Now back to impeachment coverage with @BBuchman_CNS for @CourthouseNews.
Good morning from Washington.
Live thread to follow.
Good morning from Washington.
Live thread to follow.
@BBuchman_CNS @CourthouseNews Rep. Schiff explains how the committee will proceed. He'll make a statement, then Nunes.
@BBuchman_CNS @CourthouseNews Schiff: "In 2014, Russia invaded a United States ally: Ukraine."
He gives an overview of regional history up to the election of Ukrainian President Zelensky, a political neophyte. Schiff says the inquiry asks whether: "Trump sought to exploit that ally's vulnerability"
He gives an overview of regional history up to the election of Ukrainian President Zelensky, a political neophyte. Schiff says the inquiry asks whether: "Trump sought to exploit that ally's vulnerability"
"If President Trump did either," Schiff adds the inquiry will ask "whether this abuse as compatible with the office of the presidency."
"It will affect the future of the presidency itself," he says.
"It will affect the future of the presidency itself," he says.
Schiff slams Mulvaney for his statement: “We do that all the time with foreign policy," answering a question about a quid pro quo.
"The video of that confession is plain for all to see," Schiff said.
"The video of that confession is plain for all to see," Schiff said.
Toward the close of his statement, Schiff asks a number of questions: "Must we simply get over it? Is this what Americans should now expect from heir president?"
"If his is no impeachable conduct, what is?"
"If his is no impeachable conduct, what is?"
Nunes' statement goes full anti-media and echoes coup rhetoric now common in GOP.
Nunes calls the impeachment probe a "carefully orchestrated smear campaign."
He says that the Democrats rejected GOP witnesses.
"Notably, they are trying to impeach the president for inquiring about Hunter Biden's activities," without allowing him to be called, he says.
He says that the Democrats rejected GOP witnesses.
"Notably, they are trying to impeach the president for inquiring about Hunter Biden's activities," without allowing him to be called, he says.
Nunes: "The Democrats cooperated in Ukrainian election meddling."
There is no evidence that the Ukrainian government interfered in U.S. elections, as every witness testifying confirmed. The claim would exonerate the Kremlin of the attacks found by U.S. and int'l authorities.
There is no evidence that the Ukrainian government interfered in U.S. elections, as every witness testifying confirmed. The claim would exonerate the Kremlin of the attacks found by U.S. and int'l authorities.
Nunes tells today's witnesses, Ambassador Bill Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent, that they passed "Star Chamber auditions" and calls the inquiry a "televised theatrical performance staged by the Democrats."
A full bore attack on U.S. diplomats.
A full bore attack on U.S. diplomats.
Schiff responds to point of order accusing him of preventing lines of inquiry.
The congressman replies that he only prevented exposing the identity of the whistleblower.
The congressman replies that he only prevented exposing the identity of the whistleblower.
George Kent, who privately testified about a "campaign of slander" by Rudy Giuliani against a U.S. ambassador for Trump, hits a similar note his opening statement.
He knew that smears against U.S. diplomats "came from the Russians, their proxies and corrupt Ukrainians."
He knew that smears against U.S. diplomats "came from the Russians, their proxies and corrupt Ukrainians."
"It was most unfortunate to watch some Americans," he adds, participate in those attacks.
Bill Taylor now up: "My sole purpose is to provide facts as I know them."
He calls it a privilege to serve is country for more than 50 years.
"Ukraine is a strategic partner of the United States, important for the stability of our country as well as Europe."
He calls it a privilege to serve is country for more than 50 years.
"Ukraine is a strategic partner of the United States, important for the stability of our country as well as Europe."
"Even as we sit here today, Russia is attacking Ukrainian soldiers," he says.
"The security assistance that we provide is crucial to Ukraine's defense," he continues, adding that he observed that on a visit last week.
"The security assistance that we provide is crucial to Ukraine's defense," he continues, adding that he observed that on a visit last week.
Referring to his text message "I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign," Taylor says: "I believed it then, and I believe it now."
"It is this security assistance that is at the heart of the controversy" discussed today, he says.
"It is this security assistance that is at the heart of the controversy" discussed today, he says.
Taylor: "I worried about the role of Rudy Giuliani."
Taylor: "I worried about the role of Rudy Giuliani."
He distinguishes between the two channels of U.S. diplomacy: the "regular" and the "highly irregular" ones.
He distinguishes between the two channels of U.S. diplomacy: the "regular" and the "highly irregular" ones.
Taylor is going through the chronology quite quickly.
Here's a refresher of a (partial) timeline of the impeachment inquiry and the events that preceded it. @BBuchman_CNS and I both put it togeter. cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3…
Here's a refresher of a (partial) timeline of the impeachment inquiry and the events that preceded it. @BBuchman_CNS and I both put it togeter. cdn.knightlab.com/libs/timeline3…
@BBuchman_CNS Taylor just corroborated testimony Bolton described Sondland and Mulvaney's machinations as a "drug deal."
Fiona Hill revealed that remark first during the closed-door testimony.
Fiona Hill revealed that remark first during the closed-door testimony.
@BBuchman_CNS Taylor: "The official foreign policy of the United States was undercut by the irregular efforts led by Mr. Giuliani."
Trump "did insist" that Zelensky go to a microphone and announce investigations into Biden and his son, Taylor said.
Trump "did insist" that Zelensky go to a microphone and announce investigations into Biden and his son, Taylor said.
@BBuchman_CNS Sharp questioning by the Dems' counsel Daniel Goldman of Ambassador Taylor, honing into the details.
Q: What did it mean to put President Zelensky in a public box?
Taylor says that Zelensky had to "publicly commit" to the investigation; privately probing the matter not enough.
Q: What did it mean to put President Zelensky in a public box?
Taylor says that Zelensky had to "publicly commit" to the investigation; privately probing the matter not enough.
@BBuchman_CNS Goldman: "Even though he said the words 'there was no quid pro quo,'" the security assistance was conditioned on that public commitment.
Taylor replies in the affirmative.
Taylor replies in the affirmative.
@BBuchman_CNS Goldman asks Taylor about Bolton’s “drug deal” comment about Sondland and Mulvaney.
Taylor: "Mr. Goldman, I don’t know. I don’t know what Ambassador Bolton had in mind."
Taylor: "Mr. Goldman, I don’t know. I don’t know what Ambassador Bolton had in mind."
@BBuchman_CNS Goldman questions George Kent about the Crowdstrike conspiracy theory that Trump wanted Zelensky to investigate in the rough transcript of the call.
Kent says there's no connection between the company and Ukraine, noting a founder of the company was Russian-born.
Kent says there's no connection between the company and Ukraine, noting a founder of the company was Russian-born.
Asked to reply to the notion of Ukrainian meddling, Kent says he's not aware of any evidence and adds: "I think it is amply clear that Russian interference was at the heart of the interference in the 2016 election cycle."
Brief recess.
Brief recess.
Now that we are on a recess, check out @BBuchman_CNS and my developing story on what we have been watching unfold, via @CourthouseNews. courthousenews.com/democracy-on-t…
