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Trump claims Schiff 'helped write' whistleblower complaint – live Trump claims Schiff 'helped write' whistleblower complaint – live
(about 1 hour later)
Reports indicate that the State Department Inspector General Steve Linick has briefed a number of House and Senate Committees about recent instances of “political retaliation” by department leaders against career staff over Ukraine. The administration is moving forward with plans to collect DNA from hundreds of thousands of immigrants in federal custody and enter into a national criminal database, according to multiple reports.
The Justice Department is developing regulations that would allow immigration officers to collect genetic information from most migrants detained at the border and at federal facilities. This would expand a pilot program that uses rapid DNA technology to collect data from families suspected of child trafficking.
Once DNA is collected, it would be transferred to an FBI’s database currently used to store information about people accused or convicted of serious crimes.
Elizabeth Warren sent her 2020 opponent Bernie Sanders’ campaign team dinner, in a gesture of goodwill as Sanders recovers from heart surgery.
big thank you to @TeamWarren for sending dinner to our dc headquarters. the team is very grateful (and started with the cookies first).
Apprently, there were cookies.
US imposes tariffs on European wine and whiskey
Breaking: US imposing 25% on French wine, single-malt Scotch whisky as part of response to EU aircraft subsides pic.twitter.com/Z5fMNwPCoq
The administration announced it ill be imposing tariffs on $7.5bn in European imports, beginning Oct. 18, over European Union subsidies to the airplane maker Airbus.
From the AP:
The administration received a green light earlier Wednesday from the World Trade Organization, which ruled that the United States could impose the tariffs as retaliation for illegal aid that the 28-country EU gave to Airbus in its competition with its American rival Boeing.
Culminating a 15-year fight over the EU’s subsidizing of Airbus, the administration’s Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said it plans to publish a list of targeted products later Wednesday or on Thursday.
Reports indicate that the state department inspector general, Steve Linick, has briefed a number of House and Senate committees about recent instances of “political retaliation” by department leaders against career staff over Ukraine.
Linick left Congress moments ago and we’re expecting further details on the briefing shortly.Linick left Congress moments ago and we’re expecting further details on the briefing shortly.
Trump led a rambling joint press conference with Finnish president Sauli Niinistö in which he accused democrat Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence committee, of co-authoring a whistleblower complaint detailing Trump’s attempts to dig up dirt on Joe Biden’s family by pushing Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky to commission an investigation into the former vice president’s son. Trump cited no evidence for this allegation. Trump led a rambling joint press conference with the Finnish president, Sauli Niinistö, in which he accused the Democrat Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, of co-authoring a whistleblower complaint detailing Trump’s attempts to dig up dirt on Joe Biden’s family by pushing the Ukraine president, Volodymyr Zelensky, to commission an investigation into the former vice-president’s son. Trump cited no evidence for this allegation.
Bernie Sanders has tweeted his thanks to supporters and well-wishers after he was hospitalized due to a blocked artery.Bernie Sanders has tweeted his thanks to supporters and well-wishers after he was hospitalized due to a blocked artery.
And it appears that Linick is done with the briefing. This video just posted shows him leaving Capitol Hill.And it appears that Linick is done with the briefing. This video just posted shows him leaving Capitol Hill.
State Department IG Steve Linick departs Capitol Hill after briefing multiple Senate & House Committees on Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/au14GAw17cState Department IG Steve Linick departs Capitol Hill after briefing multiple Senate & House Committees on Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/au14GAw17c
We’re finally getting some more information on what the State Department Inspector General is briefing Congress about today.We’re finally getting some more information on what the State Department Inspector General is briefing Congress about today.
According to Reuters, which is quoting two “familiar sources” Steve Linick will tell lawmakers about recent instances of “potential political retaliation” by department leadership against career officials over Ukraine.According to Reuters, which is quoting two “familiar sources” Steve Linick will tell lawmakers about recent instances of “potential political retaliation” by department leadership against career officials over Ukraine.
Here’s the full report.Here’s the full report.
The two sources familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide details about what the potential retaliation may have involved.The two sources familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity, did not provide details about what the potential retaliation may have involved.
The briefing is part of the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry into whether President Donald Trump sought help from Ukraine to investigate his political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, the former vice president.The briefing is part of the Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives’ impeachment inquiry into whether President Donald Trump sought help from Ukraine to investigate his political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, the former vice president.
Following a whistleblower complaint last week, Democrats are looking into a July 25 call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Biden, a leading Democrat seeking to run against Republican Trump in 2020.Following a whistleblower complaint last week, Democrats are looking into a July 25 call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Biden, a leading Democrat seeking to run against Republican Trump in 2020.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a three-day trip to Italy, on Wednesday confirmed that he had listened in on the call, saying the conversation had centered on U.S. policy priorities.U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is on a three-day trip to Italy, on Wednesday confirmed that he had listened in on the call, saying the conversation had centered on U.S. policy priorities.
State Department Inspector General (IG) Steve Linick, who conducts independent oversight to combat waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement at the agency, was to provide the closed-door briefing to eight congressional committees at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT).State Department Inspector General (IG) Steve Linick, who conducts independent oversight to combat waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement at the agency, was to provide the closed-door briefing to eight congressional committees at 3 p.m. (1900 GMT).
A notice about the inspector general’s briefing said it would concern Ukraine and that Linick would bring documents provided by the Department’s acting legal advisor, said a third source who spoke on condition of anonymity.A notice about the inspector general’s briefing said it would concern Ukraine and that Linick would bring documents provided by the Department’s acting legal advisor, said a third source who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The panels invited are the House and Senate committees on intelligence, foreign affairs, government oversight and appropriations, congressional aides said.The panels invited are the House and Senate committees on intelligence, foreign affairs, government oversight and appropriations, congressional aides said.
The State Department did not respond to requests for comment.The State Department did not respond to requests for comment.
If the House inquiry results in articles of impeachment, or formal charges, against Trump, there would be a trial in the Senate on whether to remove him from office. The president’s fellow Republicans control the Senate and have shown little appetite for removing him.If the House inquiry results in articles of impeachment, or formal charges, against Trump, there would be a trial in the Senate on whether to remove him from office. The president’s fellow Republicans control the Senate and have shown little appetite for removing him.
The impeachment inquiry has begun to ensnare both career and politically appointed officials in the State Department.The impeachment inquiry has begun to ensnare both career and politically appointed officials in the State Department.
Bernie Sanders has tweeted his thanks to well wishers after he underwent heart surgery for a blocked artery. He has suspended campaign appearances but used his condition remind supporters of a key campaign goal: medicare for all.Bernie Sanders has tweeted his thanks to well wishers after he underwent heart surgery for a blocked artery. He has suspended campaign appearances but used his condition remind supporters of a key campaign goal: medicare for all.
Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm feeling good. I'm fortunate to have good health care and great doctors and nurses helping me to recover.None of us know when a medical emergency might affect us. And no one should fear going bankrupt if it occurs. Medicare for All!Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm feeling good. I'm fortunate to have good health care and great doctors and nurses helping me to recover.None of us know when a medical emergency might affect us. And no one should fear going bankrupt if it occurs. Medicare for All!
OK - here are some takeaways from that press conference. It was a long one involving a lot of incoherent and rambling answers from the president. But here’s my best shot of at some of the most important comments relating to impeachment and the ongoing Ukraine scandal.OK - here are some takeaways from that press conference. It was a long one involving a lot of incoherent and rambling answers from the president. But here’s my best shot of at some of the most important comments relating to impeachment and the ongoing Ukraine scandal.
Firstly, Trump responded to a New York Times report, published earlier today, stating that the whistleblower had approached a House Intelligence Committee staff aide days before filing his complaint. The report states that the committee chairman, Adam Schiff, was later made aware of the nature of the allegations but was not given any information on the whistleblower’s identity. A spokesman for Schiff has confirmed parts of this reporting, and stated it is standard procedure for the committee to offer advice to whistleblowers on how to file complaints.Firstly, Trump responded to a New York Times report, published earlier today, stating that the whistleblower had approached a House Intelligence Committee staff aide days before filing his complaint. The report states that the committee chairman, Adam Schiff, was later made aware of the nature of the allegations but was not given any information on the whistleblower’s identity. A spokesman for Schiff has confirmed parts of this reporting, and stated it is standard procedure for the committee to offer advice to whistleblowers on how to file complaints.
Trump responded to the report during the press conference, making wildly unsubstantiated claims suggesting that: “I think he [Schiff] probably helped write it [the whistleblower complaint].” He added: “He [Schiff] knew long before, and he helped write it too.”Trump responded to the report during the press conference, making wildly unsubstantiated claims suggesting that: “I think he [Schiff] probably helped write it [the whistleblower complaint].” He added: “He [Schiff] knew long before, and he helped write it too.”
There is no reporting to suggest this occurred and Trump provided no evidence.There is no reporting to suggest this occurred and Trump provided no evidence.
Secondly, Trump indicated he plans to personally sue people involved in the special counsel’s investigation into Russian inference in the 2016 election. He did not give specific names when invited to by a reporter. But he said he and his personal attorney Rudy Guiliani were exploring the possibility. He said:Secondly, Trump indicated he plans to personally sue people involved in the special counsel’s investigation into Russian inference in the 2016 election. He did not give specific names when invited to by a reporter. But he said he and his personal attorney Rudy Guiliani were exploring the possibility. He said:
“I probably will, I was going to definitely, but I probably will be bringing litigation against a lot of people having to do with the corrupt investigation into the 2016 election. And I have every right to.”“I probably will, I was going to definitely, but I probably will be bringing litigation against a lot of people having to do with the corrupt investigation into the 2016 election. And I have every right to.”
It’s pretty difficult to interpret that at this stage given the president did not cite any specific grounds or names.It’s pretty difficult to interpret that at this stage given the president did not cite any specific grounds or names.
Finally, Trump continues to show complete contempt for the White House press corps. Here’s the exchange where he starts bossing a reporter around and making derisive comments about the media:Finally, Trump continues to show complete contempt for the White House press corps. Here’s the exchange where he starts bossing a reporter around and making derisive comments about the media:
Trump engages in contentious back and forth with @JeffMason1 after he dodges Ukraine question:Trump: We have the president of Finland, ask him a question.Mason: I have one for him, I just wanted to follow up on the one I asked you—Trump: Did you hear me? Ask him a question! pic.twitter.com/Co64SmxOmkTrump engages in contentious back and forth with @JeffMason1 after he dodges Ukraine question:Trump: We have the president of Finland, ask him a question.Mason: I have one for him, I just wanted to follow up on the one I asked you—Trump: Did you hear me? Ask him a question! pic.twitter.com/Co64SmxOmk
I’m still parsing that bizarre press conference. But meanwhile, on Capitol Hill:I’m still parsing that bizarre press conference. But meanwhile, on Capitol Hill:
State Department's IG has arrived on Capitol HillPhoto @jeremyherb pic.twitter.com/1ggLJxtMXoState Department's IG has arrived on Capitol HillPhoto @jeremyherb pic.twitter.com/1ggLJxtMXo
This press conference is quickly descending into a farce as Trump starts bossing reporters around, describing them as “fake news media” as they push the president on what he wanted the Ukrainian government to do to Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.This press conference is quickly descending into a farce as Trump starts bossing reporters around, describing them as “fake news media” as they push the president on what he wanted the Ukrainian government to do to Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden.
Trump then instructs a reporter to ask Finland president Sauli Niinistö a question. The reporter obliges. Trump then attempts to answer the question on the president’s behalf.Trump then instructs a reporter to ask Finland president Sauli Niinistö a question. The reporter obliges. Trump then attempts to answer the question on the president’s behalf.
I’ll type a few highlights as it wraps up.I’ll type a few highlights as it wraps up.
We’re switching now to a joint press conference being held at the White House with Donald Trump and Finland president Sauli Niinistö.
You can watch that below:
The 2020 Gun Safety Forum is underway in Las Vegas.
Nine of the top presidential candidates are receiving 20-25 minutes of solo stage time to talk about their platforms on gun control. Staff with March for our Lives and the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence organized the event and invited local groups and community organizers to ask candidates questions and network amongst each other.
The forum comes one day after the 2 year anniversary of the October 1, 2017 mass shooting at the Route 91 music festival which left 58 people dead. And organizers hope to expand the conversation from mass shootings to include suicides, domestic violence, and urban community violence which account for the majority of gun deaths.
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak, Nevada’s first democratic governor in 20 years and Assemblywoman Sandra Jauregui, who survived the 2017 shooting gave opening remarks. Jauregui recalled dropping to the ground and having her husband lay on top of her to block the gunfire.
Sisolak tearfully recalled walking through the fairgrounds in the aftermath of the Route 91 shooting. He highlighted the sweeping gun reforms that came after the shooting. Reforms include universal background checks and banning bumpstocks, the gun accessory that was used during the Route 91 shooting.
“We will not be defined by the evil acts of a lone monster two years ago but rather by resilience,” Sisolak said.
First candidate to speak at the #2020gunsafetyforum is South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. He calls out white nationalist extremist violence. Proposes $1 billion to address domestic terrorism.
Next at the #2020GunSafety forum in Las Vegas: Former HUD Secretary Julián Castro. He comes out of the gate with ideas about better tracking ammunition, and making it more expensive/difficult to get.
Next up at the #2020GunSafety forum: former Senator Cory Booker. Off tops is speaking on his personal connection gun violence as a Newark resident. "People in certain communities are living in war zones."
Next candidate in stage at #2020GunSafety is Senator Elizabeth Warren. Immediately calls out Mitch McConnell for holding up movement on federal gun legislation
The Democratic National Committee has announced that 12 candidates have now qualified for the next presidential primary debate in Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio on 15 October.
Those candidates, in alphabetical order, are:
Vice President Joe Biden
Sen. Cory Booker
Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Sec. Julian Castro
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard
Sen. Kamala Harris
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Rep. Beto O’Rourke
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Mr. Tom Steyer
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Mr. Andrew Yang
Here’s where things stand after an incredibly dramatic morning in the world of US politics.
Top House Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff warned the Trump administration against stonewalling on the impeachment inquiry and accused Donald Trump of inciting violence with intimidatory tactics against the whistleblower and witnesses in the Ukraine scandal.
Bernie Sanders was hospitalized in Las Vegas after experiencing chest pains on the campaign trail yesterday and has had a procedure to treat a blocked artery. The 2020 Democratic candidate has canceled campaign events until further notice.
State department inspector general Steve Linick is to brief Senate and House committee staffers behind closed doors on Capitol Hill this afternoon, after requesting urgent meeting. Details are scarce but it’s said to involve documents related to the Trump-Ukraine scandal.
House Democrats threatened subpoenas on Friday if the office of the president fails to comply with requests from Congress relating to the impeachment inquiry.
Secretary of state Mike Pompeo admitted he listened in on Donald Trump’s phone call in July with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Pompeo skipped around questions on his and Trump’s appropriateness of conduct and summarized the growing scandal as “all this noise”.
Trump has used a brief press appearance at the Oval Office to lay into House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff again.
Trump’s comments were riddled with misrepresentations and inflammatory language leveled at Democrats and members of the press pool.
He says that Schiff should be investigated for treason over his questioning of the acting DNI Joseph Maguire in Congress last week.
“He [Schiff] made up my conversation. He actually made it up. It should be treasonous. He made it up. Every word of it. Made it up. And read to Congress as though I said it. I’ll tell you what, he should be forced to resign. Adam Schiff, he’s a low life. He should be forced to resign. He took a perfect conversation, realized he couldn’t read it to congress because it was a very nice conversation,” Trump says.
The comments Trump appears to be referring to are remarks Schiff made at the hearing, which he clearly signposted beforehand as a paraphrase that did not include direct quotation.
Here’s some video of the President.
President Trump on Rep. Adam Schiff: "He should resign from office in disgrace and frankly they should look at him for treason, 'cause he is making up the words of the President of the United States."Full video: https://t.co/uXIHVr4ACI pic.twitter.com/YOtYPz8FkI
The Associated Press has more details on Bernie Sanders current condition following heart surgery for a blocked artery.
A top official in Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign says the Democratic candidate is in Las Vegas where he’s resting after having a heart procedure for a blocked artery.
Campaign adviser Jeff Weaver says that Sanders’ wife, Jane O’Meara Sanders, is on her way to Las Vegas.
Weaver isn’t saying whether the Vermont senator is still hospitalized.
O’Meara Sanders says in an email that her husband “was doing really well.”
The Trump campaign have just released a new, inflammatory and misleading attack advert reusing the “Coup” rhetoric tweeted by the president earlier in the week.
According to the campaign’s press release:
The spot will be mixed into an existing $8 million ad buy the campaign previously announced. Combined with a separate $2 million buy made by the Republican National Committee with different ads, the total buy is $10 million.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, delivered a stern warning to the White House: attempts to “stonewall” the impeachment inquiry “will be considered further evidence of obstruction of justice”.
“We’re not fooling around here,” Schiff said, speaking at an unusually crowded press conference.
Pelosi said Trump’s threats against the whistleblower and officials who spoke with the whistleblower are “dangerous”.
The whistleblower has the right under statue to remain anonymous and we will do everything in our power to make sure that that whistleblower is protected,” Schiff said.
He said Trump’s attacks were engaging in “a blatant effort to intimidate witnesses, it’s an incitement of violence. I would hope that we’re starting to see members of both parties speaking out against attacking this Whistleblower and others that have pertinent information.”
“The president probably doesn’t realize how dangerous his statement is,” Pelosi added.
Schiff outlined the actions taken by the three key committees leading the impeachment inquiry. He said the chairman expect Rudy Giuliani to comply with the subpoena they issued on Monday. He said they are “deeply concerned about Secretary Pompeo’s effort now to potentially interfere with witnesses whose testimony is needed before our committee.”
Congressman Elijah Cummings, the chairman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, notified the panel on Wednesday of his intention to subpoena the White House if it did not comply by Friday with a request for documents related to Trump’s efforts to pressure Ukrianian leaders to investigate Biden.
“I do not take this step lightly,” Cummings said in a statement. “Over the past several weeks, the committees tried several times to obtain voluntary compliance with our requests for documents, but the White House has refused to engage with — or even respond to — the committees.”
Kurt Volker, the former US special envoy to Ukraine, who resigned from his post last week, is due to appear before the committee on Thursday.
Next week, Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine who was ousted from her post in May, will also sit for a joint deposition with the committees.
“We’re very busy,” Schiff said. “We are proceeding deliberately but at the same time we feel a real sense of urgency here.”
Both defended the inquiry against attacks by Republicans, some of who have conceded that it was problematic but does not amount to impeachment.
Pelosi said Trump’s behavior on the call, which Democrats allege amounts to an attempt by a president to solicit foreign intervention in a US election, is “absolutely” serious enough to be an impeachable offense. She says he undermined national security, his oath of office and the US Constitution.
“It’s hard to imagine a set of circumstances that would have alarmed the Founders more than what’s on that call,” Schiff said. “It’s hard to imagine a more corrupt course of conduct.”
Clearly President Trump was watching that House Democratic press conference. He has taken to Twitter posting a typically furious, factually inaccurate and, this time, expletive ridden diatribe.
The Do Nothing Democrats should be focused on building up our Country, not wasting everyone’s time and energy on BULLSHIT, which is what they have been doing ever since I got overwhelmingly elected in 2016, 223-306. Get a better candidate this time, you’ll need it!
Adam Schiff should only be so lucky to have the brains, honor and strength of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. For a lowlife like Schiff, who completely fabricated my words and read them to Congress as though they were said by me, to demean a First in Class at West Point, is SAD!
Candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination have begun sending well wishes to Senator Bernie Sanders, after his campaign announced he was hospitalized due to a blocked artery. Sanders has canceled campaign events as he undergoes recovery from heart surgery.
We want to send our best wishes for a quick recovery to @BernieSanders today. Our whole team has you in their thoughts.
Thinking of @BernieSanders today and wishing him a speedy recovery. If there's one thing I know about him, he's a fighter and I look forward to seeing him on the campaign trail soon.
Wishing @BernieSanders a full and speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with you and your family today—and I look forward to seeing you back out on the campaign trail soon. https://t.co/39ZC6Zhhbn
My prayers are with @BernieSanders and his family while he recuperates and rests. We love you, Bernie!