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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/oct/02/donald-trump-news-live-today-impeachment-ukraine-pompeo-briefing-latest-updates
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| Bernie Sanders cancels campaign events after being hospitalized with blocked artery – live | Bernie Sanders cancels campaign events after being hospitalized with blocked artery – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| 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! | |
| .@RepAdamSchiff to the White House: “We’re not fooling around here.”He repeats that any attempt to stonewall Congress will be considered "further evidence" toward obstruction of justice | |
| .@SpeakerPelosi on Trump's attacks on the whistleblower: "The president probably doesn’t realize how dangerous his statements are." | |
| .@RepAdamSchiff taking it way back to make the case for the impeachment inquiry. He says it's "hard to imagine a set of circumstances that would have alarmed the Founders more" than what Trump said on his call with the Ukrainian president | |
| My colleague Lauren Gambino is at the press conference in DC: | My colleague Lauren Gambino is at the press conference in DC: |
| Pelosi is trying hard to get the press corps to ask about USMCA (new NAFTA) and the Democrats plan to reduce prescription drug prices. | Pelosi is trying hard to get the press corps to ask about USMCA (new NAFTA) and the Democrats plan to reduce prescription drug prices. |
| Schiff: "We are deeply concerned about Secretary Pompeo's effort now to potentially interfere with witnesses, whose testimony is needed before our committee, many of whom are mentioned in the whistleblower complaint." https://t.co/YVdBDdflcZ | Schiff: "We are deeply concerned about Secretary Pompeo's effort now to potentially interfere with witnesses, whose testimony is needed before our committee, many of whom are mentioned in the whistleblower complaint." https://t.co/YVdBDdflcZ |
| Schiff provides an update on the status of the House impeachment inquiry. He goes over the status of subpoenas issued to key players and departments at the centre of the Trump-Ukraine scandal. | Schiff provides an update on the status of the House impeachment inquiry. He goes over the status of subpoenas issued to key players and departments at the centre of the Trump-Ukraine scandal. |
| He then levels a direct attack on Mike Pompeo. He states: | He then levels a direct attack on Mike Pompeo. He states: |
| “We are deeply concerned about secretary Pompeo’s effort to potentially interfere with witnesses who are set to appear before out committee.” | “We are deeply concerned about secretary Pompeo’s effort to potentially interfere with witnesses who are set to appear before out committee.” |
| He adds, of the inquiry as a whole: “We are proceeding deliberately, but at the same time we feel a real sense of urgency.” | He adds, of the inquiry as a whole: “We are proceeding deliberately, but at the same time we feel a real sense of urgency.” |
| Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff have started a morning press conference. | Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff have started a morning press conference. |
| You can watch it here: | You can watch it here: |
| Some breaking news from the campaign of US senator Bernie Sanders, who has fallen ill and has cancelled campaign events “until further notice”. | Some breaking news from the campaign of US senator Bernie Sanders, who has fallen ill and has cancelled campaign events “until further notice”. |
| Here’s the full statement: | Here’s the full statement: |
| During a campaign event yesterday evening, Sen. Sanders experienced some chest discomfort. Following medical evaluation and testing he was found to have a blockage in one artery and two stents were successfully inserted. Sen. Sanders is conversing and in good spirits. He will be resting up over the next few days. We are canceling his events and appearances until further notice, and we will continue to provide appropriate updates. | During a campaign event yesterday evening, Sen. Sanders experienced some chest discomfort. Following medical evaluation and testing he was found to have a blockage in one artery and two stents were successfully inserted. Sen. Sanders is conversing and in good spirits. He will be resting up over the next few days. We are canceling his events and appearances until further notice, and we will continue to provide appropriate updates. |
| Here’s some more context on the State Department Inspector General’s closed door “urgent briefing” later today. | Here’s some more context on the State Department Inspector General’s closed door “urgent briefing” later today. |
| We’re expecting Steve Linick to brief a number of Senate and House committee staffers this afternoon. While we don’t know the precise details of the briefing, ABC News, which first reported the meetings, says the matter concerns documents obtained from the department’s Office of the Legal Adviser related to the State Department and Ukraine. | We’re expecting Steve Linick to brief a number of Senate and House committee staffers this afternoon. While we don’t know the precise details of the briefing, ABC News, which first reported the meetings, says the matter concerns documents obtained from the department’s Office of the Legal Adviser related to the State Department and Ukraine. |
| Linick was appointed to his post under the Obama administration in 2013 and previously oversaw the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. | Linick was appointed to his post under the Obama administration in 2013 and previously oversaw the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. |
| The career government official previously served as executive director of the Department of Justice’s National Procurement Fraud Task Force and as deputy chief of the fraud section in the DOJ Criminal Division from 2006 to 2010. He was also an assistant US attorney in California and Virginia. | The career government official previously served as executive director of the Department of Justice’s National Procurement Fraud Task Force and as deputy chief of the fraud section in the DOJ Criminal Division from 2006 to 2010. He was also an assistant US attorney in California and Virginia. |
| Although, to stress again, we don’t know the details of this closed door briefing, there is predictable speculation on Twitter: | Although, to stress again, we don’t know the details of this closed door briefing, there is predictable speculation on Twitter: |
| IG’s request for urgent meeting with congressional committees seems very significant. This comes shortly after Pompeo stiff-armed them on subpoenas. The truth will come out. Didn’t these guys read “All the President’s Men”? Or even see the movie? https://t.co/173zoitpvm | IG’s request for urgent meeting with congressional committees seems very significant. This comes shortly after Pompeo stiff-armed them on subpoenas. The truth will come out. Didn’t these guys read “All the President’s Men”? Or even see the movie? https://t.co/173zoitpvm |
| IG’s request for urgent meeting with congressional committees seems very significant. This comes shortly after Pompeo stiff-armed them on subpoenas. The truth will come out. Didn’t these guys read “All the President’s Men”? Or even see the movie? https://t.co/173zoitpvm | IG’s request for urgent meeting with congressional committees seems very significant. This comes shortly after Pompeo stiff-armed them on subpoenas. The truth will come out. Didn’t these guys read “All the President’s Men”? Or even see the movie? https://t.co/173zoitpvm |
| The impeachment inquiry continues to gain pace. House Democrats have announced they plan to subpoena the White House on Friday if the office of the president fails to comply with requests from Congress. | The impeachment inquiry continues to gain pace. House Democrats have announced they plan to subpoena the White House on Friday if the office of the president fails to comply with requests from Congress. |
| An escalation in impeachment probe: After State and Giuliani have been hit with subpoenas, now the WH will be served with a subpoena for Ukraine documents if no compliance by Friday. https://t.co/jt5bGcUejI | An escalation in impeachment probe: After State and Giuliani have been hit with subpoenas, now the WH will be served with a subpoena for Ukraine documents if no compliance by Friday. https://t.co/jt5bGcUejI |
| Lets return to some of the president’s inflammatory tweeting last night, in which he described the House impeachment inquiry as a “COUP”. | Lets return to some of the president’s inflammatory tweeting last night, in which he described the House impeachment inquiry as a “COUP”. |
| We won’t embed the tweets here or reprint the contents due to their inflammatory and misleading nature, but they’re available to view here if you want to take a look. | We won’t embed the tweets here or reprint the contents due to their inflammatory and misleading nature, but they’re available to view here if you want to take a look. |
| As you’d expect the comments are drawing serious criticism from a number of high profile Democrat. Probably the most newsworthy of all these is from California senator and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who issued a press release this morning saying she has written to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, requesting Trump’s account be suspended. | As you’d expect the comments are drawing serious criticism from a number of high profile Democrat. Probably the most newsworthy of all these is from California senator and presidential candidate Kamala Harris, who issued a press release this morning saying she has written to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, requesting Trump’s account be suspended. |
| The letter cites a number of recent inflammatory messages, including Trump’s suggestion that House Intelligence Committee Chairman should be arrested for treason. | The letter cites a number of recent inflammatory messages, including Trump’s suggestion that House Intelligence Committee Chairman should be arrested for treason. |
| Here’s an extract from the letter her campaign attached to the press release. | Here’s an extract from the letter her campaign attached to the press release. |
| Mr. Dorsey: | Mr. Dorsey: |
| I write to call your attention to activity that President Trump has been engaged in on his Twitter account, which appears to violate the terms of the user agreement that your company requires all users on the platform adhere to. | I write to call your attention to activity that President Trump has been engaged in on his Twitter account, which appears to violate the terms of the user agreement that your company requires all users on the platform adhere to. |
| Twitter’s user agreement specifically states that users “may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so,” which includes “violence against an individual or a group of people.” Furthermore, the agreement states that the platform considers abusive behavior as “an attempt to harass, intimidate, or silence someone else’s voice,” and that it prohibits “the glorification of violence.” | Twitter’s user agreement specifically states that users “may not engage in the targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so,” which includes “violence against an individual or a group of people.” Furthermore, the agreement states that the platform considers abusive behavior as “an attempt to harass, intimidate, or silence someone else’s voice,” and that it prohibits “the glorification of violence.” |
| In recent days, President Trump published the following tweets from his Twitter account to target, harass, and attempt to out the whistleblower who set forth credible allegations that the President has abused his power by urging a foreign government to investigate a domestic political rival. | In recent days, President Trump published the following tweets from his Twitter account to target, harass, and attempt to out the whistleblower who set forth credible allegations that the President has abused his power by urging a foreign government to investigate a domestic political rival. |
| The letter concludes: | The letter concludes: |
| No user, regardless of their job, wealth, or stature should be exempt from abiding by Twitter’s user agreement, not even the President of the United States. | No user, regardless of their job, wealth, or stature should be exempt from abiding by Twitter’s user agreement, not even the President of the United States. |
| Look let's be honest, @realDonaldTrump's Twitter account should be suspended. | Look let's be honest, @realDonaldTrump's Twitter account should be suspended. |
| Some more context on Secretary Pompeo’s admission that he took part in the July phone call between Donald Trump and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky. | Some more context on Secretary Pompeo’s admission that he took part in the July phone call between Donald Trump and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky. |
| Pompeo’s involvement in the call (he listened in to the conversation and does not appear to have actively participated) was first reported by the Wall Street Journal last week. Pompeo’s admission, made earlier today on an official trip to the Vatican, confirms this reporting. | Pompeo’s involvement in the call (he listened in to the conversation and does not appear to have actively participated) was first reported by the Wall Street Journal last week. Pompeo’s admission, made earlier today on an official trip to the Vatican, confirms this reporting. |
| Although Pompeo has sought to downplay the relevance of his participation, describing it as part of normal state department business, that explanation only takes you so far. | Although Pompeo has sought to downplay the relevance of his participation, describing it as part of normal state department business, that explanation only takes you so far. |
| Aside from the substance of the call, which involved Trump pushing Zelensky to commence a domestic investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden with the assistance of his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, Pompeo has also pleaded ignorance over the existence of the conversation in previous interviews. | Aside from the substance of the call, which involved Trump pushing Zelensky to commence a domestic investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden with the assistance of his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, Pompeo has also pleaded ignorance over the existence of the conversation in previous interviews. |
| When reports of the whistleblower complaint first emerged in last month, Pompeo was asked by ABC News about his knowledge of the conversation between Trump and Zelensky. His response, which I will publish in full below, was particularly evasive, and implied he was not aware of the nature of the conversation, which we now know he was participating in. | When reports of the whistleblower complaint first emerged in last month, Pompeo was asked by ABC News about his knowledge of the conversation between Trump and Zelensky. His response, which I will publish in full below, was particularly evasive, and implied he was not aware of the nature of the conversation, which we now know he was participating in. |
| ABC: And I want to turn to this whistleblower complaint, Mr. Secretary. The complaint involving the President and a phone call with a foreign leader to the director of national intelligence inspector general. That’s where the complaint was launched by the whistle-blower. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that President Trump pressed the president of Ukraine eight times to work with Rudy Giuliani to investigate Joe Biden’s son. What do you know about those conversations? | ABC: And I want to turn to this whistleblower complaint, Mr. Secretary. The complaint involving the President and a phone call with a foreign leader to the director of national intelligence inspector general. That’s where the complaint was launched by the whistle-blower. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that President Trump pressed the president of Ukraine eight times to work with Rudy Giuliani to investigate Joe Biden’s son. What do you know about those conversations? |
| Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. | Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics. |
| Here’s what we’ll be following today: | Here’s what we’ll be following today: |
| US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has admitted he took part in the July phone call that is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, in which the US president put pressure on his Ukrainian counterpart to look for compromising material against Joe Biden. We’ll bring you reaction to that news as it happens. | US secretary of state Mike Pompeo has admitted he took part in the July phone call that is at the heart of the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump, in which the US president put pressure on his Ukrainian counterpart to look for compromising material against Joe Biden. We’ll bring you reaction to that news as it happens. |
| State department inspector general Steve Linick is expected to give an urgent private briefing to several House and Senate committee staffers. Linick is said to have requested the meetings himself, according to reports. There is no official word on the substance of the meetings, but ABC News reports it concerns documents related to the state department and Ukraine. | State department inspector general Steve Linick is expected to give an urgent private briefing to several House and Senate committee staffers. Linick is said to have requested the meetings himself, according to reports. There is no official word on the substance of the meetings, but ABC News reports it concerns documents related to the state department and Ukraine. |
| Donald Trump will meet with Finnish president Sauli Niinistö at 12.10pm. The heads of state will hold a joint press conference later in the afternoon. | Donald Trump will meet with Finnish president Sauli Niinistö at 12.10pm. The heads of state will hold a joint press conference later in the afternoon. |
| Trump is facing a backlash after a series of incendiary Tweets yesterday evening referring to the House impeachment inquiry as a “COUP”. | Trump is facing a backlash after a series of incendiary Tweets yesterday evening referring to the House impeachment inquiry as a “COUP”. |