Trump news - live: Furious clamour for impeachment as president admits he would accept dirt from foreign power in 2020 race
Donald Trump has once more stirred up calls for his impeachment after saying in an interview he would accept intelligence on a political opponent from a foreign power rather than inform the FBI.
“If somebody called from a country, Norway, [and said] ‘we have information on your opponent’ – oh, I think I’d want to hear it”, the president said during an Oval Office interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.
The remark immediately inspired Mr Trump’s 2020 Democratic challengers to unite in calls for his removal from the White House, with Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren all condemning his words and California senator Kamala Harris branding him a “national security threat”.
Nancy Pelosi says she made a bet with Justin Trudeau on the upcoming NBA Finals game between the Toronto Raptors and the Golden State Warriors. She says they made the bet after the Warriors went down 3-1.
Ms Pelosi says the "revolving door" is "spinning madly" in the US executive branch, and says that most members of Donald Trump's cabinet are connected to the private sectors they are meant to oversee.
Ms Pelosi is urging reporters to "follow the money" to determine "who benefits from" the transfer of nuclear technology to foreign countries, and other recipients.
"It has nothing to do with any campaign. I want you to all to understand that, as we go down this path to seek the truth for the American people and to hold the president accountable, it has nothing to do with politics or any campaigns. It has everything to do with patriotism, not partisanship," Ms Pelosi says.
"There is in the law that you cannot accept contributions and that includes in-kind from a foreign ... government. That is in the law. But if it needs more clarity than we will go the duty to report. It's not only that you don't accept it but that you report it to the FBI. Because this is an invasion of our democracy," Ms Pelosi says.
Ms Pelosi is referencing the 2000 election, when the Al Gore campaign received debate prep slid under their door ahead of a debate with George Bush. Ms Pelosi notes that the campaign immediately brought that information to the FBI.
"There is a sense of decency about fruit from the forbidden tree. Ill gotten gain," Ms Pelosi said.
Ms Pelosi: "We have a passage that we're putting forth in light of the Mueller report". She says the package would require campaigns to report it if foreign governments approach officials with damaging information.
Ms Pelosi is flanked by a poster with "McConnell's Graveyard" written on it, in a reference to Senate majority Mitch McConnell — who has called himself the grim reaper for legislative priorities of democrats.
In case you missed this bit in our earlier report, the president deleted his misspelled "Whales" tweet — then reposted the thing with the correct spelling.
The House Intelligence Committee has subpoenaed President Trump’s former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates and former White House National Security Advisor Michael Flynn to testify in front of them.
Here is Congressman Adam Schiff’s statement:
“As part of our oversight work, the House Intelligence Committee is continuing to examine the deep counterintelligence concerns raised in Special Counsel Mueller’s report, and that requires speaking directly with the fact witnesses”
“Both Michael Flynn and Rick Gates were critical witnesses for Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation, but so far have refused to cooperate fully with Congress.”
Here's Chris Stevenson on how "lone bugler" Trump strikes an ever-more isolated figure on the world stage, his trade wars and posturing failing to convince.
As for Mr Warner, it was reported that he had texted with a with a lobbyist for a Russian oligarch who promised access to Christopher Steele, the author of the controversial dossier on Mr Trump and Russia
Fox News reported that Warner had "extensive contact" in 2017 with lobbyist Adam Waldman.
The contacts were dismissed by Republican senator Marco Rubio - who was on the Senate Intelligence Committee at the time said that Mr Warner had disclosed the details and it had "no impact" on the committee's work.
