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Trump-Ukraine inquiry: Democrats demand documents from White House | Trump-Ukraine inquiry: Democrats demand documents from White House |
(21 days later) | |
US Democratic lawmakers have demanded documents from the White House as part of their impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. | US Democratic lawmakers have demanded documents from the White House as part of their impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump. |
The documents relate to a call between Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 25 July. | The documents relate to a call between Mr Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 25 July. |
In the call, Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky to investigate his leading Democratic political rival, Joe Biden. | |
The impeachment inquiry stems from the call, which was flagged up by a whistleblower in August. | The impeachment inquiry stems from the call, which was flagged up by a whistleblower in August. |
The whistleblower alleged that Mr Trump used a $400m military aid package to Ukraine, which had been suspended earlier in July, as leverage to persuade Mr Zelensky. The White House released the aid in September. | The whistleblower alleged that Mr Trump used a $400m military aid package to Ukraine, which had been suspended earlier in July, as leverage to persuade Mr Zelensky. The White House released the aid in September. |
Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing, accusing his political opponents of a "witch hunt". | Mr Trump has denied any wrongdoing, accusing his political opponents of a "witch hunt". |
But in a move to crank up the pressure on the president, the three House committees leading the investigation have given him until 18 October to hand over the documents. | But in a move to crank up the pressure on the president, the three House committees leading the investigation have given him until 18 October to hand over the documents. |
"We deeply regret that President Trump has put us - and the nation - in this position, but his actions have left us with no choice but to issue this subpoena," the Democrats wrote in a letter to the White House. | "We deeply regret that President Trump has put us - and the nation - in this position, but his actions have left us with no choice but to issue this subpoena," the Democrats wrote in a letter to the White House. |
The subpoena - an order to hand-over evidence - was issued on Friday by the chairmen of the committees for Oversight, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs. | The subpoena - an order to hand-over evidence - was issued on Friday by the chairmen of the committees for Oversight, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs. |
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham sought to play down the subpoena, saying it "changes nothing". | White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham sought to play down the subpoena, saying it "changes nothing". |
A separate request for records has also been sent to Vice-President Mike Pence, with Democrats asking him to clarify "any role you may have played" in Mr Trump's overtures to Ukraine. | A separate request for records has also been sent to Vice-President Mike Pence, with Democrats asking him to clarify "any role you may have played" in Mr Trump's overtures to Ukraine. |
If Democrats manage to impeach Mr Trump - by way of a vote in the House of Representatives - a trial would be held in the Senate. | If Democrats manage to impeach Mr Trump - by way of a vote in the House of Representatives - a trial would be held in the Senate. |
Senators would have to vote to convict Mr Trump by a two-thirds majority to remove him from office. | Senators would have to vote to convict Mr Trump by a two-thirds majority to remove him from office. |
But that outcome is seen as unlikely given that the president's fellow Republicans control the Senate. | But that outcome is seen as unlikely given that the president's fellow Republicans control the Senate. |
What documents are the Democrats demanding? | What documents are the Democrats demanding? |
A rough transcript of the 25 July call has already been released, but Democrats want to see a range of documents and communications linked to it. | A rough transcript of the 25 July call has already been released, but Democrats want to see a range of documents and communications linked to it. |
In the committees' letter to the White House, they accused Mr Trump of "stonewalling" multiple requests for the records. | In the committees' letter to the White House, they accused Mr Trump of "stonewalling" multiple requests for the records. |
By refusing to voluntarily release the documents, the Democrats said Mr Trump had "chosen the path of defiance, obstruction, and cover-up". | By refusing to voluntarily release the documents, the Democrats said Mr Trump had "chosen the path of defiance, obstruction, and cover-up". |
Failure to comply with the subpoena would amount to "evidence of obstruction", which is also an impeachable offence, the committees warned. | Failure to comply with the subpoena would amount to "evidence of obstruction", which is also an impeachable offence, the committees warned. |
What's the latest reaction? | What's the latest reaction? |
On Friday, Mr Trump said Democrats "unfortunately have the votes" to impeach him, but predicted he would win in a trial in the Republican-led Senate. | On Friday, Mr Trump said Democrats "unfortunately have the votes" to impeach him, but predicted he would win in a trial in the Republican-led Senate. |
Most Republicans are standing squarely behind Mr Trump, though two Republican senators have spoken out against the president. | Most Republicans are standing squarely behind Mr Trump, though two Republican senators have spoken out against the president. |
Mitt Romney of Utah labelled the president's actions "appalling" on Friday. | Mitt Romney of Utah labelled the president's actions "appalling" on Friday. |
His remarks came a day after Mr Trump publicly called on Ukraine and China to investigate Mr Biden and his son, Hunter. | His remarks came a day after Mr Trump publicly called on Ukraine and China to investigate Mr Biden and his son, Hunter. |
There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden, who served on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma until earlier this year. | There has been no evidence of wrongdoing by Hunter Biden, who served on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma until earlier this year. |
On the same day, text messages released by congressional Democrats showed how US officials worked to prod the Ukrainian president into opening a public inquiry into Mr Biden. | On the same day, text messages released by congressional Democrats showed how US officials worked to prod the Ukrainian president into opening a public inquiry into Mr Biden. |
Could there be a second whistleblower? | Could there be a second whistleblower? |
As the fast-moving investigation into Mr Trump escalates, there are reports of a second intelligence official considering making a complaint against the president. | As the fast-moving investigation into Mr Trump escalates, there are reports of a second intelligence official considering making a complaint against the president. |
The New York Times said the unnamed official had "more direct information" about the events surrounding Mr Trump's phone call with Mr Zelensky. | The New York Times said the unnamed official had "more direct information" about the events surrounding Mr Trump's phone call with Mr Zelensky. |
Michael Atkinson, the general inspector of the intelligence community, interviewed this official to corroborate the original whistleblower's allegations, the paper reported. | Michael Atkinson, the general inspector of the intelligence community, interviewed this official to corroborate the original whistleblower's allegations, the paper reported. |
Given the original whistleblower, reported to be a CIA official, did not directly witness the call, the testimony of a second official could prove valuable to the Democrats' inquiry. | Given the original whistleblower, reported to be a CIA official, did not directly witness the call, the testimony of a second official could prove valuable to the Democrats' inquiry. |
Four quick questions on Trump-Ukraine | Four quick questions on Trump-Ukraine |
Why is Mr Trump being investigated? | Why is Mr Trump being investigated? |
A whistleblower alleges he used "the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the US 2020 election", by asking Ukraine to investigate his main rival, Joe Biden. | A whistleblower alleges he used "the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country in the US 2020 election", by asking Ukraine to investigate his main rival, Joe Biden. |
Is this illegal? | Is this illegal? |
If this is what he's proven to have done, then yes: it's illegal to ask foreign entities for help winning a US election. Mr Trump says it's a witch-hunt and he did nothing wrong. | If this is what he's proven to have done, then yes: it's illegal to ask foreign entities for help winning a US election. Mr Trump says it's a witch-hunt and he did nothing wrong. |
What could happen next? | What could happen next? |
If the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted to impeach Mr Trump, there'd be a trial in the Senate. | If the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives voted to impeach Mr Trump, there'd be a trial in the Senate. |
Could he be removed? | Could he be removed? |
A Senate vote needs a two-thirds majority to convict, but Mr Trump's Republican party controls the Senate so that's unlikely. And the Mueller inquiry made clear you can't charge a sitting president with a crime. | A Senate vote needs a two-thirds majority to convict, but Mr Trump's Republican party controls the Senate so that's unlikely. And the Mueller inquiry made clear you can't charge a sitting president with a crime. |