Thread by @benrileysmith

Hello from a subzero Washington! Clear, crisp morning here on Capitol Hill and a momentous day to come. The first public hearings in the impeachment inquiry into Donald J Trump. Starts in 90 minutes. Here’s roughly what to expect...

Each witness will be grilled for 45 minutes by the top Dep and top Republican on the House Intel Committee (which is running hearing). Lawyer on behalf of each will likely lead questioning. Then each congressmen gets a 5-minute go at asking questions.

The two witnesses up are Bill Taylor (who was drafted in as America’s top Ukraine official when the old ambassador was forced out earlier this year) and George Kent (a senior State Department official who oversaw Ukraine).

We already know what they’ll say, as they were interviewed in private.

Taylor will describe how he believed Trump was holding back military aid to Ukraine to get a Joe Biden investigation.

Kent will say Trump wanted Ukraine pres to publicly + explicitly announce a Biden probe.

The real significance of today is that the facts will be laid out in public, unfiltered, with an audience of millions of Americans watching on. Major networks carrying the hearing live. Republicans must now deal with the substance of the claims, not just attack the process.

Democrats hope the witnesses’ backgrounds underscore their credibility. Both are career diplomats who’ve served under presidents of both stripes. Taylor’s a Vietnam vet. In other words, Dems hope, they will appear not political hacks or deep state operatives but lifelong patriots

Republicans have laid out their defence on the facts. They’ll argue there was no quid pro quo b/w aid and investigations because

A) Aid eventually flowed w/out investigation announced

B) Ukraine didn’t know aid was held up for much of the time

C) Ukraine pres said no pressure

Queue already building outside room 1100 in the Longworth Building - the biggest House room they could find to hold the hearing. Doors open in 15 mins.

A reminder of expected timings...

This week + next it’s public hearings

Thanksgiving week is recess + the report written

First 2 weeks of Dec likely drafting + voting on impeachment articles in House Judiciary Committee.

Then a full House vote on impeachment before Christmas.

Here it is - Room 1100 in the Longworth Building.

The first public impeachment hearing into Trump begins here in 50 mins and counting.

These are the props the Republicans have brought along. Something that doesn’t happen in UK committee hearings but is a regular feature in US. That Al Green quote is one the GOP endlessly deploys to back up their argument that the Dems just want to get rid of Trump.

And here’s where the witnesses will appear. Scene set. (The five minute clock is for congressmen who get to grill them.)