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| Trump impeachment: defense team cites debunked conspiracy theory – live | Trump impeachment: defense team cites debunked conspiracy theory – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Pam Bondi attacks Joe Biden as impeachment trial resumes with opening arguments for defense | Pam Bondi attacks Joe Biden as impeachment trial resumes with opening arguments for defense |
| Alan Dershowitz has taken the floor | |
| Dershowitz began by noting he voted for Hilliary Clinton. “I would be making the same argument if Hillary Clinton, for whom I voted, stood accused of these same violations,” he said. “I am here today because I love my country and our constitution.” | |
| Biden campaign on Trump defense: ‘We didn’t realize that Breitbart was expanding into Ted Talk knockoffs’ | |
| Joe Biden’s campaign has responded to allegations by Trump’s defense team that he pushed for the firing of a Ukrainian prosecutor to benefit his son. | |
| The Biden campaign’s rapid-response director Andrew Bates said in a statement to reporters that Trump’s defense was pushing a “conspiracy theory” that “has been conclusively refuted”: | |
| Read up on the Trump defense team: | |
| Alan Dershowitz, the lawyer who defended OJ Simpson, disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, film director Roman Polanski, boxer Mike Tyson and former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, is expected to present his opening arguments shortly. | |
| The Senate trial has reconvened and Robert Ray is delivering his opening arguments right now. | The Senate trial has reconvened and Robert Ray is delivering his opening arguments right now. |
| During the dinner break, Republican senators disparaged Joe Biden, suggesting the Trump defense will and should affect Democratic primary voters and caucus-goers. | During the dinner break, Republican senators disparaged Joe Biden, suggesting the Trump defense will and should affect Democratic primary voters and caucus-goers. |
| Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening and I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters,” said Joni Ernst of Iowa. “Those Democratic caucus-goers — will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point? Not as certain about that.” | Iowa caucuses are this next Monday evening and I’m really interested to see how this discussion today informs and influences the Iowa caucus voters,” said Joni Ernst of Iowa. “Those Democratic caucus-goers — will they be supporting Vice President Biden at this point? Not as certain about that.” |
| “The four people whose eyes were fully wide open were Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Michael Bennett, and Amy Klobuchar — all leaning forward. I’ve never seen them so attentive as when this discussion was on Joe Biden.” echoed John Barrasso of Wyoming. | “The four people whose eyes were fully wide open were Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Michael Bennett, and Amy Klobuchar — all leaning forward. I’ve never seen them so attentive as when this discussion was on Joe Biden.” echoed John Barrasso of Wyoming. |
| The State Department has removed an NPR reporter from the pool of journalists traveling to Europe and Asia with Mike Pompeo, following the Secretary of State’s public feud with the news organization. | The State Department has removed an NPR reporter from the pool of journalists traveling to Europe and Asia with Mike Pompeo, following the Secretary of State’s public feud with the news organization. |
| In a statement, the State Department Correspondents’ Association president said it seemed as if the State Department was “retaliating against National Public Radio” after a contentious interview with NPR host Marie Louise Kelly. | In a statement, the State Department Correspondents’ Association president said it seemed as if the State Department was “retaliating against National Public Radio” after a contentious interview with NPR host Marie Louise Kelly. |
| Last week, Kelly revealed that Pompeo angrily asked her to find Ukraine on an unmarked map and used expletives in his conversation with her, after she questioned him about Ukraine. | Last week, Kelly revealed that Pompeo angrily asked her to find Ukraine on an unmarked map and used expletives in his conversation with her, after she questioned him about Ukraine. |
| Fact Check: What Trump’s defense mischaracterized about Barack Obama’s conversation with Moscow | Fact Check: What Trump’s defense mischaracterized about Barack Obama’s conversation with Moscow |
| Trump’s legal team tried to turn the tables, characterizing a conversation between Barack Obama and Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev as “unquestionable quid pro quo”. | Trump’s legal team tried to turn the tables, characterizing a conversation between Barack Obama and Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev as “unquestionable quid pro quo”. |
| The conversation they were referring to was caught on a “hot” microphone during what the two leaders believed was a private moment during a 2012 nuclear summit in South Korea. Obama asked Medvedev to tell incoming Russian president Vladimir Putin to give him time to negotiate contentious issues like missile defense: “This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility,” Obama said. | The conversation they were referring to was caught on a “hot” microphone during what the two leaders believed was a private moment during a 2012 nuclear summit in South Korea. Obama asked Medvedev to tell incoming Russian president Vladimir Putin to give him time to negotiate contentious issues like missile defense: “This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility,” Obama said. |
| The former president wasn’t offering or withholding anything; at the time, Republicans criticized what they saw as a lack of resolve to keep Putin in check. But Obama never offered or withheld anything from the Russians in exchange for a personal favor, as Trump’s legal team tried to claim. | The former president wasn’t offering or withholding anything; at the time, Republicans criticized what they saw as a lack of resolve to keep Putin in check. But Obama never offered or withheld anything from the Russians in exchange for a personal favor, as Trump’s legal team tried to claim. |
| Speaking to reporters during the dinner break, Republican senators steered clear of the Obama allegations. “The point is: that we might have a Republican House and a Democratic president and in that situation, with this becoming a new normal in America, that Democratic president might be impeached,” said Mike Lee, a Republican of Utah. | Speaking to reporters during the dinner break, Republican senators steered clear of the Obama allegations. “The point is: that we might have a Republican House and a Democratic president and in that situation, with this becoming a new normal in America, that Democratic president might be impeached,” said Mike Lee, a Republican of Utah. |
| Speaking to reporters outside the Senate chamber, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said it’s unnecessary to call more witnesses. If any witnesses are to be called, he said, “The most important witness the Senate needs to hear from at this point is Hunter Biden” | Speaking to reporters outside the Senate chamber, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas said it’s unnecessary to call more witnesses. If any witnesses are to be called, he said, “The most important witness the Senate needs to hear from at this point is Hunter Biden” |
| Other Republican senators, including John Barrasso of Wyoming and Mike Braun of Indiana, indicated if the Senate does summon witnesses, they would back a “one-for-one” deal where each party got to call one person to testify. | Other Republican senators, including John Barrasso of Wyoming and Mike Braun of Indiana, indicated if the Senate does summon witnesses, they would back a “one-for-one” deal where each party got to call one person to testify. |
| The Senate is now taking a 45-minute dinner break. | The Senate is now taking a 45-minute dinner break. |
| It looks like some have Chick-fil-A on the way. | It looks like some have Chick-fil-A on the way. |
| The Trump defense team has debuted a new tactic. | The Trump defense team has debuted a new tactic. |
| Lawyer Eric Herschmann has accused Barack Obama of soliciting interference in the 2012 election by asking Russia to give him “space” on missile defense. Herschmann characterized a 2012 communication between Obama and former Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev as “unquestionable quid pro quo”. | Lawyer Eric Herschmann has accused Barack Obama of soliciting interference in the 2012 election by asking Russia to give him “space” on missile defense. Herschmann characterized a 2012 communication between Obama and former Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev as “unquestionable quid pro quo”. |
| “It was President Obama, not President Trump, who was weak on Russia,” Herschmann said, arguing that Article 1 of Trump’s impeachment better applied to Obama. | “It was President Obama, not President Trump, who was weak on Russia,” Herschmann said, arguing that Article 1 of Trump’s impeachment better applied to Obama. |
| Senator Pat Toomey, a Republican of Pennsylvania, has reportedly pushed to have two witnesses testify: one called by the Democrats and one by Republicans. | Senator Pat Toomey, a Republican of Pennsylvania, has reportedly pushed to have two witnesses testify: one called by the Democrats and one by Republicans. |
| Amid new allegations that the president told John Bolton in to keep withholding nearly $400m of security aid to Ukraine, a few Republican senators have signaled openness to calling Bolton as a witness in the impeachment trial. | Amid new allegations that the president told John Bolton in to keep withholding nearly $400m of security aid to Ukraine, a few Republican senators have signaled openness to calling Bolton as a witness in the impeachment trial. |
| According to multiple reports, we can count Toomey among that group – which includes Utah senator Mitt Romney and Susan Collins of Maine. | According to multiple reports, we can count Toomey among that group – which includes Utah senator Mitt Romney and Susan Collins of Maine. |
| Last week, Democratic senators and aides had also proposed making a witness deal, but lawmakers denied that they’d be willing to make such a trade. Joe Biden has also said he won’t testify. | Last week, Democratic senators and aides had also proposed making a witness deal, but lawmakers denied that they’d be willing to make such a trade. Joe Biden has also said he won’t testify. |
| Selectively presenting media coverage of the Bidens and Burisma, Pam Bondi reiterated the disproved allegation that Joe Biden encouraged the removal of Ukrainian prosecutor Victor Shokin because Shokin was investigating Burisma, the national gas company where Biden’s son Hunter worked. | Selectively presenting media coverage of the Bidens and Burisma, Pam Bondi reiterated the disproved allegation that Joe Biden encouraged the removal of Ukrainian prosecutor Victor Shokin because Shokin was investigating Burisma, the national gas company where Biden’s son Hunter worked. |
| In fact, Shokin refused to cooperate with an investigation of money laundering at Burisma, led by British authorities. US and European governments lobbied for the removal of Shokin due to his repeated failure to fight corruption in Ukraine. | In fact, Shokin refused to cooperate with an investigation of money laundering at Burisma, led by British authorities. US and European governments lobbied for the removal of Shokin due to his repeated failure to fight corruption in Ukraine. |
| Although Shokin himself has said that he has Burisma in his sights, the prosecutor’s deputy told Bloomberg that they did nothing to pursue such an investigation into Burisma. | Although Shokin himself has said that he has Burisma in his sights, the prosecutor’s deputy told Bloomberg that they did nothing to pursue such an investigation into Burisma. |
| Bondi also repeatedly claimed that Trump’s legal team had no choice but to discuss the Bidens and Burisma because the news media and has been pressing the issue. This contradicts Republican senators who have criticized a lack of media scrutiny of the Bidens. | Bondi also repeatedly claimed that Trump’s legal team had no choice but to discuss the Bidens and Burisma because the news media and has been pressing the issue. This contradicts Republican senators who have criticized a lack of media scrutiny of the Bidens. |
| Mike Pence’s chief of staff: VP never linked Ukraine aid to investigations into Bidens or Burisma | Mike Pence’s chief of staff: VP never linked Ukraine aid to investigations into Bidens or Burisma |
| Marc Short issued the following statement: | Marc Short issued the following statement: |
| Pam Bondi, a lawyer, lobbyist and the former attorney general of Florida, is now going after the Bidens and Burisma. | Pam Bondi, a lawyer, lobbyist and the former attorney general of Florida, is now going after the Bidens and Burisma. |
| “We would prefer not to be discussing this. But the House managers have placed this squarely at issue, so we must address it” she said. | “We would prefer not to be discussing this. But the House managers have placed this squarely at issue, so we must address it” she said. |
| Bondi is pushing a debunked allegation Joe Biden, as the vice-president, advocated for a Ukrainian prosecutor’s dismissal because the prosecutor was investigating Burisma, a natural gas company where Biden’s son Hunter was working. | Bondi is pushing a debunked allegation Joe Biden, as the vice-president, advocated for a Ukrainian prosecutor’s dismissal because the prosecutor was investigating Burisma, a natural gas company where Biden’s son Hunter was working. |
| Bondi is a longtime supporter of Trump. In 2013, while Bondi was the attorney general of Florida, Trump donated $25,000 to a group supporting her; critics later questioned whether the donation was given in exchange for Bondi’s office ending an investigation into Trump University, which had been accused of fraud. | Bondi is a longtime supporter of Trump. In 2013, while Bondi was the attorney general of Florida, Trump donated $25,000 to a group supporting her; critics later questioned whether the donation was given in exchange for Bondi’s office ending an investigation into Trump University, which had been accused of fraud. |
| That’s it from me today. I’m handing the blog over to my west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, for the next few hours. | That’s it from me today. I’m handing the blog over to my west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, for the next few hours. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Trump’s lawyers continued their opening arguments in the impeachment trial as questions remained over whether the Senate would call John Bolton, the former national security adviser, to testify. | Trump’s lawyers continued their opening arguments in the impeachment trial as questions remained over whether the Senate would call John Bolton, the former national security adviser, to testify. |
| A handful of Republican senators signaled they were opening to calling Bolton to testify after the former official reportedly claimed in a manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly tied Ukraine’s military assistance to investigations of Democrats. | A handful of Republican senators signaled they were opening to calling Bolton to testify after the former official reportedly claimed in a manuscript of his forthcoming book that Trump directly tied Ukraine’s military assistance to investigations of Democrats. |
| Ken Starr, one of the president’s lawyers who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton’s impeachment, ironically warned of the political dangers of impeachment becoming “normalized”. | Ken Starr, one of the president’s lawyers who led the investigation that led to Bill Clinton’s impeachment, ironically warned of the political dangers of impeachment becoming “normalized”. |
| The supreme court ruled that the Trump administration could allow its “public charge” rule to go into effect as legal battles over the controversial immigration policy play out in the courts. | The supreme court ruled that the Trump administration could allow its “public charge” rule to go into effect as legal battles over the controversial immigration policy play out in the courts. |
| Trump said he would announce the administration’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan tomorrow, as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Netanyahu’s election opponent, Benny Gantz, visit Washington. | Trump said he would announce the administration’s Israeli-Palestinian peace plan tomorrow, as the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Netanyahu’s election opponent, Benny Gantz, visit Washington. |
| Maanvi will have more updates as the impeachment trial continues, so stay tuned. | Maanvi will have more updates as the impeachment trial continues, so stay tuned. |
| Deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin pointed to historical clashes between the executive and legislative branches, dating back to George Washington’s presidency, as evidence that there is precedent for pushing back against congressional oversight. | Deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin pointed to historical clashes between the executive and legislative branches, dating back to George Washington’s presidency, as evidence that there is precedent for pushing back against congressional oversight. |
| “The idea that invoking privilege and claiming immunity are impeachable offenses is absurd,” Philbin said. | “The idea that invoking privilege and claiming immunity are impeachable offenses is absurd,” Philbin said. |
| However, it’s important to note that Trump has argued for a wholesale rejection of Congress’ ability to conduct oversight of the White House, a power that is laid out in the Constitution. | However, it’s important to note that Trump has argued for a wholesale rejection of Congress’ ability to conduct oversight of the White House, a power that is laid out in the Constitution. |
| “Then, I have an Article II, where I have to the right to do whatever I want as president,” Trump falsely said back in July. | “Then, I have an Article II, where I have to the right to do whatever I want as president,” Trump falsely said back in July. |
| Congressman Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party over his opposition to Trump, criticized the president’s lawyers for ignoring news reports as they present their opening arguments. | Congressman Justin Amash, who left the Republican Party over his opposition to Trump, criticized the president’s lawyers for ignoring news reports as they present their opening arguments. |
| Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly pointed to the lack of first-hand accounts in the impeachment inquiry as evidence of the president’s innocence, even as many Republican senators push back against the proposal to call former national security adviser John Bolton as a witness in the trial. | Trump’s lawyers have repeatedly pointed to the lack of first-hand accounts in the impeachment inquiry as evidence of the president’s innocence, even as many Republican senators push back against the proposal to call former national security adviser John Bolton as a witness in the trial. |
| Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement that he was not given “any advance notice” about John Bolton’s manuscript. | Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement that he was not given “any advance notice” about John Bolton’s manuscript. |
| The National Security Council confirmed that it received a copy of Bolton’s manuscript late last month for pre-publication review, but an NSC spokesperson added, “No White House personnel outside NSC have reviewed the manuscript.” | The National Security Council confirmed that it received a copy of Bolton’s manuscript late last month for pre-publication review, but an NSC spokesperson added, “No White House personnel outside NSC have reviewed the manuscript.” |
| After offering a robust defense of Rudy Giuliani, Jane Raskin ended her presentation by describing the president’s personal lawyer as “a minor player” and “a shiny object meant to distract you.” | After offering a robust defense of Rudy Giuliani, Jane Raskin ended her presentation by describing the president’s personal lawyer as “a minor player” and “a shiny object meant to distract you.” |
| The defense of the former New York mayor may come as a surprise to Republican lawmakers, many of whom have expressed unease about Giuliani’s role in pushing Ukraine to investigate Democrats. | The defense of the former New York mayor may come as a surprise to Republican lawmakers, many of whom have expressed unease about Giuliani’s role in pushing Ukraine to investigate Democrats. |
| The Senate trial has resumed, and Jane Raskin, one of Trump’s lawyers, has now taken the floor to continue her side’s opening arguments. | The Senate trial has resumed, and Jane Raskin, one of Trump’s lawyers, has now taken the floor to continue her side’s opening arguments. |