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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
The Senate has taken a super-quick break.
Impeachment was one of the things on the president’s mind as he addressed the crowd at his campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
Democrats are “obsessed with a deranged witch hunt hoax” he said. “We’re having probably the best years we’ve ever had in the history of our country. And I just got impeached!” Trump derided “Crazy Schiff” and “Shifty Schiff” before reassuring the crowd that his poll numbers were up and Republicans would retake the House in November.
He shared a number of his other grievances against the Democrats, including their environmental policies which he said would “kill our cows”. He also said that “through a remittance, illegal aliens from Mexico are going to pay for the wall,” without offering any other information about what that means or how it would work.
“You’d better let me win!” he yelled out to the crowd.
If you had ‘Benghazi’ on your impeachment bingo card, rejoice.If you had ‘Benghazi’ on your impeachment bingo card, rejoice.
GOP senators Hawley, Sasse and Barrasso raised the Benghazi final report and asked Trump’s defense: “Does President Trump owe more compliance than other Presidents did?”GOP senators Hawley, Sasse and Barrasso raised the Benghazi final report and asked Trump’s defense: “Does President Trump owe more compliance than other Presidents did?”
White House counsel Jay Sekulow upheld Trump’s claim to “executive privilege”.White House counsel Jay Sekulow upheld Trump’s claim to “executive privilege”.
The idea that “absolute immunity can’t possibly exist” is ridiculous, Sekulow said, making the puzzling argument that scores of past presidents have had immunity. Cutting a deal on witnesses may make “everyone happy,” he continued, but “it doesn’t make the constitution happy”.The idea that “absolute immunity can’t possibly exist” is ridiculous, Sekulow said, making the puzzling argument that scores of past presidents have had immunity. Cutting a deal on witnesses may make “everyone happy,” he continued, but “it doesn’t make the constitution happy”.
It’s worth noting that the past dozen Senate impeachment trials have called witnesses.It’s worth noting that the past dozen Senate impeachment trials have called witnesses.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, a potential Republican swing vote on the question of witnesses, just posed an pointed question. Noting the reporting on former national security advisor John Bolton’s unpublished book, she asked: “Why should this body not call Ambassador Bolton?”Senator Lisa Murkowski, a potential Republican swing vote on the question of witnesses, just posed an pointed question. Noting the reporting on former national security advisor John Bolton’s unpublished book, she asked: “Why should this body not call Ambassador Bolton?”
“The reporting on Ambassador Bolton’s book suggests the President told Bolton directly that the aid would not be released until Ukraine announced the investigations the President desired,” she wrote. “This dispute about material facts weighs in favor of calling additional witnesses with direct knowledge.”“The reporting on Ambassador Bolton’s book suggests the President told Bolton directly that the aid would not be released until Ukraine announced the investigations the President desired,” she wrote. “This dispute about material facts weighs in favor of calling additional witnesses with direct knowledge.”
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.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.
Philbin reiterated an assertion that if the House wanted to hear from Bolton, they should have worked harder to get his testimony. “It will do grave damage to this body as an institution to say that the proceedings in the House don’t have to really be complete,” he said.Philbin reiterated an assertion that if the House wanted to hear from Bolton, they should have worked harder to get his testimony. “It will do grave damage to this body as an institution to say that the proceedings in the House don’t have to really be complete,” he said.
Murkowski, a senator of Arkansas, 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.Murkowski, a senator of Arkansas, 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.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.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.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.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.