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| Trump impeachment live updates: President lashes out at Democrats as ‘corrupt people’ at National Prayer Breakfast, in his first public remarks after acquittal | Trump impeachment live updates: President lashes out at Democrats as ‘corrupt people’ at National Prayer Breakfast, in his first public remarks after acquittal |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| President Trump used his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday to lash out at House Democrats responsible for his impeachment and to praise Senate Republicans who voted to acquit him Wednesday. | |
| Trump’s comments at the annual event came hours before he was scheduled to deliver a more formal speech from the White House about his acquittal Wednesday on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress in a historic Senate trial. | |
| Trump also used an early morning tweet to attack Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah), the only Republican to vote to convict him on an article of impeachment. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who launched the impeachment proceedings, is also scheduled to appear before reporters on Thursday. | Trump also used an early morning tweet to attack Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah), the only Republican to vote to convict him on an article of impeachment. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who launched the impeachment proceedings, is also scheduled to appear before reporters on Thursday. |
| The crux of the case against Trump was the allegation that he withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son. Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president. | The crux of the case against Trump was the allegation that he withheld military aid and a White House meeting to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his son. Hunter Biden served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company, while his father was vice president. |
| ●In historic vote, Trump acquitted of impeachment charges. | ●In historic vote, Trump acquitted of impeachment charges. |
| ●Romney knew the storm was coming over his impeachment vote. How long it lasts will be up to Trump. | ●Romney knew the storm was coming over his impeachment vote. How long it lasts will be up to Trump. |
| ●Democrats at a crossroads after Trump’s acquittal, torn between investigations and sole focus on policy. | ●Democrats at a crossroads after Trump’s acquittal, torn between investigations and sole focus on policy. |
| ●GOP senators request travel documents in Hunter Biden investigation. | ●GOP senators request travel documents in Hunter Biden investigation. |
| How the Senate voted|Key documents from the impeachment process| The full Trump-Ukraine timeline | How the Senate voted|Key documents from the impeachment process| The full Trump-Ukraine timeline |
| Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Thursday proposed amending the Constitution to require a three-fifth vote of the House to impeach the president rather than a simple majority. | |
| “The partisan charade Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats have made of this impeachment process over the last few months shows that the fears of our Founding Fathers were realized,” Scott said in a statement. “They warned that impeachment could be used as a partisan tool by partisan actors. … Our country should never again have to suffer from this partisan hackery.” | |
| Scott’s proposal faces long odds. A constitutional amendment that originates in Congress requires two-thirds votes of approval by both the House and Senate and ratification by three quarters of the 50 states. | |
| White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham previewed Trump’s upcoming remarks, saying that there should be retribution for Democrats who pressed forward with Trump’s impeachment. | |
| In an interview on Fox News, Grisham said Trump will speak about “how horribly he was treated, and maybe people should pay for that.” | |
| “I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but they’re being sore losers,” she said of Democrats who have described Trump’s acquittal as having an “asterisk” next to it because no witnesses or documents were allowed during the Senate trial. “There’s no asterisk there.” | |
| Grisham added that she was “disappointed but not surprised” that Romney voted to impeach Trump. | |
| “Was Mitt Romney even listening? Because if he was listening, he would not have voted that way,” she said, echoing other Republicans in accusing Romney of being “bitter that he’s not president.” | |
| Trump used his remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington to attack Democrats responsible for his impeachment and to praise Senate Republicans who voted to acquit him Wednesday. | |
| “As everybody knows, my family, our great country and your president has been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people,” Trump said, as Pelosi sat on the dais at an annual event that draws lawmakers and others in the spirit of reconciliation and bridge-building. “They have done everything possible to destroy us and by so doing very badly hurt our nation. They know what they are doing is wrong, but they put themselves far ahead of our great country.” | “As everybody knows, my family, our great country and your president has been put through a terrible ordeal by some very dishonest and corrupt people,” Trump said, as Pelosi sat on the dais at an annual event that draws lawmakers and others in the spirit of reconciliation and bridge-building. “They have done everything possible to destroy us and by so doing very badly hurt our nation. They know what they are doing is wrong, but they put themselves far ahead of our great country.” |
| Making his first public remarks since his acquittal, Trump praised Republicans for having “had the wisdom, fortitude and strength to do what everyone knows is right.” | |
| Trump seemed to target both Pelosi, who has said on several occasions that she prays for him, and Romney, who cited his faith as a factor in voting to remove Trump from office. | Trump seemed to target both Pelosi, who has said on several occasions that she prays for him, and Romney, who cited his faith as a factor in voting to remove Trump from office. |
| “I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong. Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that that’s not so,” Trump said. “So many people have been hurt, and we can’t let that go on, and I’ll be discussing that a little bit later at the White House.” | |
| He later questioned a previous speaker at the bipartisan, multifaith event, who had advocated “loving your enemies.” | |
| “When they impeach you for nothing, then it’s not easy to like them,” Trump said of his adversaries. “It’s not easy, folks.” | “When they impeach you for nothing, then it’s not easy to like them,” Trump said of his adversaries. “It’s not easy, folks.” |
| House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) seemingly referred to the impeachment battle in brief remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. | House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) seemingly referred to the impeachment battle in brief remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday. |
| “The Lord works in amazing ways. I do not believe he could’ve picked a better day to bring us all together,” McCarthy said, speaking at an event where others seated on the dais included Trump and Pelosi. | “The Lord works in amazing ways. I do not believe he could’ve picked a better day to bring us all together,” McCarthy said, speaking at an event where others seated on the dais included Trump and Pelosi. |
| Trump held up copies of USA Today and The Washington Post, displaying banner headlines on his acquittal by the Senate, shortly after arriving on the dais at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton on Thursday morning. | Trump held up copies of USA Today and The Washington Post, displaying banner headlines on his acquittal by the Senate, shortly after arriving on the dais at the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton on Thursday morning. |
| Copies of the papers appeared to have been placed on the table in front of him. | Copies of the papers appeared to have been placed on the table in front of him. |
| Others on the dais included Vice President Pence, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Pelosi. Trump shook hands with those on his side of the dais but did not interact with Pelosi and others sitting on the opposite side. | Others on the dais included Vice President Pence, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Pelosi. Trump shook hands with those on his side of the dais but did not interact with Pelosi and others sitting on the opposite side. |
| Pelosi delivered a brief “prayer for the poor and persecuted” without referring to or acknowledging Trump. | Pelosi delivered a brief “prayer for the poor and persecuted” without referring to or acknowledging Trump. |
| Hillary Clinton, the Democrat defeated by Trump in the 2016 presidential race, urged Americans to “follow Mitt Romney’s lead” and vote against Trump in November. | Hillary Clinton, the Democrat defeated by Trump in the 2016 presidential race, urged Americans to “follow Mitt Romney’s lead” and vote against Trump in November. |
| Appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in an interview scheduled to be broadcast Thursday, Clinton said she was not surprised by the Senate’s acquittal of Trump but was “still disappointed that not more of the Republicans were willing to take the stand that Mitt Romney took.” | Appearing on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” in an interview scheduled to be broadcast Thursday, Clinton said she was not surprised by the Senate’s acquittal of Trump but was “still disappointed that not more of the Republicans were willing to take the stand that Mitt Romney took.” |
| “We’re now moving on, but I hope that voters and Americans of all political stripes actually pay attention and say to themselves, ‘Hey, [Trump] has to be held accountable,’ and now the way to do that is in the election,” Clinton said. “Now it’s voters who are going to have to say, ‘Okay, I have to take responsibility for this and follow Mitt Romney’s lead.’ ” | |
| Trump plans to speak to the nation Thursday about his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. | Trump plans to speak to the nation Thursday about his acquittal in the Senate impeachment trial on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. |
| The address is scheduled at noon from the East Room of the White House. | The address is scheduled at noon from the East Room of the White House. |
| Trump advertised his appearance in a tweet on Wednesday, saying he would “discuss our Country’s VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!” | Trump advertised his appearance in a tweet on Wednesday, saying he would “discuss our Country’s VICTORY on the Impeachment Hoax!” |
| Pelosi is also certain to face questions about the impeachment process when she holds a weekly news conference, scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. | Pelosi is also certain to face questions about the impeachment process when she holds a weekly news conference, scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. |
| Hours after a deeply divided Senate voted to acquit Trump of two impeachment charges, he is scheduled to address a huge gathering Thursday morning of Christian lawmakers and others founded as an attempt to display reconciliation and bridge-building. | Hours after a deeply divided Senate voted to acquit Trump of two impeachment charges, he is scheduled to address a huge gathering Thursday morning of Christian lawmakers and others founded as an attempt to display reconciliation and bridge-building. |
| Just before his address, Pelosi will deliver “a prayer for the poor and persecuted,” according to the program placed on attendees’ plates Thursday morning. | Just before his address, Pelosi will deliver “a prayer for the poor and persecuted,” according to the program placed on attendees’ plates Thursday morning. |
| The annual National Prayer Breakfast brings more than 3,000 people to Washington for a couple days of networking, prayer and meetings — including the central event, the breakfast, at which the president always speaks. | The annual National Prayer Breakfast brings more than 3,000 people to Washington for a couple days of networking, prayer and meetings — including the central event, the breakfast, at which the president always speaks. |
| Founded in 1953, the event is intended to “unite individuals of different nationalities, religions and political perspectives through the power of prayer,” said the formal invitation for the breakfast. It is hosted by U.S. lawmakers from both parties. | Founded in 1953, the event is intended to “unite individuals of different nationalities, religions and political perspectives through the power of prayer,” said the formal invitation for the breakfast. It is hosted by U.S. lawmakers from both parties. |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |
| Marie Yovanovitch, the former ambassador to Ukraine who was ousted by Trump, said in an op-ed published Thursday that she has no regrets about having testified during the House impeachment proceedings. | Marie Yovanovitch, the former ambassador to Ukraine who was ousted by Trump, said in an op-ed published Thursday that she has no regrets about having testified during the House impeachment proceedings. |
| “It has been shocking to experience the storm of criticism, lies and malicious conspiracies that have preceded and followed my public testimony, but I have no regrets,” Yovanovitch said in the piece for The Washington Post. “I did — we did — what our conscience called us to do. We did what the gift of U.S. citizenship requires us to do.” | “It has been shocking to experience the storm of criticism, lies and malicious conspiracies that have preceded and followed my public testimony, but I have no regrets,” Yovanovitch said in the piece for The Washington Post. “I did — we did — what our conscience called us to do. We did what the gift of U.S. citizenship requires us to do.” |
| Trump lashed out at Romney in an early morning tweet on Thursday in which he faulted the only Republican senator who voted to convict him on an article of impeachment for losing the 2012 presidential election. | Trump lashed out at Romney in an early morning tweet on Thursday in which he faulted the only Republican senator who voted to convict him on an article of impeachment for losing the 2012 presidential election. |
| “Had failed presidential candidate @MittRomney devoted the same energy and anger to defeating a faltering Barack Obama as he sanctimoniously does to me, he could have won the election,” Trump tweeted. | “Had failed presidential candidate @MittRomney devoted the same energy and anger to defeating a faltering Barack Obama as he sanctimoniously does to me, he could have won the election,” Trump tweeted. |
| House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) said Wednesday night that House managers sought an affidavit from former national security adviser John Bolton during the impeachment trial and he refused. | House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif.) said Wednesday night that House managers sought an affidavit from former national security adviser John Bolton during the impeachment trial and he refused. |
| Bolton, who declined to participate in the House impeachment inquiry, issued a statement in early January saying he was prepared to testify in a Senate trial if he were subpoenaed. | Bolton, who declined to participate in the House impeachment inquiry, issued a statement in early January saying he was prepared to testify in a Senate trial if he were subpoenaed. |
| Appearing on MSNBC on Wednesday night, Schiff said the request for an affidavit was made after the Senate voted largely along party lines not to hear from witnesses, including Bolton, during the trial. | Appearing on MSNBC on Wednesday night, Schiff said the request for an affidavit was made after the Senate voted largely along party lines not to hear from witnesses, including Bolton, during the trial. |
| “I can tell you that after the Senate voted not to hear witnesses — after they voted to be the first impeachment trial in history without witnesses, we did approach John Bolton’s counsel and asked if Mr. Bolton would be willing to submit an affidavit under oath, describing what he observed in terms of the president’s Ukraine misconduct, and he refused,” Schiff said. | “I can tell you that after the Senate voted not to hear witnesses — after they voted to be the first impeachment trial in history without witnesses, we did approach John Bolton’s counsel and asked if Mr. Bolton would be willing to submit an affidavit under oath, describing what he observed in terms of the president’s Ukraine misconduct, and he refused,” Schiff said. |
| He added that it appears Bolton is intent on holding onto his knowledge for publication of his forthcoming book. | He added that it appears Bolton is intent on holding onto his knowledge for publication of his forthcoming book. |
| Schiff also said that “absolutely no decision” has been made about whether the House will subpoena Bolton for testimony about Trump’s conduct toward Ukraine. Earlier this week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said such a subpoena is “likely.” | Schiff also said that “absolutely no decision” has been made about whether the House will subpoena Bolton for testimony about Trump’s conduct toward Ukraine. Earlier this week, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) said such a subpoena is “likely.” |
| The onslaught of abuse that Romney predicted would come after he broke ranks with Republicans by voting to convict Trump of abuse of power Wednesday continued materializing overnight as conservative media figures came out in full force to denounce him. | The onslaught of abuse that Romney predicted would come after he broke ranks with Republicans by voting to convict Trump of abuse of power Wednesday continued materializing overnight as conservative media figures came out in full force to denounce him. |
| Romney was the only Republican to vote to remove Trump from office, explaining his decision in an emotional speech on the Senate floor where he cited his faith and a duty to uphold the Constitution. While Democrats praised Romney’s courage, the right — led by vocal pro-Trump commentators — immediately attacked after the president was acquitted of impeachment charges. | Romney was the only Republican to vote to remove Trump from office, explaining his decision in an emotional speech on the Senate floor where he cited his faith and a duty to uphold the Constitution. While Democrats praised Romney’s courage, the right — led by vocal pro-Trump commentators — immediately attacked after the president was acquitted of impeachment charges. |
| “Utah’s junior senator reminded us of why he couldn’t connect with most regular, working-class people,” Fox News host Laura Ingraham said Wednesday night. “They don’t like politicians who claim to be holier than thou when they’re really just sticking a shiv in your back.” | “Utah’s junior senator reminded us of why he couldn’t connect with most regular, working-class people,” Fox News host Laura Ingraham said Wednesday night. “They don’t like politicians who claim to be holier than thou when they’re really just sticking a shiv in your back.” |
| Read more here. | Read more here. |