Nadler makes clear his House panel is moving quickly. “And when we apply the Constitution to those facts, if it is true that President Trump has committed an impeachable offense—or impeachable offenses—then we must move swiftly to do our duty and charge him accordingly.”
Hearing starting off very contentious. In fiery opening statement, Collins slams the proceedings, defends WH decision not to participate and tells the academic witnesses: “The president has nothing to ask you.” Then Dems shoot down GOP effort to get Schiff to testify
Harvard law professor Noah Feldman says Trump’s actions “clearly” constitute high crimes and misdemeanors by “corruptly” abusing his office” by “corruptly soliciting” Ukraine government to investigate his political rivals for personal reasons: cnn.com/2019/12/04/pol…
“I’m insulted by the suggestion that as a law professor I don’t care about those facts,” Pamela Karlan of Stanford Law School says, a shot at Doug Collins, who glared back. She adds that inviting a foreign power to interfere in elections “undermines democracy itself”
Karlan looks at GOP members and poses this hypothetical. “Imagine living in a part of Louisiana or Texas that’s prone to devastating hurricanes and flooding..
”What would you think if, when your governor asked the federal government for the disaster assistance that Congress has provided, the President responded, “‘I would like you to do us a favor.’ I’ll meet with you and send the disaster relief once you brand my opponent a criminal”
”Wouldn’t you know in your gut that such a president had abused his office, betrayed the national interest, and tried to corrupt the electoral process?” she said. Some of the GOP members didn’t seem too pleased with her testimony; Gohmert was shaking his head
Michael Gerhardt of UNC: “If Congress fails to impeach here, then the impeachment process has lost all meaning, and, along with that, our Constitution’s carefully crafted safeguards against the establishment of a king on American soil.”
“It’s wrong because this is not how how you impeach an American president,” said Jonathan Turley of GW, the one GOP-invited witness (the other three were invited by Dems). He warned of the ramifications of moving forward
Turley: “This impeachment would stand out among modern impeachments as the shortest proceeding, with the thinnest evidentiary record, and the narrowest grounds ever used to impeach a president.”
Dems now kill GOP effort to subpoena whistleblower. This is the third procedural vote Republicans have forced today
Democratic counsel Norm Eisen now asking the witnesses about three articles of impeachment : “Abuse of power and bribery, obstruction of justice and obstruction of Congress.” Another sign that this is what Democrats are looking at in terms of their drafting of the articles
The first three legal experts all agree that Trump committed impeachable acts - and that what Trump did is precisely what founders would expect House to impeach over. The one GOP witness, Jonathan Turley, disagrees but he hasn’t been engaged so far in Dem round of questioning
“Soliciting itself is the impeachable offense,” Karlan says, disputing the notion that the fact Zelensky didn’t announce Biden probe means there’s nothing there
Norm Eisen asking questions to witnesses about Mueller report as it pertains to obstruction of justice - a clear sign that Mueller evidence is still in play in discussion of articles of impeachment
“Professor Turley, you’re well rested,” Doug Collins says after he got just one question in the Dem round of questioning. Collins adds that the hearing room is freezing (which it is). And he says: “This chair is terrible.”
“If you’re going to accuse a president of bribery, you need to make it stick because you’re trying to remove a duly elected president of the United States,” Turley says
GOP members, including Gohmert and others, nodding approvingly as Turley delivers a long rebuttal to the notion Trump should be impeached
GOP questions so far been directed all at their one witness. (Dems did the same asking all but one question to their three witnesses.)
The last two GOP members (Gohmert and Chabot) haven’t asked questions to the witnesses, using their time to make speeches railing on the process and proceedings
Three straight Republicans don’t ask questions, Jordan being the third
Gaetz going after the Democratic-invited witness; points out Democratic donations, past writings. Pushed why she gave more money to HRC versus Warren and Obama. Karlan says she had been giving more money to poor people
Karlan said earlier: “The constitution says there can be no titles of nobility. So while the President can name his son Barron, he can’t make him a baron.” Gaetz, lashing out at her, says that comment “makes you look mean.” He didn’t let her respond
Swalwell says Turley is acting as the GOP defense attorney. Turley responds: “That’s not my intention sir.”
