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| Trump impeachment inquiry: ex-Ukraine envoy scheduled to testify – live | Trump impeachment inquiry: ex-Ukraine envoy scheduled to testify – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify in the impeachment inquiry against Trump. | |
| As we await the potential arrival of Marie Yovanovitch on Capitol Hill, a federal appeals court has rejected Trump’s appeal to block House Democrats’ subpoena of his financial records. | |
| The D.C. Circuit court voted 2-1 to uphold the subpoena, with only Trump appointee Neomi Rao dissenting. Rao had raised concerns about the process by which the subpoena was issued, but she voted against it even after those concerns were addressed. | |
| What’s interesting is Dems knew Rao was skeptical of their case and had wondered in court why the full House hadn’t authorized the Mazars subpoenasSo the House sought to satisfy her concerns and took a vote. She dissented anyway. | |
| The testimony from Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, was scheduled to begin a few minutes ago, but she hasn’t been spotted yet on Capitol Hill. | |
| Senior congressional aides said earlier that they expected the career diplomat to appear, but it’s still possible that the State Department will attempt to block her testimony. | |
| In his classic reality-television manner, Trump previewed his meeting this afternoon with the Chinese vice premier to discuss trade negotiations. | |
| Good things are happening at China Trade Talk Meeting. Warmer feelings than in recent past, more like the Old Days. I will be meeting with the Vice Premier today. All would like to see something significant happen! | |
| US stocks jumped yesterday after Trump announced the meeting with Liu He, as investors expressed hope that the sit-down could lead the administration to ratchet down tariffs on Chinese imports. | |
| But Trump has shown no signal of wanting to call off his trade war, only predicting that China would eventually be forced to make a deal with him. | |
| Some of the House Republicans who sit on the committees leading the impeachment inquiry have arrived for Marie Yovanovitch’s testimony, but it’s still unclear whether the former US ambassador to Ukraine will appear. | |
| The Rs have arrived for Yovanovitch testimony: Jordan, Zeldin, Perry pic.twitter.com/0QRVMS4iVR | |
| The executive editor of Lawfare and a former lawyer for the National Security Agency argued that Gordon Sondland’s decision to testify could set an important precedent in the impeachment inquiry. | The executive editor of Lawfare and a former lawyer for the National Security Agency argued that Gordon Sondland’s decision to testify could set an important precedent in the impeachment inquiry. |
| It is significant that Sondland is testifying over State Department objections. This will give cover to career officials to do the same, even if Pompeo tries to stop them. https://t.co/GlHiZRaFbd | It is significant that Sondland is testifying over State Department objections. This will give cover to career officials to do the same, even if Pompeo tries to stop them. https://t.co/GlHiZRaFbd |
| The lawyer for Gordon Sondland, who is now expected to testify in the impeachment inquiry next Thursday, added in his statement that the US ambassador to the EU would speak to House committees despite the State Department’s opposition. | |
| But he warned that the ambassador would not be able to produce many of the documents that House Democrats requested in their subpoena. | |
| Sondland's counsel says he "respects the Committees’ interest in reviewing all relevant materials; however, federal law and State Department regulations prohibit him from producing documents concerning his official responsibilities." Counsel says he doesn't control the documents | Sondland's counsel says he "respects the Committees’ interest in reviewing all relevant materials; however, federal law and State Department regulations prohibit him from producing documents concerning his official responsibilities." Counsel says he doesn't control the documents |
| Larry Hogan, the Republican governor of Maryland, expressed support for the impeachment inquiry against Trump. | Larry Hogan, the Republican governor of Maryland, expressed support for the impeachment inquiry against Trump. |
| Hogan said in a PBS segment that aired last night: “I think we do need an inquiry because we have to get to the bottom of it.” | Hogan said in a PBS segment that aired last night: “I think we do need an inquiry because we have to get to the bottom of it.” |
| But the Maryland governor made clear that, for now at least, he was only backing the investigation: “I’m not ready to say I support impeachment and the removal of the president, but I do think we should have an impeachment inquiry.” | But the Maryland governor made clear that, for now at least, he was only backing the investigation: “I’m not ready to say I support impeachment and the removal of the president, but I do think we should have an impeachment inquiry.” |
| Hogan, who has previously offered severe criticism of Trump, is now the third Republican governor to express support for the inquiry – joining Phil Scott of Vermont and Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. | Hogan, who has previously offered severe criticism of Trump, is now the third Republican governor to express support for the inquiry – joining Phil Scott of Vermont and Charlie Baker of Massachusetts. |
| A lawyer for Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who was blocked from testifying in the impeachment inquiry earlier this week, said he would speak to House committees next Thursday. | |
| Sondland’s lawyer said in a statement that the ambassador “looks forward to testifying.” A person familiar with the matter told CNN that the State Department has not yet offered any guidance on Sondland’s appearance. | |
| When the State Department blocked him from speaking to Congress earlier this week, Sondland said in a statement through his lawyer that he was “profoundly disappointed that he will not be able to testify.” | When the State Department blocked him from speaking to Congress earlier this week, Sondland said in a statement through his lawyer that he was “profoundly disappointed that he will not be able to testify.” |
| Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU who was blocked from testifying in the impeachment inquiry on Tuesday, is expected to speak to House committees next week after receiving a subpoena. | |
| Axios reports: | Axios reports: |
| One source familiar with the rescheduling tells Axios that after the State Department pulled the plug on Sondland’s testimony, Republicans close to Trump encouraged the president to let the ambassador come before the committees. Trump’s allies believe Sondland’s testimony will be helpful to their side. | One source familiar with the rescheduling tells Axios that after the State Department pulled the plug on Sondland’s testimony, Republicans close to Trump encouraged the president to let the ambassador come before the committees. Trump’s allies believe Sondland’s testimony will be helpful to their side. |
| ‘Republicans are looking for any silver lining they can get,’ the source said. ‘Sondland could be a silver lining ... He donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural. He’s a Trump guy. Whereas [former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie] Yovanovitch is a career person.’ | ‘Republicans are looking for any silver lining they can get,’ the source said. ‘Sondland could be a silver lining ... He donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural. He’s a Trump guy. Whereas [former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie] Yovanovitch is a career person.’ |
| Good morning, live blog readers – and congratulations on making it to Friday! | Good morning, live blog readers – and congratulations on making it to Friday! |
| House committees leading the impeachment inquiry against Trump are scheduled to depose Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, today. | House committees leading the impeachment inquiry against Trump are scheduled to depose Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, today. |
| The key word here is “scheduled” because Yovanovitch is still a State Department employee, and the department blocked another diplomat, Gordon Sondland, from testifying to the committees earlier this week. A senior congressional aide said yesterday that Yovanovitch and her lawyers were “on board” with the interview. | The key word here is “scheduled” because Yovanovitch is still a State Department employee, and the department blocked another diplomat, Gordon Sondland, from testifying to the committees earlier this week. A senior congressional aide said yesterday that Yovanovitch and her lawyers were “on board” with the interview. |
| If she does appear, the former ambassador could provide valuable insight into reports that she pushed back against efforts from Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. | If she does appear, the former ambassador could provide valuable insight into reports that she pushed back against efforts from Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden. |
| Yovanovitch was recalled from her post in the spring, reportedly after Giuliani complained to Donald Trump about her opposition to the pressure campaign. | Yovanovitch was recalled from her post in the spring, reportedly after Giuliani complained to Donald Trump about her opposition to the pressure campaign. |
| So the former ambassador could answer a key question: did Trump make significant foreign-policy decisions solely to hurt the political fortunes of his potential election opponent? House Democrats are hoping to find out today. | So the former ambassador could answer a key question: did Trump make significant foreign-policy decisions solely to hurt the political fortunes of his potential election opponent? House Democrats are hoping to find out today. |
| Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on today: | Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on today: |
| Trump will meet with the Chinese vice premier for trade talks and later attend a campaign rally in Louisiana. | Trump will meet with the Chinese vice premier for trade talks and later attend a campaign rally in Louisiana. |
| Attorney general William Barr will speak at the University of Notre Dame Law School at 4 p.m. EST. | Attorney general William Barr will speak at the University of Notre Dame Law School at 4 p.m. EST. |
| Secretary of state Mike Pompeo will address the American Association of Christian Counselors in Tennessee. | Secretary of state Mike Pompeo will address the American Association of Christian Counselors in Tennessee. |
| The blog will be watching all of that and more, so stay tuned. | The blog will be watching all of that and more, so stay tuned. |