Live political reporting continues in Friday’s blog:
Late summary
Kari Paul here, wrapping up for the night. Here are the top stories to keep in mind.
- Donald Trump asked the supreme court Thursday to void a subpoena from the House of Representatives seeking his financial records.
- The Trump administration has scrapped plans to scan travelers’ faces as they enter and leave the United States.
- Bernie Sanders is now leading the polls in California.
- The House ethics committee has asked Republican representative Duncan Hunter to stop voting.
- Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended a secret meeting with a group of wealthy Republican donors this week, stoking rumors he is eyeing a political run.
That’s all from me, thanks for reading.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attended a secret meeting with a group of wealthy Republican donors this week, CNN reported on Friday, while he was in London for this week’s NATO summit.
The gathering, hosted by right-leaning foreign policy non-profit the Hamilton Society, took place in Pompeo’s hotel, and was not on the official schedule for the week. From CNN:
The news that he made time to meet with the donors after a busy day visiting with world leaders only serves to heighten speculation that Pompeo may be eyeing a run for the Senate in Kansas next year and as he has become further embroiled in the Ukraine impeachment inquiry.
The House ethics committee has sent a letter to the Republican representative Duncan Hunter asking him to stop voting, following his guilty plea over the misuse of campaign funds:
House Ethics Committee to Rep. Duncan Hunter: the guilty plea means you need to stop voting in the House. (Hunter voted yesterday. Didn’t today) pic.twitter.com/WCvpiXzqLS
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) December 5, 2019
Senator Bernie Sanders has pulled ahead of Democratic frontrunners in California as the 2020 race for president marches on, polls showed on Thursday.
Senator Elizabeth Warren and the former vice-president Joe Biden have lost ground in California in recent months, a new poll for the Los Angeles Times has found. From the report:
That erosion has benefited Sen Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who narrowly tops the primary field, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind, who doubled his support since the September poll.
California will have a state primary on 3 March 2020 – shortly after the Iowa Democratic caucuses the month before. In the meantime, the race remains “unusually fluid”, according to Mark DiCamillo, the director of the Berkeley IGS poll of voters.
Updated
The Department of Homeland Security has abandoned plans to implement facial scans of anyone leaving and entering the US, it announced on Thursday.
The Trump administration had proposed regulation that would require Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to photograph travelers, but changed plans after “consulting Congress and privacy experts”, Reuters reported.
“There are no current plans to require US citizens to provide photographs upon entry and exit from the United States. CBP intends to have the planned regulatory action regarding US citizens removed from the unified agenda next time it is published,” the agency said.
Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts credited public pressure with the decision, which he called “a victory for every single American traveler who flies on a plane”.
Updated
Donald Trump asked the supreme court on Thursday to void a subpoena from the House of Representatives seeking his financial records, according to the Associated Press.
The documents are shielded from being turned over while the supreme court justices consider whether to hear Trump’s case. The justices are also considering a separate appeal from Trump that would require the same accounting firm, Mazars USA, to give his tax returns to the Manhattan district attorney.
The court could say as early as mid-December whether it will hear and decide the cases by the end of June. A third case involving House subpoenas for Trump’s records from New York banks is also headed for the supreme court.
Updated
Hello readers! Kari Paul in San Francisco taking over the blog for the next few hours. Stay tuned for updates.
Evening summary
That’s it from me on the blog today. My west coast colleague Kari Paul will take over for the next few hours.
Here’s where the day stands so far:
- Nancy Pelosi announced that House Democratic leadership would move forward with drafting articles of impeachment against Trump, as the speaker argued the president’s actions had left lawmakers with “no choice” but to impeach.
- Pelosi confronted a reporter who asked if she hated the president. “I don’t hate anyone,” the House speaker said, citing her Catholic upbringing. “So don’t mess with me when it comes to words like that,” Pelosi told the reporter.
- Joe Biden shared a contentious exchange with an Iowa voter who pressed the former vice president on his age and his son’s business activities in Ukraine. “You’re a damn liar, man,” Biden told the voter before challenging him to a push-up contest.
- Former secretary of state John Kerry endorsed Biden in the Democratic presidential primary, arguing the former veep has the “character” and the “ability to persevere” needed to defeat Trump.
- Another House Republican, Tom Graves of Georgia, announced he would not seek reelection next year. The lawmaker is the 21st House Republican to announce a departure, underscoring the party’s lack of confidence in regaining control of the chamber next year.
Kari will have much more coming up, so stay tuned.
Representative Collin Peterson, one of two House Democrats to vote against the measure formalizing procedures for the impeachment inquiry, dodged a question about whether he intends to vote in favor of the forthcoming articles of impeachment, but his response indicates hesitation at the very least.
Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson, the other Democrat who also opposed the inquiry, said this when I asked if he'd vote to impeach: "I don't have an idea what they're doing." And he walked on the floor.
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 5, 2019
On a momentous day for America ... a message from Guardian US editor-in-chief
House speaker Nancy Pelosi has pressed ahead with impeachment, saying: “The President leaves us no choice but to act … Our democracy is what is at stake.” The stakes could not be higher: has the US constitution, the basis of US democracy, been violated by Donald Trump? If so, can both the constitution and the president survive?
In a fractured, poisonous political climate, the Guardian will steer an independent, fact-based path through the impeachment hearings. The need for rigorous, robust reporting has never been greater.
As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism in the new year. 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.
Congressman Jeff Van Drew, one of two House Democrats who voted against the measure formalizing procedures in the impeachment inquiry, warned that drafting articles of impeachment could backfire on the party.
Urgent: Dem NJ Rep Van Drew believes impeachment could backfire on Democrats: “People have to be careful for what they wish for.”
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) December 5, 2019
Van Drew:
The majority rules. I would rather have seen a censure…the House could have strongly censured him
Spat between Biden and voter turns up heat in Iowa
The Iowa town hall where Joe Biden shared a fiery exhange with a voter remained contentious after the former vice president concluded his remarks, with one attendee telling the orignal questioner to “get out of here.”
The voter who confronted Biden offered a very colorful response.
"Stick it up your ass, fella."
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) December 5, 2019
Voter that challenged @JoeBiden gets into confrontation with another voter that told him to "get out of here."
📹: @EmilyELarsen pic.twitter.com/VSz8u2yWC0
Updated
The House speaker and the committee chairs leading the impeachment inquiry are remaining tight-lipped about the specific articles of impeachment they will draft.
“It’s obviously a significant milestone,” Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, said of Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that Democratic leadership would move forward with drafting articles of impeachment.
But the chairman offered no clarity about which specific articles would be pursued, saying only that there were discussions going on now to reach a decision on that.
Congressman Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House judiciary committee, is demanding that chairman Jerry Nadler hold a “minority day of hearings” before the House votes on articles of impeachment against Trump.
“Considering the haste with which this sham impeachment has been conducted, it is imperative that you contact me or my office as soon as possible to consult on scheduling the requested minority hearing day,” Collins wrote in his letter to Nadler.
But if Democratic leadership does intend to introduce the articles of impeachment next week, it seems unlikely the judiciary committee would hold an additional hearing to meet the Republicans’ demands.
The panel’s next hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, will allow the House intelligence committee to present the findings contained in its impeachment report.
Bloomberg terminal directs users to owner's campaign website
The Bloomberg terminal, the flagship product of Michael Bloomberg’s company, directs users to its owner’s campaign website -- a feature that does not apply to other Democratic presidential candidates.
The Financial Times reports:
Users of Bloomberg terminals are funnelled to the Bloomberg 2020 campaign website merely by writing: MIKE. ...
A Bloomberg spokesperson said the ‘MIKE’ function had been in place since at least 1997, when it was used to promote Mr Bloomberg’s autobiography Bloomberg by Bloomberg. Two decades later it advertised his book Climate of Hope. The website it currently links to has for years promoted Mr Bloomberg’s personal and political projects before being converted to his campaign site.
The website that users are directed to presents a slickly-produced video narrating Mr Bloomberg’s journey from ‘a middle-class kid who had to work his way through college’ to a billionaire businessman and politician.
It asks readers to register their details to join the campaign team, and contains news of policy announcements — as well as an online shop including $22 ‘I like Mike Bloomberg’ T-shirts.
That report comes three days after Trump’s reelection campaign said it would no longer credential Bloomberg News reporters for events because of the outlet’s position on covering the Democratic primary.
Bloomberg News’ editor-in-chief has said the outlet will not investigate Bloomberg or any other Democratic presidential candidate but will continue to investigate the Trump administration, prompting allegations of a journalistic double standard from the president’s allies.
The unidentified man who pressed Joe Biden on Ukraine and his age during an Iowa town hall said he intended to back Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders in the caucuses, even though they are also in their 70’s.
The man, who refused to give his name to reporters, made it clear he also wasn’t supporting Biden because of his age. But he said that Warren & Sanders, both in their 70s, are his top picks. He wouldn’t say much when pressed about the discrepancy.
— Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaNBCNews) December 5, 2019
House Democrats may introduce articles of impeachment next week
House Democrats could introduce articles of impeachment against Trump as soon as next week, according to the Hill newspaper.
The Hill reports:
‘I expect articles will be introduced next week,’ one of the Democratic sources said, adding that the Judiciary Committee could also begin marking up those articles next week as well.
The trio of sources signaled that the accelerated timeline is part of an effort to wrap up the historic inquiry into Trump’s dealings with Ukraine before Christmas. In doing so, however, Democrats don’t want impeachment to be the last vote before heading into the religious holidays, preferring instead to end on a more bipartisan note like funding the government.
On a momentous day for America ... a message from Guardian US editor-in-chief
House speaker Nancy Pelosi has pressed ahead with impeachment, saying: “The President leaves us no choice but to act … Our democracy is what is at stake.” The stakes could not be higher: has the US constitution, the basis of US democracy, been violated by Donald Trump? If so, can both the constitution and the president survive?
In a fractured, poisonous political climate, the Guardian will steer an independent, fact-based path through the impeachment hearings. The need for rigorous, robust reporting has never been greater.
As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism in the new year. 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.
During Joe Biden’s contentious exchange with an Iowa voter at a town hall, the audience jeered when the man said the former vice president didn’t “have any more backbone than Trump.”
The man then said he did not intend to vote for Biden, to which the candidate replied, “Well, I knew you weren’t. You’re too old to vote for me.” (That was after the man had criticized Biden for his age, which prompted the former veep to challenge him to a push-up contest.)
“You don’t have any more backbone than Trump,” the 83-year-old man said, receiving boos from the crowd. "I’m not voting for you.”
— POLITICO (@politico) December 5, 2019
“Well, I knew you weren’t,” Biden said. “You’re too old to vote for me,” he continued, followed by laughter from the crowd https://t.co/nQKY2ZMqBh pic.twitter.com/g221Jv6m7n
Republican strategists and conservative commentators jumped to criticize Joe Biden for saying, “look, fat” to address an Iowa voter who was criticizing the former vice president for his age and his son’s business activities in Ukraine. From the rapid response director for the Republican national committee:
Joe Biden doesn't know how to treat voters.#Breaking: Joe Biden lashes out at voter in Iowa after the voter calls Biden out on Ukraine: Not only does Biden call the voter “a damn liar,” he goes on to call the voter “fat.” pic.twitter.com/34SMYcmbr7
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) December 5, 2019
But Biden’s campaign claimed the presidential candidate was actually saying, “look, fact” to correct the voter’s comments. (The moment is around the 2:30 mark in the below video.)
WATCH: Full exchange b/t voter & @JoeBiden over Ukraine connections & Biden's age. Biden physically challenges the man because he is not "sedentary." It also sounds like Biden said the word "fat" but campaign disputes as the word "fact." pic.twitter.com/ut1Gdbxt5e
— Bo Erickson CBS (@BoKnowsNews) December 5, 2019
Graham says he will not subpoena Schiff's phone records
Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of the Senate judiciary committee and a close ally of Trump’s, is denying a GOP congressman’s request to subpoena the phone records of Adam Schiff.
“I don’t have any desire to subpoena Adam Schiff’s phone records,” Graham said of the House intelligence committee chairman. “We’re not going to do that. When members start subpoenaing each other as part of oversight, the whole system breaks down.”
The request came after Devin Nunes’ name appeared in phone records contained in the intelligence committee’s impeachment report, but it’s worth noting the panel did not subpoena the congressman’s phone records. His calls showed up in the records of Lev Parnas and Rudy Giuliani, whose information was subpoenaed.
Regardless, Graham’s comments could indicate the Senate judiciary committee will not seek Schiff’s testimony, as Trump has called for.
This seems to suggest he won't seek Schiff's testimony either -- which always seemed to be a pipe dream -- since that would likely have to be compelled. https://t.co/YELKfLlJ9v
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 5, 2019
The White House has reportedly directed Republican senator Kevin Cramer to block an effort to pass a resolution formally recognizing the Armenian genocide a century ago, according to Axios.
That would mark the third time the White House directed a senator to block the symbolic resolution, which is vehemently opposed by Turkey’s authoritarian president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In October the House voted to formally recognize the systematic killing of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians under the Ottoman Empire in 1915, modern-day Turkey, as genocide.
Scoop: Sen. Cramer blocks Armenian genocide bill at request of White House. 3rd time WH has got a Republican to block a bill. https://t.co/22cQU25lg8
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) December 5, 2019
On a momentous day for America ... a message from Guardian US editor-in-chief
House speaker Nancy Pelosi has pressed ahead with impeachment, saying: “The President leaves us no choice but to act … Our democracy is what is at stake.” The stakes could not be higher: has the US constitution, the basis of US democracy, been violated by Donald Trump? If so, can both the constitution and the president survive?
In a fractured, poisonous political climate, the Guardian will steer an independent, fact-based path through the impeachment hearings. The need for rigorous, robust reporting has never been greater.
As 2020 approaches, we’re asking our US readers to help us raise $1.5m by early January to support our journalism in the new year. 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.
Bernie Sanders will join youth climate protesters planning sit-ins around the country tomorrow “at the offices of establishment Democrats who have yet to back the Green New Deal,” according to a press release from the Sunrise Movement.
We are the climate campaign.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) December 5, 2019
Our Green New Deal is the only proposal put forth by any candidate that is bold enough to take on the crisis we face.
Thank you to @sunrisemvmt for your leadership! https://t.co/gAptQcEMm8
Friday marks a year from when the group protested in speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office in Washington D.C. with congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The young people are planning sit-ins in battleground states and congressional districts in Iowa, Michigan, Colorado, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, California, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. Sanders will join strikers in Des Moines.
Biden pressed on Ukraine by Iowa voter: 'You're a damn liar, man'
A voter at a town hall in Iowa pressed Joe Biden on his son’s business activities in Ukraine, saying the former vice president had “sent” Hunter Biden to the country to work with an energy company.
“You’re a damn liar, man,” Biden told the man. The former vice president denied that he or his son engaged in any corrupt activity in Ukraine and told the voter to “get your words straight.”
WATCH: A tense exchange with a voter at @JoeBiden’s event in New Hampton, IA this morning, where a voter started out by telling Biden he had two problems with him: he was too old, and his son’s work in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/ok7m0ShFPd
— Molly Nagle (@MollyNagle3) December 5, 2019
Biden also pushed back against the voter for questioning his age. “I’m not sedentary,” Biden said. “You want to check my shape man, let’s do pushups together here, man. Let’s run. Let’s do whatever you want to do. Let’s take an IQ test. Okay?” This cheeky suggestion was met with applause from the audience.
White House slams Pelosi over impeachment announcement
The White House has just released a statement slamming Nancy Pelosi after the House speaker announced Democratic leadership would move forward with articles of impeachment against Trump.
“At this morning’s press conference, Speaker Nancy Pelosi could have finally announced a vote on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that would immediately help America’s farmers, ranchers, businesses, and workers; or outlined a plan to work with the President to lower prescription drug prices; or addressed our Nation’s infrastructure,” press secretary Stephanie Grisham said. “Instead, Speaker Pelosi did exactly what she always does – ignore the needs of the American people and advance her selfish political desires.”
Ironically, the House speaker did also announce this morning, following her impeachment statement, that Democratic leadership was scheduling a vote on a bill meant to lower prescription drug prices.
Grisham concluded the statement, “Speaker Pelosi’s instruction to advance this impeachment process – one that has violated every precedent - moves this Country toward the most partisan and illegitimate subversion of the Constitution in our history.”
Afternoon summary
Here’s where the day stands so far:
- Nancy Pelosi announced House Democratic leaders would move forward with articles of impeachment against Trump, but the speaker did not offer any clarity on what articles would be considered or when the matter would come up for a vote.
- Pelosi lashed out against a reporter who asked her if she hated the president, telling him she did not and resented the usage of the word “hate” given her Catholic upbringing. “So don’t mess with me when it comes to words like that,” Pelosi said.
- Former secretary of state John Kerry announced he was endorsing Joe Biden in the Democratic presidential primary.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Asked during his weekly press conference about whether it was okay for the president to ask a foreign country to investigate a political rival, House minority leader Kevin McCarthy dodged the question by claiming Democrats have been trying to impeach Trump since he took office.
I asked Kevin McCarthy if it's ever OK for a president to ask a foreign power to investigate a political rival, and he dodged the question. Instead, he focusing on the 2016 probe and later said: "The answer to your question: They've always wanted to impeach the President." pic.twitter.com/GqnoDOd10u
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) December 5, 2019
Some of the president’s other Republican allies have responded to this oft-repeated question from reporters by arguing that the request was not inappropriate because Ukraine’s military aid was ultimately released.
Former secretary of state John Kerry has endorsed Joe Biden over two fellow Massachusetts Democrats running against him in the presidential primary, Elizabeth Warren and Deval Patrick.
“I like Elizabeth enormously. I worked very hard to help her win her seat. And I like Deval. I worked closely with him as governor,” Kerry told the Washington Post. “I just think Joe is the person for the moment.”
Biden is well ahead of his opponents in terms of major party endorsements, having already earned the backing of dozens of congressional Democrats.
Nancy Pelosi just concluded a closed-door meeting with the six committee chairs who will offer recommendations on the articles of impeachment, but the House speaker dodged reporters’ questions about what the leaders discussed.
.@SpeakerPelosi has no comment about potential articles as she leaves the meeting:
— Scott Wong (@scottwongDC) December 5, 2019
“When we’re ready to make an announcement, we will” she says
Former secretary of state John Kerry endorses Biden
John Kerry, the former secretary of state under Barack Obama who won the Democratic presidential nomination in 2004, has announced he is endorsing Joe Biden in the 2020 primary race.
“I’m not endorsing Joe because I’ve known him a long time. I’m endorsing him because I know him so well,” Kerry told the Washington Post. “The world is broken. Our politics are broken. The country faces extraordinary challenges.
“And I believe very deeply that Joe Biden’s character, his ability to persevere, his decency and the experiences that he brings to the table are critical to the moment. The world has to be put back together, the world that Donald Trump has smashed apart.”
Kerry specifically cited Trump’s performance this week at the Nato summit in London as a reason why the country needed Biden. “The petulance and smallness and ridicule that he invited is very dangerous for all of us,” Kerry said. “And that just underscores the urgency of people recognizing the assets that Joe Biden brings to the table.”
The Biden campaign similarly criticized Trump for his performance at the Nato summit, releasing a new video featuring footage of world leaders seeming to laugh at the US president. The Biden video described Trump as “a president the world is laughing at” and concludes, “We need a leader the world respects.”
The world is laughing at President Trump. They see him for what he really is: dangerously incompetent and incapable of world leadership.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 5, 2019
We cannot give him four more years as commander in chief. pic.twitter.com/IR8K2k54YQ
Another House Republican announces retirement
Another House Republican, Tom Graves of Georgia, said he will not seek reelection next year, becoming the 21st member of the GOP caucus to announce a departure.
Today I announced to my friends and fellow Georgians that I will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020. Serving the country I love so much, and representing the community I hold so dear, is an honor that won't be replicated.
— Tom Graves (@RepTomGraves) December 5, 2019
Graves, who serves as the top Republican on the House financial services committee and is considered a close ally of minority leader Kevin McCarthy, comes from a solidly red district that is unlikely to flip to Democratic control.
But his announcement, combined with the 20 others like it, signal that Republicans are not confident about their chances of retaking the House in next year’s elections.
Updated
Trump says Pelosi had a 'nervous fit'
Trump said in a tweet that Nancy Pelosi had a “nervous fit” at her weekly press conference, when the House speaker angrily told a reporter she did not hate the president.
Nancy Pelosi just had a nervous fit. She hates that we will soon have 182 great new judges and sooo much more. Stock Market and employment records. She says she “prays for the President.” I don’t believe her, not even close. Help the homeless in your district Nancy. USMCA?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 5, 2019
Pelosi told Sinclair reporter James Rosen she did not hate Trump and resented his usage of the word, given her Catholic upbringing. The speaker said she continued to pray for the president, even though she disagreed with him on many issues.
The president said he did not believe Pelosi, but when House minority leader Kevin McCarthy was asked about her comments, the Republican lawamker said, “I’ll take the speaker at her word.”
Q: "Do you hate the president?"@SpeakerPelosi: "I don't hate anybody…As a Catholic, I resent your using the word hate in a sentence that addresses me. I don't hate anyone…So, don't mess with me when it comes to words like that."
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 5, 2019
Full video: https://t.co/l9peY9RTzl pic.twitter.com/zpqUaCcVrS
McCarthy says Pelosi's impeachment announced 'weakened' the country
House minority leader Kevin McCarthy said at his weekly press conference that Nancy Pelosi had “weakened this nation” with her announcement of Democratic leadership moving forward with articles of impeachment.
.@GOPLeader starts off with a historical reference of his own, citing Alexander Hamilton’s concerns about partisan impeachment. Now says @SpeakerPelosi has “weakened” the country with her announcement the House will move forward with articles of impeachment. pic.twitter.com/Ogay0We9cX
— Rebecca Kaplan (@RebeccaRKaplan) December 5, 2019
McCarthy added he was more confident than ever that, when a vote is held on the articles of impeachment, there will be bipartisan opposition to the measure. (Two House Democrats voted against the measure that formalized the procedures of the impeachment inquiry.)
State department says about 1,000 may have been killed in Iranian protests
The state department’s special envoy for Iran, Brian Hook, just announced that the administration believes up to 1,000 people have been killed in the Iranian regime’s crackdown on recent protests.
.@StateDept 's Brian Hook tells reporters that 32,000 people have submitted videos & info to the US showing the brutality of the crackdown by Iran's regime. He says ~1000 citizens could have been murdered since protests began including a dozen children. #IranProtests
— margaret brennan (@margbrennan) December 5, 2019
Hook said the state department had reviewed footage of Iranian forces shooting protesters with machine guns and loading their bodies onto trucks.
James Rosen, the Sinclair reporter who pressed Nancy Pelosi on whether she hated the president, has previously asked the House speaker similarly pointed questions about the impeachment inquiry.
Two weeks ago, Pelosi called @JamesRosenTV "Mr. Republican Talking Points" after he asked why the whistleblower was entitled to protection. (Rosen went on to ask @GOPLeader a similarly pointed question about why the GOP was assailing "hearsay" while Trump blocked key witnesses.)
— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) December 5, 2019
Capitol Hill reporters said Pelosi’s fiery response was a rare show of emotion from the usually controlled speaker.
“I’ve gotten under her skin before, but not like that”- @mkraju LIVE on Pelosi’s anger after being asked is she hates the president. Press room listening erupts in laughter
— Laurie Ure (@LaurieUreCNN) December 5, 2019
The journalist who asked Nancy Pelosi whether Democrats “hate” the president appears to be James Rosen from Sinclair Broadcast Group, which has been criticized for its partisan leanings and close ties to the White House.
Lucia Graves reported on Sinclair’s rise in 2017:
Sinclair’s size, rightwing politics and close connections to Donald Trump’s White House are starting to attract attention. Democrats are wading in to the fray and demanding answers over Sinclair’s close ties to the Trump administration, which, they say, could mean the group is getting preferential treatment.
The New York Times refers to the group as a ‘conservative giant’ that, since the Bush presidency, has used its 173 television stations ‘to advance a mostly right-leaning agenda’. The Washington Post describes it as a ‘company with a long history of favoring conservative causes and candidates on its stations’ newscasts’.
Pelosi says she does not 'hate' Trump and tells reporter not to 'mess' with her
House speaker Nancy Pelosi was walking away from her podium to end her weekly press conference when a reporter shouted a question about whether Democrats “hate” the president.
Q: "Do you hate the president?"@SpeakerPelosi: "I don't hate anybody…As a Catholic, I resent your using the word hate in a sentence that addresses me. I don't hate anyone…So, don't mess with me when it comes to words like that."
— CSPAN (@cspan) December 5, 2019
Full video: https://t.co/l9peY9RTzl pic.twitter.com/zpqUaCcVrS
Pelosi quickly turned on her heel to address the reporter directly, angrily telling him that she did not hate the president and that she resented him for using the word. “I don’t hate anyone,” the House speaker said, citing her Catholic upbringing. “I still pray for the president,” she added.
Pelosi threw a number of insults Trump’s way, calling the president a “coward” on gun violence, among other things. But she emphasized she did not hate the president. “So don’t mess with me when it comes to words like that,” Pelosi told the reporter. And with that, she walked out.
Updated
Echoing her comments from her statement earlier this morning, Nancy Pelosi argued Trump had made the impeachment inquiry necessary through his actions toward Ukraine.
“The president gave us no choice,” the House speaker said. “He’s the one who is dividing the country on this. We’re honoring our oaths of office.”
Nancy Pelosi dodged a reporter’s question about what would be included in the articles of impeachment, instead referring the matter to the committee chairs leading the inquiry.
"I'm not going to talk about that": Pelosi won't say what precisely she wants in articles of impeachment. Insists it's up to the committees.
— Mike DeBonis (@mikedebonis) December 5, 2019
Pelosi says impeachment inquiry is about Russia, not Ukraine
Asked by a reporter whether there was an “aha” moment when she decided to back impeachment, Nancy Pelosi said the decision has been slowly building for more than two years -- since the start of the Russia investigation.
This is a noteworthy comment because some Republicans have argued the inquiry is moving far too quickly, an opinion echoed yesterday by a legal witness called by the House minority yesterday.
“This isn’t about Ukraine; this is about Russia, who benefitted from the withholdding of that military assistance,” Pelosi said. She then added her oft-repeated line about the investigation, “All roads lead to Putin.”
House judiciary committee announces Monday hearing
As Nancy Pelosi holds her weekly press conference, the House judiciary committee just announced it would conduct a hearing Monday to “Receive Counsel Presentations of Evidence in the Impeachment Inquiry of President Donald Trump.”
INBOX: "Monday Notice: Judiciary Committee to Hold Hearing to Receive Counsel Presentations of Evidence in the Impeachment Inquiry of President Donald Trump"
— Nicholas Fandos (@npfandos) December 5, 2019
The announcement comes two days after the House intelligence committee released its report on the impeachment inquiry, and the judiciary committee said Monday’s hearing would give “Counsels for the Majority and the Minority” the chance to “present for their respective Committees.”
Pelosi holds weekly press conference
House speaker Nancy Pelosi has started her weekly press conference, where she will inevitably be asked about the timeline for members voting on articles of impeachment.
.@SpeakerPelosi arrives for her weekly press conference after asking the House chairmen to draft articles of impeachment pic.twitter.com/w6DD3BlDaM
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) December 5, 2019
The speaker began addressing reporters by asking if they had a good Thanksgiving. They said they had, and then Fox News reporter Chad Pergram asked, “Are we going to have a good Christmas?” The speaker laughed but did not reply.
Democrats plan vote on bill to lower prescription drug prices
House speaker Nancy Pelosi just made her second big announcement of the morning: Democratic leadership is planning a vote next week on a bill meant to lower presciption drug prices.
JUST IN from office of @SpeakerPelosi: House Democrats to vote next week on a plan designed to lower prescription drug prices -- a top voter concern. All part of their attempt to focus on impeachment (walk) and handle unrelated work (chew gum at the same time). pic.twitter.com/ZHFWNiAWfy
— Ed O'Keefe (@edokeefe) December 5, 2019
The bill, which is called the “Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act” in honor of the late Democratic congressman who championed the cause, would allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices, among other things.
The vote could bolster Democrats’ argument that they are continuing to address their constituents’ needs as they move forward with the impeachment inquiry, despite Trump’s repeated claims to the contrary.
It’s worth noting that, contrary to Trump’s claim about Democrats having “given up” on special counsel Robert Mueller’s report, yesterday’s hearing indicated the Russia investigation may factor into the articles of impeachment.
Far from having "given up" on the Mueller stuff, Democrats on Wednesday indicated they're strongly considering an "obstruction of justice" article against Trump based on Mueller's findings. https://t.co/YL6Z9nrMmn
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 5, 2019
Chairman Jerry Nadler mentioned Mueller’s report in his opening statement during yesterday’s hearing, and the special counsel’s findings on how Trump obstructed the investigation could be factored into one of the forthcoming articles of impeachment.
Trump says Democrats are trying to impeach him over 'nothing'
Trump has just weighed in on Nancy Pelosi’s announcement that House Democrats are moving forward with articles of impeachment, accusing the “Do Nothing” lawmakers of trying to impeach him over “two totally appropriate (perfect) phone calls with the Ukrainian President.”
(Several Trump administration officials testified during last month’s impeachment hearings that they were alarmed by the president’s actions toward Ukraine as the country’s military assistance was held up.)
....This will mean that the beyond important and seldom used act of Impeachment will be used routinely to attack future Presidents. That is not what our Founders had in mind. The good thing is that the Republicans have NEVER been more united. We will win!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 5, 2019
Echoing the legal expert who was called by House Republicans to testify at yesterday’s impeachment hearing, Trump also warned the inquiry would set a dangerous precedent for future presidents.
But Trump, who has called for a rapid House vote in order to advance to a Senate trial, remained confident he would “win” the fight. It remains unlikely that the Senate will vote to remove the president from office, but Trump will probably lose his battle to have Hunter Biden or Adam Schiff testify during the trial.
After delivering her statement on the impeachment inquiry, Nancy Pelosi reportedly offered a similar message to her Democratic caucus in a closed-door meeting.
But the House speaker did not offer the members any further clarity on which articles of impeachment they would be debating or when the matter might come up for a vote. However, Democrats appear to be on schedule for a vote before Christmas.
Many members left the caucus meeting with as many questions as they had going in. Pelosi didn’t offer more details about the scope of the articles or her timeline, according to several members.
— Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) December 5, 2019
Congressman Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House judiciary committee, accused chairman Jerry Nadler of being out of the loop after Nancy Pelosi announced Democrats are moving forward with articles of impeachment.
This week, Chairman Nadler told me to provide him with my witness list.
— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) December 5, 2019
But Pelosi’s press conference seemed to indicate we’re moving straight to articles of impeachment.
Judiciary has jurisdiction over articles of impeachment, but does the chairman even know what’s going on?
Pelosi said in her statement that she would ask committee “chairmen” to move forward with articles of impeachment, so even if the judiciary committee takes the lead on it, other panels will likely weigh in.
The president’s reelection campaign issued a statement echoing Trump’s request for a rapid House vote on impeachment in order to advance to a Senate trial, where the president and his allies expect Adam Schiff, Hunter Biden and Nancy Pelosi to testify. (But, again, the likelihood of that testimony occurring seems low.)
Trump campaign responds to @SpeakerPelosi announce that today that the House will move forward with articles of impeachment. pic.twitter.com/HUjrVEbWui
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) December 5, 2019
The president’s request for a rapid vote comes one day after a legal expert called by Republican members of the House judiciary committee argued the impeachment inquiry was already moving too quickly, as a New York Times reporter noted.
A day after the Republican-chosen scholar told the House that it was was moving too quickly to impeach Trump, Trump says it should move even more quickly: "I say, if you are going to impeach me, do it now, fast, so we can have a fair trial in the Senate."
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) December 5, 2019
Trump seems to be under the impression that a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate will allow him to call any witness he wants -- including Joe Biden -- but the actual likelihood of that seems ... quite low.
There's also a roughly 0% chance that the trial will feature testimony from Schiff, Pelosi and the Bidens, even though Trump says it's guaranteed. https://t.co/0L5ci3VAbD
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 5, 2019
Nancy Pelosi’s use of the plural word “chairmen” to describe who will lead the next steps in the impeachment inquiry indicates multiple committees will be allowed to weigh in on which articles of impeachment will be drafted.
Pelosi said she had asked "chairmen" -- plural -- to begin drafting articles. This is continuing with her multi-committee approach to all this.
— Nicholas Fandos (@npfandos) December 5, 2019
I imagine the process will be housed in Judiciary as expected, but allows input for other chairs? https://t.co/yGkY2DnhZg
The House intelligence committee held last month’s public hearings with key fact witnesses in the Ukraine scandal, but the judiciary committee conducted yesterday’s hearing with legal experts on the consititutional standard for impeachment.
Pelosi says Trump 'leaves us no choice but to act'
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said in her statement on the impeachment inquiry that she believed Trump represented a threat to the constitution and the country, citing yesterday’s testimony from legal experts.
“Our democracy is what is at stake,” Pelosi said. “The president leaves us no choice but to act, because he is trying to corrupt, once again, the election for his own benefit.”
BREAKING: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: "Today, I am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment." https://t.co/yMg0trFZ0O pic.twitter.com/038nBeYEdv
— ABC News (@ABC) December 5, 2019
Pelosi continued, “Sadly but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders and a heart full of love for America, today I am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment.”
The speaker went on to commend committee chairs’ “somber approach” to the inquiry, which she argued was only made necessary by the president’s actions.
Nancy Pelosi and the House committee chairs leading the impeachment inquiry, particulalry Adam Schiff of the intelligence committee, repeatedly emphasized during the public hearings that they had not reached a determination on impeachment.
The House speaker’s announcement this morning signals that Democrats are now confident enough in the gathered evidence to move forward with a vote on impeachment, as had been widely expected.
@SpeakerPelosi says she's backing ARTICLES of IMPEACHMENT. Keep in mind, up until this point Pelosi publicly had been saying this was NOT a done deal, but we all knew that this became a sure thing the very day she announced the impeachment inquiry on Sept 24.
— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) December 5, 2019
Pelosi says House Democrats moving forward with articles of impeachment
Nancy Pelosi has just announced that she is asking the committee chairs leading the impeachment inquiry to move forward with articles of impeachment against Trump.
“Today I am asking our chairmen to proceed with articles of impeachment,” Pelosi said in her statement.
But the House speaker did not specify a timeline for a vote on impeachment.
Pelosi says Trump 'abused his power'
In her statement on the impeachment inquiry, Nancy Pelosi outlined the allegations against Trump and argued the president abused his power.
“The facts are uncontested,” Pelosi said. “The president abused his power for his own personal political benefit at the expense of our national security.”
Pelosi now delivering her statement
Nancy Pelosi is now delivering her statement on the impeachment inquiry, kicking off with a history lesson on the Founders’ desire to avoid a monarchy in America – echoing the legal experts who testified before the House judiciary committee yesterday.
Speaker Pelosi giving a status update of the impeachment inquiry pic.twitter.com/jKJUzVmaN1
— Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) December 5, 2019
Updated
House speaker Nancy Pelosi should be delivering her statement on the impeachment inquiry any moment now, but C-SPAN is indicating we might still need to wait a bit.
CSPAN just changed the time on the video to say 9:10a... so we may have to wait just a little longer? pic.twitter.com/GSanLGmbHo
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) December 5, 2019
Pelosi to deliver statement on impeachment
Good morning, live-blog readers!
Nancy Pelosi is scheduled to deliver a statement on the impeachment inquiry at 9am ET, just a day after the House speaker held a closed-door meeting with her caucus during which Democrats reportedly signaled they are ready to advance toward a vote on impeachment.
And Donald Trump has a request on that front. The president was tweeting this morning that he would prefer an accelerated timeline for a House impeachment vote, so that the matter can move on to the Senate, where he will likely be acquitted. “I say, if you are going to impeach me, do it now, fast, so we can have a fair ... trial in the Senate, and so that our Country can get back to business,” Trump said.
It’s seeming increasingly likely that House Democrats will be able to stick to their schedule of holding a vote on impeachment by the end of the year, which means Trump’s Christmas present could be the unfortunate honor of becoming the fourth US president to ever be impeached by the House.
Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on:
- Trump will have a lunch with permanent representatives of the UN security council and later speak at both the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony and a White House Christmas reception.
- Ivanka Trump will tour the Indiana Women’s Prison in Indianapolis with Governor Eric Holcomb.
- House minority leader Kevin McCarthy will hold his weekly press conference at 11.30am ET.
There’s much more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated
