Thread by @BBuchman_CNS

Seems a good time to remind folks that POTUS referred to the entire nation of Haiti and other African nations as "shithole countries"
Which is ::checks notes:: not a pun about the name Barron being swapped with the title of baron.
#ImpeachmentInquiry

https://twitter.com/BBuchman_CNS/status/1202356676214611969

Rep Neguse: Am I correct that no POTUS in history of Republic has never issued a general order instructing executive branch officials not to testify?
Turley: Not sure I can answer affirmatively. Nixon went to court over docs and lost.

Neguse freshens Turley's memory: yes, several of Nixon's staff testified before Congress. (See John Dean, Halderman)

Onto witness intimidation and Trump's attacking of a career public servant merely for testifying before Congress:

Gerhardt weighs in, says that attack on Yovanovitch (which happened in real time while she was testifying last month) not only defames Yovanovitch, but it chills the potential testimony of others who could be called or would want to come forward.

Karlan apologizes for what she said about the president's son, says it was wrong of her to do that and then says, "I wish the president would apologize for the wrong things he's done, but I will apologize for what I said, it was wrong of me to say that."

I have a question: Should Karlan receive death threats or hate mail or disgusting vitriolic emails suggesting she be raped or worse following today's hearing, will @FLOTUS issue a tweet shaming those people? Or?

@FLOTUS I'm not being sarcastic. I'm asking a question.
Considering the sheer volume of women in the public eye (and not) who receive death or threats of rape on the regular for merely using their 1A rights - would @FLOTUS like to weigh in? I'll also email her office.

@FLOTUS Lawmakers watching a clip of the Oct 17 press conference where Mick Mulvaney told reporters and America to "get over it" re: Trump's quid pro quo -
Prof. Karlan responds:
"If we get over it, we will cease to be the democracy we are right now."

@FLOTUS Why must we act now - Rep Escobar asks:
The reason it is necessary to take action now, is because we have a POTUS who has sought to corrupt the electoral process for his own political benefit, Feldman says.

@FLOTUS Rep Escobar is the last lawmaker to conduct questions. We will have closing remarks afterward from Nadler and Collins and that should close the book on today.

@FLOTUS Ranking member Collins is now delivering his closing remarks.
"Today has been interesting, I guess, to say the least," he says.

@FLOTUS Collins insinuates that panelists "made up crimes" to pin to Trump.

(They did not.)

@FLOTUS "The Democratic majority may not care, but as I have said before, this is about a clock and a calendar. They're so upset about the election next year, they just gloss over things," Collins says.

This is Rep Deutch's face as Collins offers closing remarks.

Rep Collins waxing poetic between raging about impeachment, Dem report, today's hearing, lack of schedule for Judic Cmte hearings of the future. The memory will be "faded just like leaves in fall," Collins says.

Nadler delivering closing remarks.

Nadler: Trump put his personal interests above the security of the country and above a most precious right - the ability for Americans to participate in free and fair elections.

Nadler on Trump: He asked a foreign gov't to intervene in our elections, then got caught, then obstructed investigators. Twice.

GOP said they couldn't call witnesses - they did. They called three of the officials who appeared during public hearings last month.
Nadler says all protections in proceedings now were afforded to prior presidents.

Nadler: "I am left to conclude the only reason my colleagues rush from one process complaint to the next is because there is no factual defense for President Trump."

Nadler: "Trump is openly rejecting Congress' right as a coequal branch of gov't. He's defied our subpoenas, refused to produce documents and directed aides not to testify."

"He's asked a foreign gov't to intervene in our elections and he's made clear, if left unchecked, he'll do it again. Why? Because in his own words, "I can do whatever I want," Nadler says of Trump.

The POTUS cannot do whatever he wants. In this country, not even POTUS is above the law, Nadler adds.

POTUS has abused power, undermined Congress, corrupted our elections, Nadler says then addresses cmte: "I urge my colleagues, stand behind the oath you have taken, our democracy depends on it."

Hearing adjourned.

Thank you for following along with today's live-tweets!
Didn't have a chance? Catch up here:
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@CourthouseNews Also, check out this primer by @ByTimRyan:
courthousenews.com/impeachment-10…

@CourthouseNews @ByTimRyan Fast or slow?! Fast?! Or Slow?!
Another great reporter, @JackRodgersCNS dives in:
courthousenews.com/slow-down-or-g…