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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2019/oct/18/trump-news-today-live-impeachment-inquiry-syria-latest-updates
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| Erdoğan says Trump's letter showed lack of respect – live | Erdoğan says Trump's letter showed lack of respect – live |
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| Jane Fonda is holding another protest in Washington as part of her “Fire Drill Fridays” campaign, which is meant to bring more attention to the climate crisis. Watch the Guardian’s live feed below. | |
| The 81-year-old actress was arrested on the steps of the US Capitol last Friday as part of the campaign. | |
| She told the LA Times recently that she was inspired to act by Greta Thunberg, the teenage climate activist from Sweden who recently condemned inaction to combat the crisis during the UN General Assembly. | |
| Fonda said of Thunberg: “[S]he read the [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] report and she realized that the crisis was barreling straight at us, like a train, and looked around and people weren’t behaving appropriately. It so traumatized her that she stopped eating. I hadn’t realized that she stopped eating and speaking for almost a year. And that really hit me.” | |
| Today is a quieter day in the impeachment inquiry, with no closed-door interviews scheduled on Capitol Hill. | |
| The schedule will pick up again starting Tuesday, with acting US ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor speaking to the House committees leading the investigation. | |
| Next week’s impeachment depositions, per official working on inquiry: Tuesday: Amb William Taylor Wednesday: Amb Philip Reeker + OMB Associate Director for Nat’l Security Michael Duffey Thursday: Deputy Assistant Sec of Defense Laura Cooper + Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman | |
| A Republican congressman who sits on the House foreign affairs committee, one of the three panels leading the impeachment inquiry against Trump, appeared open to the possibility that the president may have committed impeachable offenses in his conduct toward Ukraine. | |
| GOP Rep. Francis Rooney on CNN repeatedly refused to rule out that Trump's conduct toward Ukraine is impeachable -- says he wants to hear from next week's witnesses but finds it "troubling" and compares it to Nixon calling Watergate a "witch hunt" when it really wasn't. | |
| However, another House Republican who is a member of the intelligence committee seemed entirely unconcerned that Trump had reportedly delegated his Ukraine policy to Rudy Giuliani, his personal lawyer. | |
| Conaway added: “So he should have wide latitude as to how he gets his advice.” | |
| The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said that Trump’s letter to him urging caution in Syria showed a lack of respect, and he warned that he would respond to it in time. | The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, said that Trump’s letter to him urging caution in Syria showed a lack of respect, and he warned that he would respond to it in time. |
| Wow. #Erdogan tells news conference the letter sent by @realDonaldTrump telling him not to be a ‘tough guy’ wasn’t in line with diplomatic or political customs. He said they wouldn’t forget the lack of respect. “When the time comes necessary steps will be taken” pic.twitter.com/PU9062krr6 | Wow. #Erdogan tells news conference the letter sent by @realDonaldTrump telling him not to be a ‘tough guy’ wasn’t in line with diplomatic or political customs. He said they wouldn’t forget the lack of respect. “When the time comes necessary steps will be taken” pic.twitter.com/PU9062krr6 |
| The White House confirmed earlier this week that Trump sent a letter to Erdogan on the situation in Syria. The letter concluded: “Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool! I will call you later.” | The White House confirmed earlier this week that Trump sent a letter to Erdogan on the situation in Syria. The letter concluded: “Don’t be a tough guy. Don’t be a fool! I will call you later.” |
| Erdogan said the letter was not in line with usual diplomatic customs and showed a lack of respect. The Turkish president, who is meeting with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, said: “When the time comes, necessary steps will be taken.” | Erdogan said the letter was not in line with usual diplomatic customs and showed a lack of respect. The Turkish president, who is meeting with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, said: “When the time comes, necessary steps will be taken.” |
| The Baltimore Sun commemorated the loss of the city’s longtime congressman, Elijah Cummings, with a front-page story under the headline “A strong voice stilled.” | The Baltimore Sun commemorated the loss of the city’s longtime congressman, Elijah Cummings, with a front-page story under the headline “A strong voice stilled.” |
| Terrific @baltimoresun front page today pic.twitter.com/ilZWMHXWCX | Terrific @baltimoresun front page today pic.twitter.com/ilZWMHXWCX |
| Cummings, a key figure in the impeachment inquiry against Trump as the Democratic chairman of the House oversight committee, represented his Baltimore district for more than 20 years. | Cummings, a key figure in the impeachment inquiry against Trump as the Democratic chairman of the House oversight committee, represented his Baltimore district for more than 20 years. |
| He died yesterday at the age of 68 and has been heralded by many of his fellow lawmakers as a “giant” in fighting to improve American democracy and the lives of his constituents. | He died yesterday at the age of 68 and has been heralded by many of his fellow lawmakers as a “giant” in fighting to improve American democracy and the lives of his constituents. |
| State department official George Kent told House investigators leading the impeachment inquiry against Trump that he raised concerns about Hunter Biden’s foreign business activities in 2015, according to the Washington Post. | State department official George Kent told House investigators leading the impeachment inquiry against Trump that he raised concerns about Hunter Biden’s foreign business activities in 2015, according to the Washington Post. |
| The Post reports: | The Post reports: |
| George Kent, a deputy assistant secretary of state, testified Tuesday that he worried that Hunter Biden’s position at the firm Burisma Holdings would complicate efforts by U.S. diplomats to convey to Ukrainian officials the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of confidentiality rules surrounding the deposition. | George Kent, a deputy assistant secretary of state, testified Tuesday that he worried that Hunter Biden’s position at the firm Burisma Holdings would complicate efforts by U.S. diplomats to convey to Ukrainian officials the importance of avoiding conflicts of interest, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of confidentiality rules surrounding the deposition. |
| Kent said he had concerns that Ukrainian officials would view Hunter Biden as a conduit for currying influence with his father, said the people. But when Kent raised the issue with Biden’s office, he was told the then-vice president didn’t have the ‘bandwidth’ to deal with the issue involving his son as his other son, Beau, was battling cancer, said the people familiar with his testimony. | Kent said he had concerns that Ukrainian officials would view Hunter Biden as a conduit for currying influence with his father, said the people. But when Kent raised the issue with Biden’s office, he was told the then-vice president didn’t have the ‘bandwidth’ to deal with the issue involving his son as his other son, Beau, was battling cancer, said the people familiar with his testimony. |
| Another Post reporter said this of Kent’s testimony: | Another Post reporter said this of Kent’s testimony: |
| It’s mildly irritating that all these diplomats now recall raising concerns, but did it so quietly that no one can recall their having done it, there’s no paper trail and they can’t recall who they told.The Trump/Biden episodes show that courage is hard and in short supply. https://t.co/zjTEe1kqhL | It’s mildly irritating that all these diplomats now recall raising concerns, but did it so quietly that no one can recall their having done it, there’s no paper trail and they can’t recall who they told.The Trump/Biden episodes show that courage is hard and in short supply. https://t.co/zjTEe1kqhL |
| Republican senator Mitt Romney delivered a blistering critique of Trump’s Syria policy in a Senate floor speech yesterday, calling the US abandonment of the Kurds “a bloodstain on the annals of American history.” | Republican senator Mitt Romney delivered a blistering critique of Trump’s Syria policy in a Senate floor speech yesterday, calling the US abandonment of the Kurds “a bloodstain on the annals of American history.” |
| But as the Washington Post’s Aaron Blake noted, Romney also interestingly suggested that Trump may have been bullied into the decision by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. | But as the Washington Post’s Aaron Blake noted, Romney also interestingly suggested that Trump may have been bullied into the decision by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. |
| Mitt Romney: "I simply don't understand why the administration did not explain in advance to Erdogan that it's unacceptable for Turkey to attack an American ally.""Are we so weak and so inept diplomatically that Turkey forced the hand of the United States of America? Turkey?" pic.twitter.com/AbB59D5Qqe | Mitt Romney: "I simply don't understand why the administration did not explain in advance to Erdogan that it's unacceptable for Turkey to attack an American ally.""Are we so weak and so inept diplomatically that Turkey forced the hand of the United States of America? Turkey?" pic.twitter.com/AbB59D5Qqe |
| The Utah Republican said: “It’s been … suggested that Turkey may have called America’s bluff, telling the president they are coming no matter what we did. If that’s so, we should know it. For it would tell us a great deal about how we should deal with Turkey, now and in the future.” | The Utah Republican said: “It’s been … suggested that Turkey may have called America’s bluff, telling the president they are coming no matter what we did. If that’s so, we should know it. For it would tell us a great deal about how we should deal with Turkey, now and in the future.” |
| Romney suggested holding hearings to probe how Trump arrived at the controversial decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria. | Romney suggested holding hearings to probe how Trump arrived at the controversial decision to withdraw US troops from northern Syria. |
| Romney’s criticism, combined with the fact that about two-thirds of House Republicans voted in favor of a resolution to condemn Trump’s troop withdrawal, indicates how far apart the president and his party are moving on foreign policy. | Romney’s criticism, combined with the fact that about two-thirds of House Republicans voted in favor of a resolution to condemn Trump’s troop withdrawal, indicates how far apart the president and his party are moving on foreign policy. |
| Good morning, live blog readers! | Good morning, live blog readers! |
| Donald Trump, who took office bragging that he had assembled a team of “my generals” to lead his administration, is now receiving severe criticism from at least three former top military leaders – including his former defense secretary, Gen James Mattis. | Donald Trump, who took office bragging that he had assembled a team of “my generals” to lead his administration, is now receiving severe criticism from at least three former top military leaders – including his former defense secretary, Gen James Mattis. |
| Speaking at the Al Smith Memorial Foundation dinner in New York, Mattis mocked Trump for his lack of military service and for calling the former defense secretary “the most overrated general”. | Speaking at the Al Smith Memorial Foundation dinner in New York, Mattis mocked Trump for his lack of military service and for calling the former defense secretary “the most overrated general”. |
| Referring to the bone spurs Trump cited to avoid serving in the Vietnam War, Mattis said: “I earned my spurs on the battlefield. Donald Trump earned his spurs in a letter from a doctor.” | Referring to the bone spurs Trump cited to avoid serving in the Vietnam War, Mattis said: “I earned my spurs on the battlefield. Donald Trump earned his spurs in a letter from a doctor.” |
| "I’m not just an overrated general. I’m the most overrated general," Mattis says. "I'm honored to be considered that by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress. So I guess I'm the Meryl Streep of generals, and frankly that sounds pretty good to me." pic.twitter.com/Hzpe5lUeje | "I’m not just an overrated general. I’m the most overrated general," Mattis says. "I'm honored to be considered that by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress. So I guess I'm the Meryl Streep of generals, and frankly that sounds pretty good to me." pic.twitter.com/Hzpe5lUeje |
| Trump is taking heat from other former military leaders as well. Adm William McRaven, a former commander of the US Special Operations Command, penned a New York Times op-ed entitled Our Republic Is Under Attack From the President. And retired four-star Gen Barry McCaffrey slammed Trump’s Syria policy as “inexplicable”. | Trump is taking heat from other former military leaders as well. Adm William McRaven, a former commander of the US Special Operations Command, penned a New York Times op-ed entitled Our Republic Is Under Attack From the President. And retired four-star Gen Barry McCaffrey slammed Trump’s Syria policy as “inexplicable”. |
| Given that Trump has no events on his public schedule today, it seems likely his Twitter feed will soon be offering some commentary on these military critics. | Given that Trump has no events on his public schedule today, it seems likely his Twitter feed will soon be offering some commentary on these military critics. |
| Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on: | Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on: |
| Today is the subpoena-imposed deadline for energy secretary Rick Perry and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to hand over documents in the impeachment inquiry, but it seems unlikely that they will comply given that they are current Trump administration officials. | Today is the subpoena-imposed deadline for energy secretary Rick Perry and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to hand over documents in the impeachment inquiry, but it seems unlikely that they will comply given that they are current Trump administration officials. |
| Secretary of state Mike Pompeo is in Jerusalem, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this morning. | Secretary of state Mike Pompeo is in Jerusalem, where he met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this morning. |
| The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group will open in Washington today. | The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group will open in Washington today. |
| The blog is watching all of that, so stay tuned. | The blog is watching all of that, so stay tuned. |