This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

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

The article has changed 21 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Democrats issue warning over Trump’s 'dangerous' whistleblower attacks – live Democrats issue warning over Trump’s 'dangerous' whistleblower attacks – live
(32 minutes later)
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.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:Those candidates, in alphabetical order, are:
Vice President Joe BidenVice President Joe Biden
Sen. Cory BookerSen. Cory Booker
Mayor Pete ButtigiegMayor Pete Buttigieg
Sec. Julian CastroSec. Julian Castro
Rep. Tulsi GabbardRep. Tulsi Gabbard
Sen. Kamala HarrisSen. Kamala Harris
Sen. Amy KlobucharSen. Amy Klobuchar
Rep. Beto O’RourkeRep. Beto O’Rourke
Sen. Bernie SandersSen. Bernie Sanders
Mr. Tom SteyerMr. Tom Steyer
Sen. Elizabeth WarrenSen. Elizabeth Warren
Mr. Andrew YangMr. Andrew Yang
Here’s where things stand after an incredibly dramatic morning in the world of US politics.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.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.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.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.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”.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 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.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 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.“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.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.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/YOtYPz8FkIPresident 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.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.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.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.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.”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.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: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.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”.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.“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”.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.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.”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.“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.”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.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.”“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.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.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.”“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.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.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.”“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.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!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!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.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.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.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/39ZC6ZhhbnWishing @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!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:
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 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:
“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.”
Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff have started a morning press conference.
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”.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
Here’s an extract from the letter her campaign attached to the press release.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Trump is facing a backlash after a series of incendiary Tweets yesterday evening referring to the House impeachment inquiry as a “COUP”.