This is what Dems are taking from Castor's opening: It's a lengthy indictment of Democrats' purported motives but makes no effort to defend Trump on the substance of the Ukraine allegations >>>
Castor also refers to Trump raising "CrowdStrike" -- a theory that not even GOP lawmakers countenance -- as an example of Trump raising "Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election" on the July 25 call.
Castor is spending the second half of his testimony rebutting the factual allegations, arguing that Ukraine didn't feel pressure from Trump and that they didn't know about freeze on military aid when Trump spoke to Zelensky.
SIDE NOTE: Republicans acknowledged back in June that speaking critically of the president is permissible during impeachment hearings, even thought it isn't allowed during typical House proceedings. gallery.mailchimp.com/0275399506e2bd… 
JUST IN: Here's the letter Nadler sent Collins denying GOP witness requests -- including their call for Schiff to testify.
