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| Trump fires second key impeachment witness Gordon Sondland in Friday purge – as it happened | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sondland recalled as US ambassador to the EU after Trump fired Lt Col Alexander Vindman, national security council adviser, earlier today | Sondland recalled as US ambassador to the EU after Trump fired Lt Col Alexander Vindman, national security council adviser, earlier today |
| An updated evening summary of today’s key political news as we close this blog for tonight. But as one blog closes, another opens: You can follow the Democratic presidential debate live blog for continued live updates. | An updated evening summary of today’s key political news as we close this blog for tonight. But as one blog closes, another opens: You can follow the Democratic presidential debate live blog for continued live updates. |
| Two key witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial were fired by the White House: Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and European Union ambassaor Gordon Sondland. Vindman’s lawyer issued a statement saying that he was escorted out of the White House. He “was asked to leave for telling the truth,” his lawyer said. Vindman’s twin brother, a lawyer for the National Security Council, was also fired. | Two key witnesses in Trump’s impeachment trial were fired by the White House: Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman and European Union ambassaor Gordon Sondland. Vindman’s lawyer issued a statement saying that he was escorted out of the White House. He “was asked to leave for telling the truth,” his lawyer said. Vindman’s twin brother, a lawyer for the National Security Council, was also fired. |
| Pundits dubbed the firings a “Friday Night Massacre,” in reference to the Richard Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” in 1973. | Pundits dubbed the firings a “Friday Night Massacre,” in reference to the Richard Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” in 1973. |
| Democrats condemned the firings; Republican lawmakers said “good riddance.” | Democrats condemned the firings; Republican lawmakers said “good riddance.” |
| Meanwhile, Bill Taylor, another witness in the impeachment trial, went on CNN to defend Marie Yovanovitch, former ambassador to Ukraine, who was subject to a smear campaign that led to her own firing. “It of course bothers me any time I see someone like Masha Yovanovitch or Alex Vindman unfairly attacked,” Taylor said. | Meanwhile, Bill Taylor, another witness in the impeachment trial, went on CNN to defend Marie Yovanovitch, former ambassador to Ukraine, who was subject to a smear campaign that led to her own firing. “It of course bothers me any time I see someone like Masha Yovanovitch or Alex Vindman unfairly attacked,” Taylor said. |
| Trump spoke at an event in North Carolina this afternoon where he mocked Democrats for messing up the Iowa caucus and said that he would continue to hold rallies even if he wins the 2020 election. | Trump spoke at an event in North Carolina this afternoon where he mocked Democrats for messing up the Iowa caucus and said that he would continue to hold rallies even if he wins the 2020 election. |
| As Democratic presidential candidates prepared for another televised debate, the feud between Iowa front-runners Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg started to gear up today. Sanders slammed Buttigeg for having “the most exclusive billionaire donors of any Democrat.” #PetesBillionaires was trending on Twitter this afternoon. | As Democratic presidential candidates prepared for another televised debate, the feud between Iowa front-runners Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg started to gear up today. Sanders slammed Buttigeg for having “the most exclusive billionaire donors of any Democrat.” #PetesBillionaires was trending on Twitter this afternoon. |
| Saturday Night Massacre Prompted Angry Telegrams | Saturday Night Massacre Prompted Angry Telegrams |
| Some more historical comparisons: 1973 was a different time. | Some more historical comparisons: 1973 was a different time. |
| Do you remember what it was like when all major breaking news did not happen simultaneously? | Do you remember what it was like when all major breaking news did not happen simultaneously? |
| How good is the Saturday Night Massacre comparison? | How good is the Saturday Night Massacre comparison? |
| Curious how well the White House’s actions tonight compare to Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” in 1973? | Curious how well the White House’s actions tonight compare to Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” in 1973? |
| You can look back at what Nixon did via: | You can look back at what Nixon did via: |
| NPR’s Brief History of the ‘Saturday Night Massacre’ | NPR’s Brief History of the ‘Saturday Night Massacre’ |
| The Saturday Night Massacre episode of the hit Watergate podcast Slow Burn | The Saturday Night Massacre episode of the hit Watergate podcast Slow Burn |
| The original Sunday morning report on the massacre in the Washington Post | The original Sunday morning report on the massacre in the Washington Post |
| On a Saturday evening in October 1973, in the midst of the scandal that would lead to his resignation, President Richard Nixon demanded that his attorney general fire the special counsel assigned to investigate Watergate. | On a Saturday evening in October 1973, in the midst of the scandal that would lead to his resignation, President Richard Nixon demanded that his attorney general fire the special counsel assigned to investigate Watergate. |
| Nixon’s attorney general and deputy attorney general refused, and resigned. Then solicitor general Robert Bork became the acting attorney general, and he did what Nixon wanted: he fired special counsel Archibald Cox, who had refused to go along with the White House’s plan to turn over only summarized material from the White House Watergate tapes to Cox’s investigation. | Nixon’s attorney general and deputy attorney general refused, and resigned. Then solicitor general Robert Bork became the acting attorney general, and he did what Nixon wanted: he fired special counsel Archibald Cox, who had refused to go along with the White House’s plan to turn over only summarized material from the White House Watergate tapes to Cox’s investigation. |
| The forced resignation and firing became known as Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre.” | The forced resignation and firing became known as Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre.” |
| Political pundits are already calling this Friday evening in Washington Trump’s “Friday Night Massacre,” with two of the witnesses who testified in the impeachment inquiry against Trump already fired by 7 p.m. in the evening. | Political pundits are already calling this Friday evening in Washington Trump’s “Friday Night Massacre,” with two of the witnesses who testified in the impeachment inquiry against Trump already fired by 7 p.m. in the evening. |
| Other commentators, like Rachel Maddow, are arguing that it’s not quite an accurate comparison. | Other commentators, like Rachel Maddow, are arguing that it’s not quite an accurate comparison. |
| Full statement from Second Fired Impeachment Witness | Full statement from Second Fired Impeachment Witness |
| The White House has moved to fire another person who testified in the House impeachment inquiry against President Trump: Gordon Sondland, who also testified about the president’s efforts to pressure top Ukranian officials to investigate his political rivals, the New York Times reports. | The White House has moved to fire another person who testified in the House impeachment inquiry against President Trump: Gordon Sondland, who also testified about the president’s efforts to pressure top Ukranian officials to investigate his political rivals, the New York Times reports. |
| “I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union,” Sondland said in a statement just hours after the White House fired a top National Security expert on Ukraine, Lt Col Alexander Vindman, who had also testified, the Times reported. | “I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union,” Sondland said in a statement just hours after the White House fired a top National Security expert on Ukraine, Lt Col Alexander Vindman, who had also testified, the Times reported. |
| Sondland expressed gratitude in the statement to Mr. Trump “for having given me the opportunity to serve.” | Sondland expressed gratitude in the statement to Mr. Trump “for having given me the opportunity to serve.” |
| In November, Sondland delivered what had been characterized as “bombshell” public testimony against Trump, saying, “Was there a ‘quid pro quo [with Ukraine]?’ As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.” | In November, Sondland delivered what had been characterized as “bombshell” public testimony against Trump, saying, “Was there a ‘quid pro quo [with Ukraine]?’ As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.” |
| Just a reminder: there are 269 days until the 2020 presidential election! | Just a reminder: there are 269 days until the 2020 presidential election! |
| Tonight, the Democratic presidential primary continues with a televised debate. My colleague Joan Greave has more details on our debate night live blog. | Tonight, the Democratic presidential primary continues with a televised debate. My colleague Joan Greave has more details on our debate night live blog. |
| In a week marked by impunity and vengeance in Washington, my colleague Ed Pilkington has a story on a black radical who has finally won his freedom. The release of the final incarcerated member of the Move 9 comes more than three decades after Philadelphia police dropped an incendiary bomb on a row house where black activists lived, resulting in the deaths of eleven people, including five children, and a fire that razed dozens of homes in a predominantly black neighborhood. | In a week marked by impunity and vengeance in Washington, my colleague Ed Pilkington has a story on a black radical who has finally won his freedom. The release of the final incarcerated member of the Move 9 comes more than three decades after Philadelphia police dropped an incendiary bomb on a row house where black activists lived, resulting in the deaths of eleven people, including five children, and a fire that razed dozens of homes in a predominantly black neighborhood. |
| Schumer Responds to White House firing Vindman | Schumer Responds to White House firing Vindman |
| “This action is not a sign of strength,” senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. | “This action is not a sign of strength,” senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. |
| Presenting this statement without comment, since the emoji I need is not available on this liveblog. | Presenting this statement without comment, since the emoji I need is not available on this liveblog. |