Late-day bombshells erupt as Trump impeachment inquiry gets underway
Late-day bombshells erupt as Trump impeachment inquiry gets underway
David Knowles 13 hours ago
The first full week of the House impeachment inquiry of President Trump got underway with a rapid-fire succession of bombshell events that are likely to affect the course of the investigation.
At 3:53 p.m. in Washington, the Democratic chairmen of three House committees subpoenaed Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani for documents related to the president’s request for an investigation by Ukrainian officials into former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Reps. Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler and Elijah Cummings cited Giuliani’s cable news appearances, saying the former New York City mayor “admitted on national television that, while serving as the president’s personal attorney, he asked the government of Ukraine to target” Biden.
“In addition to this stark admission, you stated more recently that you are in possession of evidence — in the form of text messages, phone records, and other communications — indicating that you were not acting alone and that other Trump Administration officials may have been involved in this scheme,” the chairmen wrote.
Rudy Giuliani, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. (Photos: Hoo-Me.com/MediaPunch/AP, Jason DeCrow/AP, Frank Franklin II/AP)
Minutes later, at 4:04 p.m., the Wall Street Journal reported that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among those who listened in on Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that is the basis of the House investigation.Last week, when Pompeo was interviewed by ABC News, he denied firsthand knowledge about what Trump and Zelensky discussed.
The State Department had not disclosed that Pompeo had been on the call with Zelensky. Democrats are also seeking to learn if State Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl was listening in as well. On Friday, Democrats subpoenaed Pompeo for documents related to the administration’s dealings with Ukraine.
Thirteen minutes after the Wall Street Journal’s story on Pompeo was published, the New York Times reported that Trump sought additional foreign help with his political troubles. In a recent phone call with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the Times reported, Trump sought information that could help discredit former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election. That investigation was kicked off, in part, by the disclosure that former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos had discussed the Russian efforts with an Australian diplomat in London.
It wasn’t clear how Trump would benefit from reopening questions about the Mueller investigation, which ended in April with the publication of a report that Trump claimed, inaccurately, exonerated him completely.
Just as with Trump’s call with Zelensky, the White House restricted access to transcripts of his call with Morrison.
At 5:11 p.m. ET, the Washington Post reported that Attorney General William Barr also sought foreign assistance in building a case to discredit the Mueller report, by contacting British intelligence officials and personally traveling to Italy last week to meet with officials.
Reps. Adam Schiff, Jerry Nadler and Elijah Cummings cited Giuliani’s cable news appearances, saying the former New York City mayor “admitted on national television that, while serving as the president’s personal attorney, he asked the government of Ukraine to target” Biden.
“In addition to this stark admission, you stated more recently that you are in possession of evidence — in the form of text messages, phone records, and other communications — indicating that you were not acting alone and that other Trump Administration officials may have been involved in this scheme,” the chairmen wrote.
Minutes later, at 4:04 p.m., the Wall Street Journal reported that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among those who listened in on Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that is the basis of the House investigation.Last week, when Pompeo was interviewed by ABC News, he denied firsthand knowledge about what Trump and Zelensky discussed.
The State Department had not disclosed that Pompeo had been on the call with Zelensky. Democrats are also seeking to learn if State Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl was listening in as well. On Friday, Democrats subpoenaed Pompeo for documents related to the administration’s dealings with Ukraine.
Thirteen minutes after the Wall Street Journal’s story on Pompeo was published, the New York Times reported that Trump sought additional foreign help with his political troubles. In a recent phone call with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the Times reported, Trump sought information that could help discredit former special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election. That investigation was kicked off, in part, by the disclosure that former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos had discussed the Russian efforts with an Australian diplomat in London.
And deporables will cry fake news and witch hunt, they are too blind to facts.
And the Russian hoax ad nauseam.
Hum, another "bombshell" for the shell shocked. I'm so glad that the dems on the committee decided to give up their vacations and work on this. They wouldn't give up a vacation for legislation or budgets but when it comes to this they (a little drum roll please) are dedicated to (believe it or not) the people and the Constitution/sar.
Speaking of bombshells that turned out to be complete duds...where is that McCabe indictment you guaranteed us would be coming imminently, um, three weeks ago?
You'll be the first to know. I promise!
I won't hold my breath for that Vic since it's been a looooonnnnggggg time coming!
Stop going off topic now.
Scrutinizing another call with a foreign leader
Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney: Ukraine phone call is 'starting to seem like a political set up' against Donald Trump
Donald Trump lashes out at Democrats over impeachment
WASHINGTON – Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming singled out House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Twitter and suggested that the phone call between President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart "is starting to seem like a political set up."
In her tweet, Cheney asked “what did you know and when did you know it?” of Pelosi while referencing the Democratic Speaker's "60 Minutes" interview in which she described talking to Trump about the call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky before it was released to the public.
Cheney continued, "This is starting to seem like a political set up.”
Pelosi launched an impeachment inquiry against Trump after Democrats expressed alarm over an August complaint accusing Trump of having "used the power of his office" to solicit foreign interference to discredit Joe Biden , a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate.
The complaint also alleges that White House officials sought to "lock down" records of a July 25 phone call between Trump and Zelensky in which the president urged Zelensky to investigate Biden and his son, Hunter, who once had business interests in Ukraine.
Twitter backlash: Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger on President Donald Trump's 'Civil War' threat: 'Beyond repugnant'
Trump and his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani had been pushing Ukraine to investigate Burisma Group, a Ukrainian energy company where the vice president's son served on the board of directors.
“It is wrong for a president to say that he wants you – another head of state – to create something negative about his possible political opponent to his own advantage, at the expense of our national security, his oath of office to the Constitution and the integrity of our elections,” Pelosi said on "60 Minutes."
Last week, Trump and the Department of Justice released a summary of the phone call.
In a separate tweet , Cheney accused Democrats of “careening from one impeachment to another," adding that they “can’t even wait 24 hours to see the transcript. Lesson: Evidence doesn’t matter to them.”
On "60 Minutes," Pelosi elaborated on her decision to move forward with an official impeachment inquiry: "We could not ignore what the president did. He gave us no choice. So, it wasn't any change of mind. I always said we will follow the facts where they take us. And when we see them, we will be ready. And we are ready."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Liz Cheney: Ukraine phone call 'political set up' vs. Donald Trump
How the fuck could it be a set up when tRump made the call and he and his stupid fuck lawyer Guiliani admitted it?
Gee Tess, how many articles are you going to seed here?
What's your problem?
Not that I give a shit if you do have a problem.
No problem. It was a question
Then shut up about it.
No
Democrats are also seeking to learn if State Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl was listening in as well.
That would be very important since the WB claims that he was. I got a hunch he wasn't.
So we'll go with your hunch then.
Really? You agree?
With you?
NEVER.
I wouldn't have it any other way.
You need to shut up shutting up.
My right to speak is sacred
Let him speak. I need the laugh.
Well giggles is part of your name, isn't it?
Trump said he was "Going to Drain the Swamp".... and he's off and running....as the "Lemmings" do whatever they can to "STOP" it !
Seems the "Left" has this NEED for the status quo to remain intact, and they will do any sleazy thing they can to keep it (Like adlibbing/LYING in a so-called important committee on National TV) Hey Adam....how's it going !!
As usual you have no clue what you're talking about.
Do explain......Paleeeeeez !
Waste of time to try to explain anything to the clueless.
It's much more satisfying to beat my head against the wall.
You could always do the easy thing, and cut and paste.....since you're at a loss for actual words on the subject on your own !