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Donald Trump impeachment: Pelosi and McConnell set for battle over Senate trial – live Donald Trump impeachment: Pelosi and McConnell set for battle over Senate trial – live
(32 minutes later)
Senate majority leader to speak on Senate floor at 9.30am ET as Pelosi threatens to hold on to articles before she receives assurances of fair trialSenate majority leader to speak on Senate floor at 9.30am ET as Pelosi threatens to hold on to articles before she receives assurances of fair trial
Another familiar talking point from McConnell:
While we wait for Speaker Pelosi to come on, here’s a couple more things happening in Washington DC today:
White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham told Good Morning America daily press briefings are not being held because reporters used it as an opportunity for “theater” and to “sell books”. Grisham’s predecessor stopped daily briefings.
Trump ally Representative Mark Meadows of North Carolina will not seek reelection – his name is reportedly being floated for positions inside the administration.
Democrats will try to pry voter’s attention from impeachment drama tonight, as they hold a primary debate in Los Angeles. The field is narrowing and getting whiter.
We are zooming right into the next speech this morning. At 10:45am ET House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will speak at her weekly press conference.
Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer is speaking now, and making the case for the US Senate to hear from four witnesses for four hours each during the trial. He argued McConnell is trying to block testimony from all witnesses.
“Is the president’s case so weak that none of the president’s men can defend him under oath?” said Schumer.
“The nation turns its eyes to the Senate, what will it see?” The president, in the past, has argued he has “absolute immunity.”
“If the Republicans proceed with the majority leaders’ scheme to sweep these charges under the rug, they will be creating a precedent that will long be remembered as one of the senate’s darkest chapters,” said Schumer.
Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is now responding to McConnell’s speech... We will bring you live updates here.Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is now responding to McConnell’s speech... We will bring you live updates here.
“House Democrats may be too afraid to even transmit their shoddy work product to the Senate,” said McConnell. “Looks like the prosecutors are getting cold feet in front of the entire country, and second guessing whether they want to do to trial.”“House Democrats may be too afraid to even transmit their shoddy work product to the Senate,” said McConnell. “Looks like the prosecutors are getting cold feet in front of the entire country, and second guessing whether they want to do to trial.”
A message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief:A message from the Guardian US editor-in-chief:
The president of the United States has been impeached. Let’s remind ourselves just what is at stake. To quote from the articles of impeachment: “President Trump has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.”The president of the United States has been impeached. Let’s remind ourselves just what is at stake. To quote from the articles of impeachment: “President Trump has demonstrated that he will remain a threat to national security and the Constitution if allowed to remain in office.”
There has never been a more urgent demonstration of the need for an independent press in the US. With your support, we can continue to provide fact-based reporting that offers public scrutiny and oversight.There has never been a more urgent demonstration of the need for an independent press in the US. With your support, we can continue to provide fact-based reporting that offers public scrutiny and oversight.
At a time when both media and politics are scarred by polarization, the Guardian remains an independent voice. Freed from the influence of an owner or shareholders, our independence is our unique driving force and guiding principle.At a time when both media and politics are scarred by polarization, the Guardian remains an independent voice. Freed from the influence of an owner or shareholders, our independence is our unique driving force and guiding principle.
As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism. We hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift.As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism. We hope you’ll consider making a year-end gift.
We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Guardian in 2019. You provide us with the motivation and financial support to keep doing what we do.We also want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the Guardian in 2019. You provide us with the motivation and financial support to keep doing what we do.
Make a contribution.Make a contribution.
“Long after the partisan fever of this moment has broken the institutional damage will remain,” McConnell argues.“Long after the partisan fever of this moment has broken the institutional damage will remain,” McConnell argues.
McConnell’s speech has broadly argued that the House, by not citing criminal statues, has passed weak articles of impeachment, and that if the Senate convicts the president in a trial it would invite constant impeachment trials.McConnell’s speech has broadly argued that the House, by not citing criminal statues, has passed weak articles of impeachment, and that if the Senate convicts the president in a trial it would invite constant impeachment trials.
He continued that if “extraordinary tool of last resort could become part of the arms race” of partisanship.”He continued that if “extraordinary tool of last resort could become part of the arms race” of partisanship.”
President Trump, he said, is not the first president with a “populist streak” and “not the first to make entrenched elites feel uncomfortable”.President Trump, he said, is not the first president with a “populist streak” and “not the first to make entrenched elites feel uncomfortable”.
Here is more from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell:Here is more from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell:
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is speaking now and has come out strongly in defense of the president:US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is speaking now and has come out strongly in defense of the president:
President Trump is the third president in US history to be impeached.President Trump is the third president in US history to be impeached.
US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to begin speaking any moment. You can watch along with us here.US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is expected to begin speaking any moment. You can watch along with us here.
Welcome to this epic morning the night after impeachment, US politics watchers. There will be no shortage of action today. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell is about to make an address on the floor.Welcome to this epic morning the night after impeachment, US politics watchers. There will be no shortage of action today. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell is about to make an address on the floor.
And with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now threatening to delay sending articles of impeachment to the Senate for the congressional trial of the president, this sets up an immediate, major conflict between the two most powerful figures on Capitol Hill. Stay tuned.And with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now threatening to delay sending articles of impeachment to the Senate for the congressional trial of the president, this sets up an immediate, major conflict between the two most powerful figures on Capitol Hill. Stay tuned.
In a historic vote last night, the House impeached Donald Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors. But it is unclear exactly how the impeachment process will move forward.In a historic vote last night, the House impeached Donald Trump for high crimes and misdemeanors. But it is unclear exactly how the impeachment process will move forward.
Pelosi must formally deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate for the trial to start, but may be holding on to them until she receives assurances of a fair trial in the Senate. Today is the last day of business in the House before Christmas, with no sign of Pelosi budging.Pelosi must formally deliver the articles of impeachment to the Senate for the trial to start, but may be holding on to them until she receives assurances of a fair trial in the Senate. Today is the last day of business in the House before Christmas, with no sign of Pelosi budging.
MccConnell announced he will speak on the Senate floor at 9:30am ET. He is known as a master tactician, and has successfully delayed important Democratic initiatives in the past, notably the confirmation hearings of former US Supreme Court Justice Merrick Garland. The Senate is not in session for several weeks.MccConnell announced he will speak on the Senate floor at 9:30am ET. He is known as a master tactician, and has successfully delayed important Democratic initiatives in the past, notably the confirmation hearings of former US Supreme Court Justice Merrick Garland. The Senate is not in session for several weeks.
President Trump is already tweeting about the impeachment this morning, and making it known he is counting on the Senate to save his hide.President Trump is already tweeting about the impeachment this morning, and making it known he is counting on the Senate to save his hide.