Day 3 of the Trump Impeachment hearings get underway at 9 am - President Trump will have a Cabinet meeting later this morning ajc.com/blog/jamie-dup…
One of my favorite things is watching how my colleagues do their jobs. One still photographer has used Velcro to attach a series of needed gadgets to her laptop 
One of the witnesses today is National Security Council staffer, Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman. The Wall Street Journal reports there are concerns about his security.
Just a gut feeling about today's impeachment hearing - I get the sense the early public arrivals are very interested in the proceedings. They aren't tourists who just happen to be in town.
Very quiet in the hearing room as Vindman and Williams sit down at the witness table. No one talking. All you here is the clicking of shutters from the still photographers.
The hearing is underway. Schiff starts by warning the crowd against any audible reactions. Probably a reaction to the cheers for Yovanovitch at the end of Friday's hearing.
Nunes begins his statement by criticizing the press for impeachment coverage. "This is the same preposterous reporting the media offered for three years on the Russia hoax."
Nunes isn't far away from dozens of reporters in the room as he calls the news media "puppets of the Democratic Party." Nunes does have kind words for John Solomon.
Nunes wraps up his opening statement with one last 'puppet' blast at the press. He did not mention either of the two witnesses sitting before the panel for today's hearing.
Both witnesses have been sworn in. Williams starts first. Schiff pointedly noted she worked for the 2004 Bush campaign.
Williams repeats her deposition testimony that she found the May 25 Trump-Zelensky call unusual, "because in contrast to other Presidential calls I had observed, it involved discussion of what appeared to be a domestic political matter."
Vindman notes his brother is seated behind him, and talks about how their family emigrated to the United States. Film maker Ken Burns actually interviewed them as young boys.
Vindman on the May 25 Trump-Zelensky call:
"It is improper for the President of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and a political opponent."
"It is improper for the President of the United States to demand a foreign government investigate a U.S. citizen, and a political opponent."
Schiff asks Williams about a call between VP Pence and the leader of Ukraine. The lawyer for Williams objects
Back to the July 25 phone call.
Vindman: "Without hesitation, I knew I had to report this to the White House Counsel."
Vindman: "Without hesitation, I knew I had to report this to the White House Counsel."
Williams said the President's call was noteworthy for a reason.
"It was the first time I had heard - internally - the President reference particular investigations that previously I had only heard about through Mr. Giuliani's press interviews."
"It was the first time I had heard - internally - the President reference particular investigations that previously I had only heard about through Mr. Giuliani's press interviews."
From outside the hearing room, GOP lawmakers are brushing off today's testimony from Williams and Vindman.
Republicans are now starting their 45 minutes of questioning. Rep Nunes goes into Burisma and Hunter Biden.
Nunes acknowledges that Williams and Vindman are the first 'firsthand' witnesses to testify about the Trump-Zelensky phone call.
Nunes asking both witnesses if they spoke with any reporters or knew of leaks. Both answer in the negative.
Nunes asking both witnesses if they spoke with any reporters or knew of leaks. Both answer in the negative.
We have just had our first real witness skirmish over the identify of the Ukraine whistleblower. Nunes asked Vindman who he told of the July 25 call. Vindman said there were two people outside the White House; he refused to ID the person in the intelligence community
Vindman says again that he does not know the identify of the whistleblower. Vindman said the person he briefed on the July 25 call was in a 'need to know' position.
Nunes: "Mr. Vindman, you testified at your deposition that you did not know the whistleblower."
Vindman: "Ranking member, it's Lt. Col. Vindman, please."
Vindman: "Ranking member, it's Lt. Col. Vindman, please."
Here's the video so you can see/hear this exchange.
Asked by the GOP counsel, Vindman says Ukraine officials offered him the job of Defense minister of Ukraine at one point. Vindman says he immediately reported it to his superiors and intelligence officials.
"The whole notion is rather comical."
"The whole notion is rather comical."
Last questions for Vindman just before the break. Did you ever talk to Giuliani? No. Did you ever discuss Ukraine with President Trump?
Vindman: "I have never had any contact with the President of the United States."
Vindman: "I have never had any contact with the President of the United States."
We are now in the questions from lawmakers. Rep Jim Jordan R-OH asking if Vindman was a leaker, and saying that superiors questioned his judgment.
Jordan: "Colonel, you never leaked information?"
Vindman: "I never did. I never would. That is preposterous that I would do that."
Vindman: "I never did. I never would. That is preposterous that I would do that."
The official White House Twitter account puts out this quote from Vindman
Jennifer Williams was asked about this tweet from the President on Sunday.
"It certainly surprised me. I was not expecting to be called out by name."
"It certainly surprised me. I was not expecting to be called out by name."
Williams was asked, and said he was not a "Never Trumper." Vindman echoed that.
Rep Mike Turner R-OH aimed questions at Vindman in a bid seemingly to argue that Vindman is not a very important person when it comes to US-Ukraine policy.
Looks like President Trump is making news in the White House Cabinet meeting
Rep Brad Wenstrup R-OH continuing the Rep Turner line, questioning how important Vindman was in Ukraine policy.
"You're not a JAG officer, you're not a lawyer," said Wenstrup, who is a U.S. Army Reserve officer.
"You're not a JAG officer, you're not a lawyer," said Wenstrup, who is a U.S. Army Reserve officer.
Rep Elise Stefanik follows Wenstrup and Turner in basically saying that Vindman isn't a very important person when it comes to setting Ukraine policy at the White House
From earlier - Rep Jim Jordan R-OH asking Vindman if he was leaking information about Ukraine.
Meanwhile, at the White House, President Trump told reporters he didn't know Vindman, and jabbed at Speaker Pelosi and Democrats over the impeachment investigation.
A needed light moment as Rep Joaquin Castro D-TX talks about being a fellow identical twin, like Vindman and his brother. Castro jokes about being asked to grow a beard - which he did so people wouldn't think he was his brother, the Presidential candidate, Julian Castro.
Rep Jordan using his five minutes to make the GOP case against impeachment. No questions for either witness on this round for him.
Asked again about the July 25 Trump-Ukraine call, Vindman said, "Frankly, I couldn't believe what I was hearing." He said he immediately reported it to the NSC lawyer because it "was my duty."
There was some applause from the public seats after that line of questioning. Police officers now admonishing some of those and making it clear it should not be repeated.
Another tweet on the official White House account today about Vindman.
