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Trump impeachment trial: Democrats in final push for witnesses – live Trump impeachment trial: Democrats in final push for witnesses – live
(32 minutes later)
Republicans seem increasingly confident they can block witnesses as Schiff suggests limiting depositions to a weekRepublicans seem increasingly confident they can block witnesses as Schiff suggests limiting depositions to a week
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a potential Republican swing vote on the question of witnesses, just asked an extraordinary question. Noting the reporting on former national security advisor John Bolton’s unpublished book, she wrote: “This dispute about material facts weighs in favor of calling additional witnesses with direct knowledge. Why should this body not call Ambassador Bolton?”
The president’s counsel responded that calling witnesses in this case would set a bad precedent for future impeachment trials. “I think that’s very damaging for the future of this institution,” said Patrick Philbin.
Murkowski has maintained that she’s undecided on witnesses. During the dinner break, she was seen huddling with Lamar Alexander, another Republican who may vote in favor of witnesses.
The House of Representatives adjourned earlier today. Their next vote is scheduled for Tuesday, before Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
Trump may be acquitted by then, or his trial could be ongoing as he addresses Congress in a televised address.
In other House news, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’ dog, Deco, has made his Congressional debut.
Senator Lamar Alexander, a potential Republican swing vote on witnesses, was seen passing a note to Senate Leader Mitch McConnell, launching even more speculation on what Alexander will decide.
The Senate is back in session, and House managers and Trump lawyers are back to fielding questions.The Senate is back in session, and House managers and Trump lawyers are back to fielding questions.
GOP Senators found a new way to raise the topic of the Bidens and Burisma: “Do you agree with John Kerry’s stepson that Hunter Biden working with Burisma was unacceptable?”GOP Senators found a new way to raise the topic of the Bidens and Burisma: “Do you agree with John Kerry’s stepson that Hunter Biden working with Burisma was unacceptable?”
House manager Adam Schiff dismissed the “cooky” conspiracy theory.House manager Adam Schiff dismissed the “cooky” conspiracy theory.
If you missed where John Kerry’s stepson comes in, the Washington Post wrote a good explainer:If you missed where John Kerry’s stepson comes in, the Washington Post wrote a good explainer:
Before the break, House manager Adam Schiff even more directly reassured senators concerned about “endless delays”, once again suggesting a one-week period for deposition and “limited” time for witnesses. Chief Justice John Roberts could quickly resolve disputes, he said.Before the break, House manager Adam Schiff even more directly reassured senators concerned about “endless delays”, once again suggesting a one-week period for deposition and “limited” time for witnesses. Chief Justice John Roberts could quickly resolve disputes, he said.
Lawmakers and journalists have been speculating all day about how the upcoming votes on witnesses could fall. Republican Senators Lamar Alexander and Lisa Murkowski were spotted together during the dinner break. Both are potential swing votes, and have told reporters they remain undecided.Lawmakers and journalists have been speculating all day about how the upcoming votes on witnesses could fall. Republican Senators Lamar Alexander and Lisa Murkowski were spotted together during the dinner break. Both are potential swing votes, and have told reporters they remain undecided.
Alexander is expected to announce his position tonight.Alexander is expected to announce his position tonight.
The trial has adjourned for a 45-minute dinner break. When the senators return, they have about 2 hours and 45 minutes remaining to pose questions. So far, senators have asked nearly 150 questions.The trial has adjourned for a 45-minute dinner break. When the senators return, they have about 2 hours and 45 minutes remaining to pose questions. So far, senators have asked nearly 150 questions.
As the Senate mulls whether to call witnesses in the impeachment trial or swiftly acquit the president, crowds in Iowa are awaiting Donald Trump, who will soon speak at a campaign rally in Des Moines.As the Senate mulls whether to call witnesses in the impeachment trial or swiftly acquit the president, crowds in Iowa are awaiting Donald Trump, who will soon speak at a campaign rally in Des Moines.
Responding to a question from Republican senators on whether the Steele dossier would be considered foreign interference in US elections, House manager Hakeem Jeffries said that Trump’s defense team had raised “conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory”.Responding to a question from Republican senators on whether the Steele dossier would be considered foreign interference in US elections, House manager Hakeem Jeffries said that Trump’s defense team had raised “conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory after conspiracy theory”.
“We’ve heard about the deep state conspiracy theory. We’ve heard about the ‘Adam Schiff is the root of all evil’ conspiracy theory. We’ve heard about the Burisma conspiracy theory. We’ve head about the Crowdstike conspiracy theory. We’ve heard about the whistleblower conspiracy theory,” he said. “It’s hard to keep track.”“We’ve heard about the deep state conspiracy theory. We’ve heard about the ‘Adam Schiff is the root of all evil’ conspiracy theory. We’ve heard about the Burisma conspiracy theory. We’ve head about the Crowdstike conspiracy theory. We’ve heard about the whistleblower conspiracy theory,” he said. “It’s hard to keep track.”
Virginia’s Democrat-led House today approved several gun control measures, despite the backlash of gun-rights activists who flooded the state Capitol last week to protest the measures.Virginia’s Democrat-led House today approved several gun control measures, despite the backlash of gun-rights activists who flooded the state Capitol last week to protest the measures.
Though the state’s Senate is also controlled by Democrats and has already passed some similar measures, it is more conservative than the House and may vote down some of the gun control policy.Though the state’s Senate is also controlled by Democrats and has already passed some similar measures, it is more conservative than the House and may vote down some of the gun control policy.
The Guardian’s Lois Beckett reported on the protests in Virginia last week:The Guardian’s Lois Beckett reported on the protests in Virginia last week:
Responding to White House counsel Pat Cipollone’s assertion that ‘puritanical rage’ is driving the impeachment, House manager Adam Schiff responded that his characterization as a “Puritan who speaks in dulcet tones” is the nicest thing Trump defenders have said about him.Responding to White House counsel Pat Cipollone’s assertion that ‘puritanical rage’ is driving the impeachment, House manager Adam Schiff responded that his characterization as a “Puritan who speaks in dulcet tones” is the nicest thing Trump defenders have said about him.
“I wouldn’t describe myself as a Puritan, but I do believe in right and wrong,” Schiff said. Denying witnesses and evidence in the trial “will just further a cynicism” about government “that’s corrosive”.“I wouldn’t describe myself as a Puritan, but I do believe in right and wrong,” Schiff said. Denying witnesses and evidence in the trial “will just further a cynicism” about government “that’s corrosive”.
As the question-and-answer session continues, it seems that some senators are trying to multi-task. Senator James Risch, a Republican of Idaho, is sorting out his finances.As the question-and-answer session continues, it seems that some senators are trying to multi-task. Senator James Risch, a Republican of Idaho, is sorting out his finances.
Donald Trump’s budget proposal will advocate for maintaining the current levels of foreign assistance to Ukraine, Politico reports, breaking from previous budget blueprints, in which he proposed cutting tens of millions of dollars in assistance.
As the Senate considers whether his handling of Ukraine aid last year is an impeachable offense, it seems the president is playing things safe by maintaining stable levels of aid.
Trump and his supporters have maintained that he held back Congressionally-allocated aid to Ukraine because he wanted other allies to pay a higher share.
That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague, Maanvi Singh, will take over the blog for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff proposed limiting witness depositions in the Senate trial to one week, mirroring Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial.
Senate Republicans appear increasingly confident they will be able to block witness testimony in the trial, which will come up for a vote tomorrow.
Some Democratic senators are calling on Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts to break a tie on witness testimony if the final vote is 50-50, but it seems unlikely Roberts would take such a step.
Roberts declined to read a question from Rand Paul that named the alleged whistleblower whose complaint sparked the impeachment inquiry. But a group of Republican senators later submitted a similar question with the alleged whistleblower’s name removed, which Roberts did read.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said an acquittal would not vindicate Trump if the trial did not include witness testimony, an argument that will likely be repeated by many Democrats in the days to come.
Maanvi will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Ron Johnson submitted a question that was clearly based off Rand Paul’s earlier question, with the name of the alleged whistleblower deleted.
With the alleged whistleblower’s name removed, Supreme Court chief justice John Roberts read the question, which focused on a claim circulating in right-wing circles that the alleged whistleblower conspired with Democratic staffers of the House intelligence committee to take down Trump.
Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff, who also chairs the intelligence committee, responded by angrily denouncing attacks on the panel’s staffers.
“I will not dignify those smears on my staff by giving them any credence whatsoever,” Schiff said, calling the attacks “disgraceful.”
Schiff also emphasized the importance of protecting the whistleblower’s identity. “Whistleblowers are a unique and vital resource for the intelligence community,” Schiff said.
Republican senator Lisa Murkowski and Democratic senator Brian Schatz posed the second bipartisan question of the day, asking where to draw the line between acceptable political actions and impeachable political actions.
Lead impeachment manager Adam Schiff has proposed limiting depositions of witnesses in the Senate trial to one week, mirroring Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial.
The proposal appears meant to quell concerns about the trial stretching on for months and to win over enough Republican senators to have the Democratic proposal for witness testimony approved.
Schiff said the Senate could return to its normal business during the week, ensuring the trial did not distract from the needs of the country.
The manager concluded by arguing that such due dilligence was possible and necessary. “I think we can; I think we should; I think we must,” Schiff said.
Deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin argued that Rudy Giulaini was not carrying out US foreign policy in Ukraine but was rather considered a mere source of “information” about the president’s thinking.
However, the White House’s own memo on Trump’s July phone call with Volodymyr Zelenskiy clearly shows the US president asking his Ukrainian counterpart to confer with Giuliani about potential investigations of corruption.
A bipartisan group of senators -- Democrats Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin and Republicans Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski -- have asked a question that appears to center on Rudy Giuliani.
The four senators asked Trump’s lawyers if the president could assure the American people that he would not deploy private citizens to carry out foreign policy unless sanctioned by the State Department.
Deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin responded by pushing back against the notion that Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, was carrying out US foreign policy, insisting he was only a source of “information” about Trump’s thinking.
Philbin went on to argue the president was acting “within his authority” under Article II of the Constitution in regards to Giuliani’s efforts in Ukraine.
The Senate impeachment trial has resumed, and deputy White House counsel Patrick Philbin is currently taking a question from Republican senators about how many witnesses and documents have been presented to the Senate.
Trump’s Senate allies have taken to arguing in recent days that the impeachment trial does not need to include witness testimony because the public hearings of the House impeachment inquiry included a number of witnesses.
In some non-impeachment news as the Senate trial is in recess, former president Jimmy Carter has released a statement criticizing the Israeli-Palestinian peace plan released by the Trump administration earlier this week.
Carter, who helped to broker the Camp David Accords in 1978, said in a statement, “The new U.S. plan undercuts prospects for a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. If implemented, the plan will doom the only viable solution to this long-running conflict, the two-state solution.”
In a White House ceremony on Tuesday, Trump unveiled the administration’s proposal, which he called a “realistic two-state solution.”
But Palestinian officials quickly made clear that they had no intention of agreeing to the terms of the proposal. “We say a thousand times: No, no and no to the ‘deal of the century,’” said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell has called for a recess, and the impeachment trial will resume in about 20 minutes.