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Trump impeachment: Democrats to continue push for Bolton to appear as witness – live Trump impeachment: Democrats to continue push for Bolton to appear as witness – live
(32 minutes later)
Day 2 of Q&A phase of Trump impeachment as fight over whether to call former national security adviser gathers steam Impeachment trial continues with day two of Q&A phase as fight over whether to call former national security adviser gathers steam
While the focus at the impeachment at the moment is on whether the Democrats can persuade four Republicans to join them in calling for more witnesses, the GOP is also hoping it can peel off a few Democrats to vote to acquit Donald Trump at the conclusion of the proceedings. As the Washington Post reports:While the focus at the impeachment at the moment is on whether the Democrats can persuade four Republicans to join them in calling for more witnesses, the GOP is also hoping it can peel off a few Democrats to vote to acquit Donald Trump at the conclusion of the proceedings. As the Washington Post reports:
Republican senator Tim Scott notes that any defections “would be a huge win because any bipartisan acquittal is big deal”.Republican senator Tim Scott notes that any defections “would be a huge win because any bipartisan acquittal is big deal”.
The Republican leadership in the Senate is increasingly confident that they have enough votes to block witnesses being called in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, according to Axios. The news site notes the wily tactics of Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell:The Republican leadership in the Senate is increasingly confident that they have enough votes to block witnesses being called in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, according to Axios. The news site notes the wily tactics of Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell:
No 1 on the witness list for Democrats would be former national security adviser John Bolton, who has been issued with a “formal threat” by the White House to stop him publishing his forthcoming book, in which he claims Trump directly linked a delay in military aid to Ukraine to a condition that the Ukrainian government investigate one of his Democratic rivals, Joe Biden. The White House is claiming the book “appears to contain significant amounts of classified information”, CNN reports.No 1 on the witness list for Democrats would be former national security adviser John Bolton, who has been issued with a “formal threat” by the White House to stop him publishing his forthcoming book, in which he claims Trump directly linked a delay in military aid to Ukraine to a condition that the Ukrainian government investigate one of his Democratic rivals, Joe Biden. The White House is claiming the book “appears to contain significant amounts of classified information”, CNN reports.
“We do not believe that any of that information could reasonably be considered classified,” Bolton’s attorney responded. The exchange apparently took place last week, before the New York Times revealed what Bolton’s book said and plunged his account into the centre of the impeachment debate.“We do not believe that any of that information could reasonably be considered classified,” Bolton’s attorney responded. The exchange apparently took place last week, before the New York Times revealed what Bolton’s book said and plunged his account into the centre of the impeachment debate.
Here’s a poster for an upcoming New Hampshire gig by a live act who exhumed styles and ideas thought to be long-dead and suddenly made them seem fresh and exciting again… and Bernie Sanders.Here’s a poster for an upcoming New Hampshire gig by a live act who exhumed styles and ideas thought to be long-dead and suddenly made them seem fresh and exciting again… and Bernie Sanders.
My colleague David Smith has interviewed Brad Parscale, Trump’s formidable and controversial election campaign manager. He says the Republicans have “an advantage in time” over their Democratic opponents going into November’s election.My colleague David Smith has interviewed Brad Parscale, Trump’s formidable and controversial election campaign manager. He says the Republicans have “an advantage in time” over their Democratic opponents going into November’s election.
David has also profiled Parscale here. Kurt Bardella, a former spokesman and senior adviser on the House of Representatives’ oversight committee, tells him:David has also profiled Parscale here. Kurt Bardella, a former spokesman and senior adviser on the House of Representatives’ oversight committee, tells him:
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, and all today’s other developments in US politics.Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, and all today’s other developments in US politics.
On Wednesday, House prosecutors and the president’s defence team both faced questions from senators for the first time, bringing some drama and edge to the trial as the allegations against Trump were debated directly – albeit through the mouthpiece of chief justice John Roberts, who read each one aloud in accordance with the trial’s arcane rules.On Wednesday, House prosecutors and the president’s defence team both faced questions from senators for the first time, bringing some drama and edge to the trial as the allegations against Trump were debated directly – albeit through the mouthpiece of chief justice John Roberts, who read each one aloud in accordance with the trial’s arcane rules.
The biggest issue Democrats and Republicans were fighting over was whether to call witnesses – a proposal that has gathered steam since the revelation earlier this week that former national security adviser John Bolton’s forthcoming book claims Trump directly linked a delay in military aid to Ukraine to a condition that the Ukrainian government investigate one of his Democratic rivals, Joe Biden.The biggest issue Democrats and Republicans were fighting over was whether to call witnesses – a proposal that has gathered steam since the revelation earlier this week that former national security adviser John Bolton’s forthcoming book claims Trump directly linked a delay in military aid to Ukraine to a condition that the Ukrainian government investigate one of his Democratic rivals, Joe Biden.
This is the claim at the heart of the impeachment trial – and something Trump’s defence team has denied.This is the claim at the heart of the impeachment trial – and something Trump’s defence team has denied.
“Don’t wait for the book,” leading Democrat Adam Schiff told the Senate, arguing that Bolton should be called. “When you have a witness who is as plainly relevant as John Bolton — who goes to the heart of the most serious and egregious of the president’s misconduct, who has volunteered to come and testify — to turn him away, to look the other way, I think is deeply at odds with being an impartial juror.”“Don’t wait for the book,” leading Democrat Adam Schiff told the Senate, arguing that Bolton should be called. “When you have a witness who is as plainly relevant as John Bolton — who goes to the heart of the most serious and egregious of the president’s misconduct, who has volunteered to come and testify — to turn him away, to look the other way, I think is deeply at odds with being an impartial juror.”
For their part, Trump’s team argued that calling witnesses would change “the nature and scope of the proceedings” and could lead to court challenges that would draw the trial out.For their part, Trump’s team argued that calling witnesses would change “the nature and scope of the proceedings” and could lead to court challenges that would draw the trial out.
And attorney Alan Dershowitz – whose arguments have frequently strayed away from legal consensus – surprised many when he claimed that a president could not be impeached for asking a foreign leader for a quid pro quo that would help him get re-elected, if he believed his re-election was in the public interest. Schiff called this theory “very odd”.And attorney Alan Dershowitz – whose arguments have frequently strayed away from legal consensus – surprised many when he claimed that a president could not be impeached for asking a foreign leader for a quid pro quo that would help him get re-elected, if he believed his re-election was in the public interest. Schiff called this theory “very odd”.
Trump himself yesterday attacked Bolton’s credibility and warned his party: “Witnesses are up to the House, not up to the Senate. Don’t let the Dems play you!”Trump himself yesterday attacked Bolton’s credibility and warned his party: “Witnesses are up to the House, not up to the Senate. Don’t let the Dems play you!”
The Q&A phase is due to continue today, with the vote on witnesses expected on Friday. Three Republican senators – Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney – have shown interest in calling Bolton or other witnesses. One more would have to switch sides for Democrats to win that vote.The Q&A phase is due to continue today, with the vote on witnesses expected on Friday. Three Republican senators – Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Mitt Romney – have shown interest in calling Bolton or other witnesses. One more would have to switch sides for Democrats to win that vote.
Trump is still extremely unlikely to be removed from office, and hopes to have the trial wrapped up before he delivers the State of the Union address on Tuesday. It’s possible he’ll get his wish tomorrow.Trump is still extremely unlikely to be removed from office, and hopes to have the trial wrapped up before he delivers the State of the Union address on Tuesday. It’s possible he’ll get his wish tomorrow.
Also today:Also today:
Trump is heading to Warren, Michigan, to celebrate his rewritten trade deal with Mexico and Canada, and he is holding a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, at 7pm local time.Trump is heading to Warren, Michigan, to celebrate his rewritten trade deal with Mexico and Canada, and he is holding a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa, at 7pm local time.
Most of the Democratic presidential candidates are fanning out across Iowa and New Hampshire ahead of the primaries in those states. Iowa is on Monday, kicking off the race. The four senators running, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet, will be in the Senate for the impeachment.Most of the Democratic presidential candidates are fanning out across Iowa and New Hampshire ahead of the primaries in those states. Iowa is on Monday, kicking off the race. The four senators running, Bernie Sanders, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren and Michael Bennet, will be in the Senate for the impeachment.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo is in London, where he is expected to discuss the disputes over the British decision to use Chinese company Huawei in its telecoms network against the wishes of the US, and the attempted extradition of an American diplomat’s wife charged with causing the death of a 19-year-old British man.Secretary of state Mike Pompeo is in London, where he is expected to discuss the disputes over the British decision to use Chinese company Huawei in its telecoms network against the wishes of the US, and the attempted extradition of an American diplomat’s wife charged with causing the death of a 19-year-old British man.
You can read more of our coverage of yesterday’s impeachment proceedings here:You can read more of our coverage of yesterday’s impeachment proceedings here: