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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/oct/11/donald-trump-news-today-impeachment-inquiry-ukraine-politics-live-updates
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| Trump impeachment inquiry: ex-Ukraine envoy defies White House to testify – live | Trump impeachment inquiry: ex-Ukraine envoy defies White House to testify – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The US is planning to send more troops, potentially numbering in the thousands, to Saudi Arabia following an attack on its oil facilities last month, which the two countries have blamed on Iran. | |
| Reuters reports: | |
| [Sources familiar with the matter] did not specify exactly how many troops would be deployed or specify whether they would be replacing any other American forces that might be departing elsewhere in the region in the coming weeks or months. | |
| The Pentagon has yet to announce, for example, whether it will replace the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group when it eventually wraps up its deployment to the Middle East. | |
| One of the sources said the United States was also considering deploying additional air defenses to Saudi Arabia. That could not be immediately confirmed, however. | |
| The Trump administration’s decision to send more resources to Saudi Arabia stands in stark contrast to the president’s withdrawal of troops from northern Syria. | |
| Trump said earlier this week of his Syria decision: “I campaigned on the fact that I was going to bring our soldiers home, and bring them home as rapidly as possible.” | |
| Ahead of his meeting this afternoon with the Chinese vice premier, Trump boasted that he would be able to unilaterally sign a trade deal with Beijing if the two countries can agree on terms. | |
| One of the great things about the China Deal is the fact that, for various reasons, we do not have to go through the very long and politically complex Congressional Approval Process. When the deal is fully negotiated, I sign it myself on behalf of our Country. Fast and Clean! | |
| But it appears that the president is once again trying to claim credit for solving a problem of his own creation, as an LA Times editor noted. | |
| "I alone can fix it."1.Again Trump shows disdain for Constitution & balance of powers--the Art. I branch, Congress, is a pest to avoid.2."Deal" addresses only trade issues Trump has created, tariffs. NOT longstanding issues--China's forced US tech transfers, IP rights, etc. https://t.co/OGt9pQXIJJ | |
| The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to uphold House Democrats’ subpoena for eight years of Trump’s financial records from his accounting firm. | The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals voted 2-1 to uphold House Democrats’ subpoena for eight years of Trump’s financial records from his accounting firm. |
| The only judge to vote against upholding the subpoena was Neomi Rao, who was appointed by Trump. (The other two judges in the case were appointed by Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.) | The only judge to vote against upholding the subpoena was Neomi Rao, who was appointed by Trump. (The other two judges in the case were appointed by Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.) |
| Rao argued in her dissenting opinion that members of Congress cannot investigate potentially illegal activity by the president unless it is meant to advance an impeachment inquiry, which this subpoena was not officially a part of. | |
| But a Politico reporter raised the point that Rao’s argument could delegitimize nearly all congressional oversight of the president. | But a Politico reporter raised the point that Rao’s argument could delegitimize nearly all congressional oversight of the president. |
| More from Rao.What I’m wondering: Couldn’t this argument undo all congressional oversight of the Executive Branch? Every agency is headed by an “impeachable official” who could claim traditional oversight requests to ferret out waste/corruption are sidestepping impeachment. pic.twitter.com/WmMq5DlpDy | More from Rao.What I’m wondering: Couldn’t this argument undo all congressional oversight of the Executive Branch? Every agency is headed by an “impeachable official” who could claim traditional oversight requests to ferret out waste/corruption are sidestepping impeachment. pic.twitter.com/WmMq5DlpDy |
| The former US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, is now sitting down with House committees involved in the impeachment inquiry for a “transcribed interview,” according to a Fox News reporter. | The former US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, is now sitting down with House committees involved in the impeachment inquiry for a “transcribed interview,” according to a Fox News reporter. |
| 1) Fmr Amb to Ukraine Yovanovitch is now appearing for a transcribed interview (not a hearing, nor a deposition) w/Hse Intel, Oversight & Foreign Affairs Cmtes. A mixture of staff and lawmakers are here. But only those from the Intelligence Committee are allowed to pose questions | 1) Fmr Amb to Ukraine Yovanovitch is now appearing for a transcribed interview (not a hearing, nor a deposition) w/Hse Intel, Oversight & Foreign Affairs Cmtes. A mixture of staff and lawmakers are here. But only those from the Intelligence Committee are allowed to pose questions |
| In case you missed it: a federal appeals court has upheld House Democrats’ subpoena to obtain eight years of Trump’s financial records from his accounting firm. | In case you missed it: a federal appeals court has upheld House Democrats’ subpoena to obtain eight years of Trump’s financial records from his accounting firm. |
| That ruling came as Marie Yovanovitch appeared on Capitol Hill to testify in the impeachment inquiry, defying the White House’s refusal to cooperate with the probe. | That ruling came as Marie Yovanovitch appeared on Capitol Hill to testify in the impeachment inquiry, defying the White House’s refusal to cooperate with the probe. |
| Taken together, the developments mark two major victories for House Democrats as they seek to uncover more information about Trump and his administration for their impeachment investigation. | Taken together, the developments mark two major victories for House Democrats as they seek to uncover more information about Trump and his administration for their impeachment investigation. |
| After 10 months of false starts & WH stonewalling, House Dems are getting their mojo. Today a top State official is defying the WH no-cooperation strategy & testifying. This after Volker & b4 Sondland 2.PLUS, an appeals court JUST UPHELD the MAZAR subpoena 4 Trump's $$ info | After 10 months of false starts & WH stonewalling, House Dems are getting their mojo. Today a top State official is defying the WH no-cooperation strategy & testifying. This after Volker & b4 Sondland 2.PLUS, an appeals court JUST UPHELD the MAZAR subpoena 4 Trump's $$ info |
| Julian Borger also notes in his piece on Yovanovitch that her removal as ambassador to Ukraine has had a detrimental effect on state department morale: | Julian Borger also notes in his piece on Yovanovitch that her removal as ambassador to Ukraine has had a detrimental effect on state department morale: |
| [Secretary of state Mike] Pompeo’s claim that the House committees were seeking to ‘intimidate, bully and treat improperly’ state department officials has drawn accusations of hypocrisy, particularly in light of his treatment of Yovanovitch. | [Secretary of state Mike] Pompeo’s claim that the House committees were seeking to ‘intimidate, bully and treat improperly’ state department officials has drawn accusations of hypocrisy, particularly in light of his treatment of Yovanovitch. |
| He appears to have bowed to pressure from the White House by pulling her out of Kyiv two months before her posting was due to end, and failed to speak out in her defence when she was smeared by rightwing pundits and talkshow hosts. | He appears to have bowed to pressure from the White House by pulling her out of Kyiv two months before her posting was due to end, and failed to speak out in her defence when she was smeared by rightwing pundits and talkshow hosts. |
| Pompeo likes to claim he has brought ‘swagger’ to the state department, but the treatment of Yovanovitch and the state department’s embroilment in the impeachment scandal has badly hit morale at the organisation. | Pompeo likes to claim he has brought ‘swagger’ to the state department, but the treatment of Yovanovitch and the state department’s embroilment in the impeachment scandal has badly hit morale at the organisation. |
| Who is Marie Yovanovitch, diplomat slated to testify on Ukraine and Trump? | Who is Marie Yovanovitch, diplomat slated to testify on Ukraine and Trump? |
| The Guardian’s world affairs editor, Julian Borger, has more on Marie Yovanovitch and how the former US ambassador to Ukraine became a central figure in the impeachment probe: | The Guardian’s world affairs editor, Julian Borger, has more on Marie Yovanovitch and how the former US ambassador to Ukraine became a central figure in the impeachment probe: |
| Yovanovitch is no longer ambassador, having been removed in May before her posting was finished, after having been accused of disloyalty in the far-right media. ... | Yovanovitch is no longer ambassador, having been removed in May before her posting was finished, after having been accused of disloyalty in the far-right media. ... |
| Since leaving Kyiv, Yovanovitch has been on sabbatical at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, but is still a serving foreign service officer. ... | Since leaving Kyiv, Yovanovitch has been on sabbatical at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University, but is still a serving foreign service officer. ... |
| In picking on Yovanovitch, the detractors have chosen a tough target. She has had a stellar career, serving as ambassador under three presidents to three countries (a rare distinction), Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Ukraine, as well as senior adviser to the under secretary of state for political affairs. ... | In picking on Yovanovitch, the detractors have chosen a tough target. She has had a stellar career, serving as ambassador under three presidents to three countries (a rare distinction), Kyrgyzstan, Armenia and Ukraine, as well as senior adviser to the under secretary of state for political affairs. ... |
| Former colleagues all describe her as meticulous, calm under pressure, supremely qualified and steeped in the nonpartisan culture of professional diplomacy, all which set her apart from the campaign donors who are given an increasing share of ambassadorial posts. | Former colleagues all describe her as meticulous, calm under pressure, supremely qualified and steeped in the nonpartisan culture of professional diplomacy, all which set her apart from the campaign donors who are given an increasing share of ambassadorial posts. |
| Who is Marie Yovanovitch, diplomat slated to testify on Ukraine and Trump? | Who is Marie Yovanovitch, diplomat slated to testify on Ukraine and Trump? |
| Yovanovitch’s decision to testify in the impeachment inquiry could clear the way for other administration officials to speak to House committees, despite the White House’s opposition. | Yovanovitch’s decision to testify in the impeachment inquiry could clear the way for other administration officials to speak to House committees, despite the White House’s opposition. |
| Caught between the conflicting and equally forceful demands of two branches of government, Yovanovitch appears to have chosen Congress, raising the possibility that other government officials with little loyalty to Mr. Trump could follow suit.https://t.co/6ntOAkRyak | Caught between the conflicting and equally forceful demands of two branches of government, Yovanovitch appears to have chosen Congress, raising the possibility that other government officials with little loyalty to Mr. Trump could follow suit.https://t.co/6ntOAkRyak |
| Earlier this morning, a lawyer for Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, said the diplomat would cooperate with House Democrats’ subpoena and talk to lawmakers next Thursday. | Earlier this morning, a lawyer for Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, said the diplomat would cooperate with House Democrats’ subpoena and talk to lawmakers next Thursday. |
| The lawyer’s statement specifically mentioned that the State Department was leaning in the direction of trying to block Sondland’s testimony. | The lawyer’s statement specifically mentioned that the State Department was leaning in the direction of trying to block Sondland’s testimony. |
| So there are now two State Department officials who appear to have defied the administration’s wishes to testify in the impeachment probe. | So there are now two State Department officials who appear to have defied the administration’s wishes to testify in the impeachment probe. |
| It’s worth taking a moment to note the boldness of Yovanovitch’s decision to testify despite the White House’s refusal to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry. | It’s worth taking a moment to note the boldness of Yovanovitch’s decision to testify despite the White House’s refusal to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry. |
| Even though Yovanovitch was recalled from her post as the US ambassador to Ukraine this spring, she is still an employee of the State Department. | Even though Yovanovitch was recalled from her post as the US ambassador to Ukraine this spring, she is still an employee of the State Department. |
| She’s HERE.Despite the WH refusal to cooperate w/the impeachment inquiry and State’s move to try to tell officials not to show, Yovanovitch is here to testify. Pretty incredible https://t.co/lTTORkOVXE | She’s HERE.Despite the WH refusal to cooperate w/the impeachment inquiry and State’s move to try to tell officials not to show, Yovanovitch is here to testify. Pretty incredible https://t.co/lTTORkOVXE |
| Just before Yovanovitch’s arrival, there was a brief moment when officers on Capitol Hill feared a security breach, adding even more drama to an already dramatic day. | Just before Yovanovitch’s arrival, there was a brief moment when officers on Capitol Hill feared a security breach, adding even more drama to an already dramatic day. |
| As we await Yovanovitch arrival, USCP trying to reset security system at the South Door of the Capitol. Alarms are sounding. But they can’t get it re-set. South door was briefly locked. So, unclear what this means for Yovanovitch arrival. But there is no actual security threat | As we await Yovanovitch arrival, USCP trying to reset security system at the South Door of the Capitol. Alarms are sounding. But they can’t get it re-set. South door was briefly locked. So, unclear what this means for Yovanovitch arrival. But there is no actual security threat |
| Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify in the impeachment inquiry against Trump. | Marie Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify in the impeachment inquiry against Trump. |