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| Trump renews call for Ukraine whistleblower to be unmasked – live | Trump renews call for Ukraine whistleblower to be unmasked – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Multiple senior Trump officials face deadlines this week to turn over documents related to the impeachment inquiry, but there is significant doubt that they will comply with the subpoenas. | |
| The vice president, Mike Pence, is supposed to turn over Ukraine-related documents by tomorrow, and defense secretary Mark Esper and acting director of Office of Management and Budget Russ Vought have also been asked to return requested materials related to the inquiry by tomorrow. | |
| Meanwhile, energy secretary Rick Perry and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney face a Friday deadline to provide subpoenaed documents. | |
| But given the White House’s refusal to cooperate with House Democrats’ investigation, it seems unlikely that any of these men will comply with the subpoenas by their stated deadlines. | |
| A conservative group has put out a statement backing the potential nomination of Ken Cuccinelli, currently serving as acting director of US citizenship and immigration services, to lead the department of homeland security. | A conservative group has put out a statement backing the potential nomination of Ken Cuccinelli, currently serving as acting director of US citizenship and immigration services, to lead the department of homeland security. |
| The Conservative Action Project said: “Cuccinelli is a champion of conservative policies, and a man of unimpeachable character. We have no doubt that he will execute the president’s agenda with the integrity, commitment, and excellence that we have known him to bring to every other position. He has our strongest support.” | The Conservative Action Project said: “Cuccinelli is a champion of conservative policies, and a man of unimpeachable character. We have no doubt that he will execute the president’s agenda with the integrity, commitment, and excellence that we have known him to bring to every other position. He has our strongest support.” |
| Trump said he would choose a new acting secretary this week following the Friday announcement that Kevin McAleenan was stepping down from the post. | Trump said he would choose a new acting secretary this week following the Friday announcement that Kevin McAleenan was stepping down from the post. |
| A former chief of staff to Mitch McConnell, who would oversee Cuccinelli’s potential nomination in his role as Senate majority leader, was much less enthusiastic about the idea. | A former chief of staff to Mitch McConnell, who would oversee Cuccinelli’s potential nomination in his role as Senate majority leader, was much less enthusiastic about the idea. |
| https://t.co/kv3COAcBjf pic.twitter.com/3GdDjVgn4G | https://t.co/kv3COAcBjf pic.twitter.com/3GdDjVgn4G |
| Joe Biden is using every tool at his disposal to push back against Trump’s false claims that the former vice president used his influence to advance his son’s business interests. | Joe Biden is using every tool at his disposal to push back against Trump’s false claims that the former vice president used his influence to advance his son’s business interests. |
| Most recently, the Democratic presidential candidate has released his plan to “ensure that no future president can ever again abuse the office for personal gain.” | Most recently, the Democratic presidential candidate has released his plan to “ensure that no future president can ever again abuse the office for personal gain.” |
| CNN has more: | CNN has more: |
| In a rebuke of the Trump administration, Biden pledges to ‘restore’ ethics in government, ‘rein in executive branch financial conflicts of interest,’ and ‘return integrity’ to decision making in his administration. ... | In a rebuke of the Trump administration, Biden pledges to ‘restore’ ethics in government, ‘rein in executive branch financial conflicts of interest,’ and ‘return integrity’ to decision making in his administration. ... |
| According to the plan, if elected, the former vice president would issue an executive order prohibiting members of his administration or White House staff from getting involved in investigations by the Justice Department, saying that those who do would be fired. He would also work to pass laws that say the department can investigate ‘any allegation of improper partisan influence on DOJ investigations and prosecutions.’ ... | According to the plan, if elected, the former vice president would issue an executive order prohibiting members of his administration or White House staff from getting involved in investigations by the Justice Department, saying that those who do would be fired. He would also work to pass laws that say the department can investigate ‘any allegation of improper partisan influence on DOJ investigations and prosecutions.’ ... |
| The ethics plan also says Biden would work to make sure candidates for federal offices are required to release tax returns ‘dating back 10 years prior to the date they declared candidacy for their first federal office.’ | The ethics plan also says Biden would work to make sure candidates for federal offices are required to release tax returns ‘dating back 10 years prior to the date they declared candidacy for their first federal office.’ |
| Echoing the White House, a spokesman for Donald Trump Jr has issued a statement saying he has not seen the violent video that was reportedly shown at an event for Trump supporters last week. | Echoing the White House, a spokesman for Donald Trump Jr has issued a statement saying he has not seen the violent video that was reportedly shown at an event for Trump supporters last week. |
| The president’s eldest son said he “strongly condemns the type of disgusting and graphic violence purported to be depicted in the video.” | The president’s eldest son said he “strongly condemns the type of disgusting and graphic violence purported to be depicted in the video.” |
| “...in the video against members of the media. Regardless of political party, we should all reject any and all violence in our politics, whether it's directed towards members of the media, politicians, the family members of politicians or political activists." | “...in the video against members of the media. Regardless of political party, we should all reject any and all violence in our politics, whether it's directed towards members of the media, politicians, the family members of politicians or political activists." |
| But it’s odd that the younger Trump has allegedly not seen the video, given that he was reportedly a speaker at the event where it was played. | But it’s odd that the younger Trump has allegedly not seen the video, given that he was reportedly a speaker at the event where it was played. |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Trump is defending his decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria, even as reports of violence escalate and fears mount about potential escapes from Islamic State prisons. | Trump is defending his decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria, even as reports of violence escalate and fears mount about potential escapes from Islamic State prisons. |
| Fiona Hill, Trump’s former top adviser on Russia, is testifying under subpoena in House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, despite the White House’s reported efforts to block or limit her testimony. | Fiona Hill, Trump’s former top adviser on Russia, is testifying under subpoena in House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, despite the White House’s reported efforts to block or limit her testimony. |
| Trump has renewed his call to unmask the whistleblower who first rang alarm bells about the Ukraine call, as Adam Schiff said that the person may not be able to testify out of safety concerns. | Trump has renewed his call to unmask the whistleblower who first rang alarm bells about the Ukraine call, as Adam Schiff said that the person may not be able to testify out of safety concerns. |
| The blog will have much more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have much more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| Trump is crowing about Hunter Biden’s announcement that he will step down from the board of a Chinese investment company and would avoid work for foreign firms if his father were elected president. | Trump is crowing about Hunter Biden’s announcement that he will step down from the board of a Chinese investment company and would avoid work for foreign firms if his father were elected president. |
| Wow! Hunter Biden is being forced to leave a Chinese Company. Now watch the Fake News wrap their greasy and very protective arms around him. Only softball questions of him please! | Wow! Hunter Biden is being forced to leave a Chinese Company. Now watch the Fake News wrap their greasy and very protective arms around him. Only softball questions of him please! |
| ABC announced earlier today that it will broadcast an interview with Biden tomorrow and that it would cover his business activities in Ukraine. | ABC announced earlier today that it will broadcast an interview with Biden tomorrow and that it would cover his business activities in Ukraine. |
| Although Biden has decided to curtail his business abroad, there is still no evidence to back up Trump’s claims that Biden’s father used his influence as vice president to professionally benefit his son. | Although Biden has decided to curtail his business abroad, there is still no evidence to back up Trump’s claims that Biden’s father used his influence as vice president to professionally benefit his son. |
| House speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed she and senator Lindsey Graham have discussed possible sanctions on Turkey following the country’s military operation in Syria. | House speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed she and senator Lindsey Graham have discussed possible sanctions on Turkey following the country’s military operation in Syria. |
| Pleased to have a conversation with Senator @LindseyGrahamSC this morning. Our first order of business was to agree that we must have a bipartisan, bicameral joint resolution to overturn the President’s dangerous decision in Syria immediately. | Pleased to have a conversation with Senator @LindseyGrahamSC this morning. Our first order of business was to agree that we must have a bipartisan, bicameral joint resolution to overturn the President’s dangerous decision in Syria immediately. |
| As we find ourselves in a situation where the President gave a green light to the Turks to bomb and effectively unleashed ISIS, we must have a stronger sanctions package than what the White House is suggesting. | As we find ourselves in a situation where the President gave a green light to the Turks to bomb and effectively unleashed ISIS, we must have a stronger sanctions package than what the White House is suggesting. |
| The Democratic House speaker and the Republican senator generally find little to agree on when it comes to congressional proposals. | The Democratic House speaker and the Republican senator generally find little to agree on when it comes to congressional proposals. |
| But Graham, who is usually of Trump’s closest congressional allies, has been outspoken in his criticism of the president’s decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria. | But Graham, who is usually of Trump’s closest congressional allies, has been outspoken in his criticism of the president’s decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria. |
| More sources have confirmed that the White House sought to block or limit the testimony of Fiona Hill, Trump’s former top adviser on Russia. | More sources have confirmed that the White House sought to block or limit the testimony of Fiona Hill, Trump’s former top adviser on Russia. |
| Confirmed this is the case with two ppl involved. Same arrangement as Yovanovitch. I suspect we will see something similar with Kent and maybe others later this week. https://t.co/2FMTQg3TuP | Confirmed this is the case with two ppl involved. Same arrangement as Yovanovitch. I suspect we will see something similar with Kent and maybe others later this week. https://t.co/2FMTQg3TuP |
| House Democrats leading the impeachment inquiry seem to have abandoned their initial pursuit of voluntary interviews as the Trump administration has tried to prevent more witnesses from testifying. | House Democrats leading the impeachment inquiry seem to have abandoned their initial pursuit of voluntary interviews as the Trump administration has tried to prevent more witnesses from testifying. |
| This subpoena strategy could arise again tomorrow, when George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary in the state department’s European and Eurasian bureau, is expected to be interviewed. | This subpoena strategy could arise again tomorrow, when George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary in the state department’s European and Eurasian bureau, is expected to be interviewed. |
| An official involved in the impeachment investigation said that Fiona Hill, Trump’s former top adviser on Russia, was subpoenaed because of White House efforts to block witnesses from testifying for the inquiry. | An official involved in the impeachment investigation said that Fiona Hill, Trump’s former top adviser on Russia, was subpoenaed because of White House efforts to block witnesses from testifying for the inquiry. |
| Fiona Hill was subpoenaed, per official working on impeachment inquiry, because of “attempts by the White House and the Administration to direct witnesses not to cooperate with the House’s impeachment inquiry and efforts by the White House to limit any testimony that does occur.” | Fiona Hill was subpoenaed, per official working on impeachment inquiry, because of “attempts by the White House and the Administration to direct witnesses not to cooperate with the House’s impeachment inquiry and efforts by the White House to limit any testimony that does occur.” |
| House Democrats leading the inquiry said Friday that the State Department had been directed by the White House to tell Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, not to testify. | House Democrats leading the inquiry said Friday that the State Department had been directed by the White House to tell Maria Yovanovitch, the former US ambassador to Ukraine, not to testify. |
| Yovanovitch went ahead with her testimony after receiving a subpoena, a course of action that Hill has now also taken. | Yovanovitch went ahead with her testimony after receiving a subpoena, a course of action that Hill has now also taken. |
| Trump is intensifying his demands that the whistleblower who first raised concerns about the president’s Ukraine call be unmasked. | Trump is intensifying his demands that the whistleblower who first raised concerns about the president’s Ukraine call be unmasked. |
| ....Democrat’s game was foiled when we caught Schiff fraudulently making up my Ukraine conversation, when I released the exact conversation Transcript, and when Ukrainian President and the Foreign Minister said there was NO PRESSURE, very normal talk! A total Impeachment Scam! | ....Democrat’s game was foiled when we caught Schiff fraudulently making up my Ukraine conversation, when I released the exact conversation Transcript, and when Ukrainian President and the Foreign Minister said there was NO PRESSURE, very normal talk! A total Impeachment Scam! |
| Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, warned yesterday that the whistleblower may not end up testifying due to concerns about the person’s safety. | Adam Schiff, the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee, warned yesterday that the whistleblower may not end up testifying due to concerns about the person’s safety. |
| The California Democrat told CBS News: “Our primary interest right now is making sure that that person is protected. Indeed, now there’s more than one whistleblower, that they are protected.” | The California Democrat told CBS News: “Our primary interest right now is making sure that that person is protected. Indeed, now there’s more than one whistleblower, that they are protected.” |
| The attorneys representing the initial whistleblower said earlier this month that they are representing at least one other person, who allegedly has firsthand knowledge of Trump’s call with Volodymyr Zelenskiy. | The attorneys representing the initial whistleblower said earlier this month that they are representing at least one other person, who allegedly has firsthand knowledge of Trump’s call with Volodymyr Zelenskiy. |
| Trump has still not personally condemned the fake video that was played last week at his Miami resort during an event for supporters, which showed the president stabbing various media outlets and activist groups. | Trump has still not personally condemned the fake video that was played last week at his Miami resort during an event for supporters, which showed the president stabbing various media outlets and activist groups. |
| Trump’s press secretary said in a statement that the president had not yet seen the video but “strongly condemns” it based on reports of its content. | Trump’s press secretary said in a statement that the president had not yet seen the video but “strongly condemns” it based on reports of its content. |
| And yet Trump himself has still not weighed in, even though he has been active on Twitter today. The New York Times sums up his morning succinctly: | And yet Trump himself has still not weighed in, even though he has been active on Twitter today. The New York Times sums up his morning succinctly: |
| Mr. Trump, who has been posting on Twitter about other topics early Monday — including wishing his former press secretary good luck on his appearance on Monday evening on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ — has not mentioned or condemned the video himself. | Mr. Trump, who has been posting on Twitter about other topics early Monday — including wishing his former press secretary good luck on his appearance on Monday evening on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ — has not mentioned or condemned the video himself. |
| There was a brief moment of drama just now during the closed-door testimony of Fiona Hill, Trump’s former top adviser on Russia, in the impeachment inquiry. | There was a brief moment of drama just now during the closed-door testimony of Fiona Hill, Trump’s former top adviser on Russia, in the impeachment inquiry. |
| Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican of Florida and a staunch ally of Trump’s, demanded to sit in on Hill’s testimony even though he is not a member of the three panels conducting the interview. | Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican of Florida and a staunch ally of Trump’s, demanded to sit in on Hill’s testimony even though he is not a member of the three panels conducting the interview. |
| Rep Gaetz is not on Intel or Oversight or Foreign Affairs Cmte and was kicked out of the deposition. Argues that he is on Judiciary and his committee has jurisdiction on impeachment and should have been let in. pic.twitter.com/LRt8YvEOa9 | Rep Gaetz is not on Intel or Oversight or Foreign Affairs Cmte and was kicked out of the deposition. Argues that he is on Judiciary and his committee has jurisdiction on impeachment and should have been let in. pic.twitter.com/LRt8YvEOa9 |
| Gaetz said he consulted with the House parliamentarian, who makes decisions regarding congressional procedure, and was told he could not be present for Hill’s interview. | Gaetz said he consulted with the House parliamentarian, who makes decisions regarding congressional procedure, and was told he could not be present for Hill’s interview. |
| Matt Gaetz emerges from closed-door interview with Fiona Hill saying he was kicked out by House Democrats bc he’s not a member of the three committees conducting the interview. He said he consulted with the House parliamentarian, who ruled that he could not be there. | Matt Gaetz emerges from closed-door interview with Fiona Hill saying he was kicked out by House Democrats bc he’s not a member of the three committees conducting the interview. He said he consulted with the House parliamentarian, who ruled that he could not be there. |
| In a rare moment of agreement, senator Lindsey Graham said he is working with the Democratic speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to pass sanctions on Turkey for their military operation in Syria. | In a rare moment of agreement, senator Lindsey Graham said he is working with the Democratic speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to pass sanctions on Turkey for their military operation in Syria. |
| I will be working across party lines in a bicameral fashion to draft sanctions and move quickly, appreciating President Trump’s willingness to work with the Congress. The Speaker indicated to me that time was of the essence. | I will be working across party lines in a bicameral fashion to draft sanctions and move quickly, appreciating President Trump’s willingness to work with the Congress. The Speaker indicated to me that time was of the essence. |
| Trump’s treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said Friday that the administration was prepared to enact sanctions on Turkey but had not yet activated them. | Trump’s treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said Friday that the administration was prepared to enact sanctions on Turkey but had not yet activated them. |
| If Graham and Pelosi can secure bipartisan support for the proposed sanctions, the president may have his hand forced. | If Graham and Pelosi can secure bipartisan support for the proposed sanctions, the president may have his hand forced. |