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| Democrats to subpoena ambassador blocked from testifying by Trump – live | Democrats to subpoena ambassador blocked from testifying by Trump – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The White House is reaching out to external lawyers to discuss helping with the impeachment response, CNN reports. | |
| According to CNN, one of the lawyers the White House has contacted is Trey Gowdy, the former Republican congressman who gained nationwide attention for his investigation into the 2012 attack in Benghazi, Libya. | |
| It was that investigation that first uncovered evidence of Hillary Clinton’s private email server, which Trump used to repeatedly attack the former secretary of state during the 2016 presidential campaign. | |
| The Supreme Court heard arguments today in a case meant to determine whether the Civil Rights Act of 1964 protects LGBT people from discrimination in employment based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. | |
| The AP reports: | |
| With the court’s four liberal justices likely to side with workers who were fired because of their sexual orientation or transgender status, the question in two highly anticipated cases that filled the courtroom was whether one of the court’s conservatives might join them. | |
| Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s first Supreme Court appointee, said there are strong arguments favoring the LGBT workers. But he wondered whether the justices should take into account ‘the massive social upheaval’ that might follow a ruling in their favor. | |
| Two other conservatives, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh did not squarely indicate their views, although Roberts also questioned how employers with religious objections to hiring LGBT people might be affected by the outcome. | |
| Bernie Sanders addressed his recent heart attack, telling reporters in Vermont that he was “dumb” to ignore symptoms over the past two months as he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination. | Bernie Sanders addressed his recent heart attack, telling reporters in Vermont that he was “dumb” to ignore symptoms over the past two months as he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination. |
| “I must confess that I was dumb,” @BernieSanders tells reporters outside his home. The senator says that while maintaining a rigorous camping scheduled, he bagan to feel particularly fatigued the past two months. “I should have listened to those symptoms.” | “I must confess that I was dumb,” @BernieSanders tells reporters outside his home. The senator says that while maintaining a rigorous camping scheduled, he bagan to feel particularly fatigued the past two months. “I should have listened to those symptoms.” |
| The heart attack, which Sanders did not disclose for almost three days, has raised questions about whether the Vermont senator will continue with his presidential bid. | The heart attack, which Sanders did not disclose for almost three days, has raised questions about whether the Vermont senator will continue with his presidential bid. |
| But so far, Sanders has shown no sign of calling it quits, telling staffers in a phone call he would use the experience to emphasize the principles of his candidacy. | But so far, Sanders has shown no sign of calling it quits, telling staffers in a phone call he would use the experience to emphasize the principles of his candidacy. |
| Almost immediately after Trump concluded his call with the Ukrainian president, White House aides rushed to contain the potential damage of his comments, according to CNN. | Almost immediately after Trump concluded his call with the Ukrainian president, White House aides rushed to contain the potential damage of his comments, according to CNN. |
| CNN reports: | CNN reports: |
| The scramble and fallout from the call, described by six people familiar with it, parallels and expands upon details described in the whistleblower complaint. | The scramble and fallout from the call, described by six people familiar with it, parallels and expands upon details described in the whistleblower complaint. |
| The anxiety and internal concern reflect a phone conversation that deeply troubled national security professionals, even as Trump now insists there was nothing wrong with how he conducted himself. And it shows an ultimately unsuccessful effort to contain the tumult by the administration’s lawyers. | The anxiety and internal concern reflect a phone conversation that deeply troubled national security professionals, even as Trump now insists there was nothing wrong with how he conducted himself. And it shows an ultimately unsuccessful effort to contain the tumult by the administration’s lawyers. |
| At least one National Security Council official alerted the White House’s national security lawyers about the concerns, three sources familiar with the matter said, a detail that had not been previously disclosed. Those same lawyers would later order the transcript of the call moved to a highly classified server typically reserved for code-word classified material. | At least one National Security Council official alerted the White House’s national security lawyers about the concerns, three sources familiar with the matter said, a detail that had not been previously disclosed. Those same lawyers would later order the transcript of the call moved to a highly classified server typically reserved for code-word classified material. |
| Rudy Giuliani said that he would not comply with a subpoena from the House intelligence committee. The president’s personal lawyer added that he “can’t imagine” other Trump administration officials would do so either. | Rudy Giuliani said that he would not comply with a subpoena from the House intelligence committee. The president’s personal lawyer added that he “can’t imagine” other Trump administration officials would do so either. |
| “The position I’m stating is now the position of the administration,” Giuliani told the Washington Post, claiming that the White House has written a letter asserting the congressional committee is illegitimate. | “The position I’m stating is now the position of the administration,” Giuliani told the Washington Post, claiming that the White House has written a letter asserting the congressional committee is illegitimate. |
| Giuliani said: “I wouldn’t testify in front of that committee until there is a vote of Congress and [chairman Adam Schiff] is removed. ... | Giuliani said: “I wouldn’t testify in front of that committee until there is a vote of Congress and [chairman Adam Schiff] is removed. ... |
| “Let them hold me in contempt. We’ll go to court. We’ll challenge the contempt.” | “Let them hold me in contempt. We’ll go to court. We’ll challenge the contempt.” |
| Giuliani was initially given until Oct. 15 to hand over materials relevant to the impeachment inquiry. If he does not comply, Democrats will likely argue that it is further evidence of obstruction by the Trump White House. | Giuliani was initially given until Oct. 15 to hand over materials relevant to the impeachment inquiry. If he does not comply, Democrats will likely argue that it is further evidence of obstruction by the Trump White House. |
| Representative Mark Pocan, a Democrat of Wisconsin and a co-chair of the progressive caucus, is now suggesting that whoever decided to block the testimony of Gordon Sondland should have their salary suspended. | Representative Mark Pocan, a Democrat of Wisconsin and a co-chair of the progressive caucus, is now suggesting that whoever decided to block the testimony of Gordon Sondland should have their salary suspended. |
| Rep. POCAN, a member of the Appropriations Committee, suggests that Pompeo -- or whoever directed Sondland not to testify -- should have their salary suspended until he does. pic.twitter.com/3E6YVCwNz8 | Rep. POCAN, a member of the Appropriations Committee, suggests that Pompeo -- or whoever directed Sondland not to testify -- should have their salary suspended until he does. pic.twitter.com/3E6YVCwNz8 |
| Sondland said that the State Department had “directed” him not to appear before Congress, but Trump appeared to take responsibility for the decision in a morning tweet. | Sondland said that the State Department had “directed” him not to appear before Congress, but Trump appeared to take responsibility for the decision in a morning tweet. |
| I would love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American, to testify, but unfortunately he would be testifying before a totally compromised kangaroo court, where Republican’s rights have been taken away, and true facts are not allowed out for the public.... | I would love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American, to testify, but unfortunately he would be testifying before a totally compromised kangaroo court, where Republican’s rights have been taken away, and true facts are not allowed out for the public.... |
| Of course, Trump has donated his government salary every quarter since taking office, so Pocan’s suggestion may not carry the same weight with him. | Of course, Trump has donated his government salary every quarter since taking office, so Pocan’s suggestion may not carry the same weight with him. |
| The Senate intelligence committee also interestingly concluded that African Americans were targeted by Russian trolls more than any other demographic in the 2016 election. | The Senate intelligence committee also interestingly concluded that African Americans were targeted by Russian trolls more than any other demographic in the 2016 election. |
| The panel’s bipartisan report reads: “The Committee found that no single group of Americans was targeted by IRA information operatives more than African-Americans. By far, race and related issues were the preferred target of the information warfare campaign designed to divide the country in 2016.” | The panel’s bipartisan report reads: “The Committee found that no single group of Americans was targeted by IRA information operatives more than African-Americans. By far, race and related issues were the preferred target of the information warfare campaign designed to divide the country in 2016.” |
| And the committee noted that the Kremlin actually escalated its disinformation campaign after the 2016 election concluded. | And the committee noted that the Kremlin actually escalated its disinformation campaign after the 2016 election concluded. |
| The report says: “The data reveal increases in IRA activity across multiple social media platforms, post-Election Day 2016: Instagram activity increased 238 percent, Facebook increased 59 percent, Twitter increased 52 percent, and YouTube citations went up by 84 percent.” | The report says: “The data reveal increases in IRA activity across multiple social media platforms, post-Election Day 2016: Instagram activity increased 238 percent, Facebook increased 59 percent, Twitter increased 52 percent, and YouTube citations went up by 84 percent.” |
| The Senate intelligence committee has released its bipartisan report on Russia’s use of social media to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, which concludes that the Kremlin sought to help Trump’s campaign by spreading disinformation. | The Senate intelligence committee has released its bipartisan report on Russia’s use of social media to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, which concludes that the Kremlin sought to help Trump’s campaign by spreading disinformation. |
| The report reads: “The Committee found, that the IRA sought to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election by harming Hillary Clinton’s chances of success and supporting Donald Trump at the direction of the Kremlin.” | The report reads: “The Committee found, that the IRA sought to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election by harming Hillary Clinton’s chances of success and supporting Donald Trump at the direction of the Kremlin.” |
| The committee also concluded that Russian operatives similarly targeted Republican presidential candidates, including Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. | The committee also concluded that Russian operatives similarly targeted Republican presidential candidates, including Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. |
| The lawmakers recommended that “social media companies work to facilitate greater information sharing between the public and private sector” and specifically called on the Executive Branch to “reinforce with the public the danger of attempted foreign interference in the 2020 election.” | The lawmakers recommended that “social media companies work to facilitate greater information sharing between the public and private sector” and specifically called on the Executive Branch to “reinforce with the public the danger of attempted foreign interference in the 2020 election.” |
| That last point implicitly criticizes the president, who has repeatedly cast doubt on the intelligence community’s finding that Russia meddled in the 2016 election to Trump’s benefit. | That last point implicitly criticizes the president, who has repeatedly cast doubt on the intelligence community’s finding that Russia meddled in the 2016 election to Trump’s benefit. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| The White House has blocked Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, from testifying before three House committees leading the impeachment inquiry. | The White House has blocked Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, from testifying before three House committees leading the impeachment inquiry. |
| House Democratic leaders have now said they will subpoena Sondland for his testimony and documents that are relevant to the Ukraine controversy. | House Democratic leaders have now said they will subpoena Sondland for his testimony and documents that are relevant to the Ukraine controversy. |
| The Senate judiciary committee has invited Rudy Giuliani to appear before the panel, but it’s unclear whether the president’s personal lawyer will accept the offer. | The Senate judiciary committee has invited Rudy Giuliani to appear before the panel, but it’s unclear whether the president’s personal lawyer will accept the offer. |
| A new poll found that nearly 6 in 10 Americans now support House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, and almost half of the country backs removing Trump from office. | A new poll found that nearly 6 in 10 Americans now support House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, and almost half of the country backs removing Trump from office. |
| The blog will have more of the latest impeachment news, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more of the latest impeachment news, so stay tuned. |
| Meanwhile, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang hopes he will get his fourth qualifying poll today to participate in the November debate. | Meanwhile, tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang hopes he will get his fourth qualifying poll today to participate in the November debate. |
| New November debate qualifying poll coming out in a couple hours or so. Yang is the only candidates who is within one poll of qualifying https://t.co/hDziajUSgu | New November debate qualifying poll coming out in a couple hours or so. Yang is the only candidates who is within one poll of qualifying https://t.co/hDziajUSgu |
| Seven Democratic presidential candidates have qualified for the debate so far: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Tom Steyer. | Seven Democratic presidential candidates have qualified for the debate so far: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg, Kamala Harris, Cory Booker and Tom Steyer. |
| No other candidate is close to qualifying, with Beto O’Rourke and Amy Klobuchar both still needing three more polls to make the cut. | No other candidate is close to qualifying, with Beto O’Rourke and Amy Klobuchar both still needing three more polls to make the cut. |
| It’s quite possible the November event will feature a significantly smaller field of candidates than the October debate, which is taking place in Ohio next week. Twelve candidates have qualified for that face-off. | It’s quite possible the November event will feature a significantly smaller field of candidates than the October debate, which is taking place in Ohio next week. Twelve candidates have qualified for that face-off. |