial, which is of critical importance to our democracy.” |
| Nadler said he plans to return to Washington late Monday. | Nadler said he plans to return to Washington late Monday. |