Republican lawmakers storm hearing room, disrupt Trump impeachment inquiry

[webfact]

Republican lawmakers storm hearing room, disrupt Trump impeachment inquiry

By Richard Cowan, Patricia Zengerle and Mark Hosenball

 

U.S. House Republicans speak to reporters after Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper arrived to testify at a closed-door deposition as part of the U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Trump led by the House Intelligence, House Foreign Affairs and House Oversight and Reform Committees on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso T

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry devolved into chaos on Wednesday as Republican lawmakers, encouraged by President Donald Trump to get tougher in fighting Democratic efforts to impeach him over dealings with Ukraine, stormed into a high-security hearing room and delayed testimony by a witness.

 

The more than two dozen Republican lawmakers, who were not authorized to attend the hearing, entered before Laura Cooper, the U.S. defense official who oversees Ukraine and Russia matters, was due to testify behind closed doors before Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

 

The Republicans yelled complaints that the Democrats in charge of the inquiry were conducting it in private, lawmakers and aides said. Republicans who are members of the three congressional committees conducting the inquiry have taken part in the process throughout.

 

After a delay of about four hours, Cooper began her testimony.

 

Republican lawmakers Matt Gaetz, Steve Scalise and some of their colleagues on Wednesday disrupted a closed-door meeting that is part of the U.S. House of Representatives impeachment inquiry in which a senior Pentagon official who oversees U.S. defense policy on Ukraine and Russia was testifying. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).

 

It was a dramatic confrontation in the House of Representatives inquiry that threatens Republican Trump's presidency even as he seeks re-election next year.

 

Democrats are investigating whether there are grounds to impeach Trump over his July 25 request in a phone call to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate a domestic political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden is a front-runner for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.

 

Zelenskiy agreed during the call. U.S. security aid that had been approved by the U.S. Congress but was being withheld from Ukraine was later provided.

 

Federal election law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election.

 

The content of the phone call was revealed by a whistleblower complaint against Trump by a person in a U.S. intelligence agency.

 

The top Republicans on the three committees sent a letter to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff on Wednesday calling on him to have the whistleblower testify publicly. They said Schiff had decided that the committees would not hear the whistleblower's testimony. A Schiff spokesman declined to comment.

 

People familiar with the matter had said negotiations for the whistleblower's testimony were complicated. Trump had suggested the person committed treason, leading Democrats to worry that their testimony could put them at risk of exposure.

 

'FAIR AND OPEN PROCESS'

By having Republican lawmakers barge into the hearing room, Trump's allies sought to put the focus on what they portray as unfair Democratic tactics rather than on the president's conduct.

 

Late on Wednesday, House Republican Whip Steve Scalise, who led the confrontation, told reporters, "There are going to be other things done to push even harder to have a fair and open process."

 

Although the Republicans complained of a lack of transparency in the inquiry, the U.S. constitution gives the House wide latitude in how to conduct the impeachment process and set rules for the probe. It is being held in a secure room used to brief lawmakers about confidential or sensitive material.

 

"They're freaked out. They're trying to stop this investigation," Democratic Representative Ted Lieu said of the Republicans. "They know more facts are going to be delivered which are absolutely damning to the president of the United States."

 

Republicans brought cellphones into the facility even though electronic devices are forbidden and an Intelligence Committee official said some refused to remove them. The House parliamentarian ruled that the Republican lawmakers violated House rules, the official added.

 

Schiff told reporters that the witnesses testifying in the inquiry have defied the White House efforts to keep them silent and that "the president has urged his acolytes in Congress to use other means to try to prevent their testimony. But they won't be successful."

 

Trump on Monday told reporters that "Republicans have to get tougher and fight" the impeachment, saying the Democrats are "vicious and they stick together."

 

Trump also criticized his Republican critics on Twitter, writing: "The Never Trumper Republicans, though on respirators with not many left, are in certain ways worse and more dangerous for our Country than the Do Nothing Democrats. Watch out for them, they are human scum!"

 

Before the hearing room was stormed, dozens of House Republicans appeared before reporters denouncing the impeachment process as a "joke," a "railroad job," a "charade" and "Soviet-style." They complained that testimony was being taken privately rather than in public hearings and that the House did not hold a vote formally authorizing the investigation.

 

'WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE DETERRED'

Cooper, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, began testifying on Wednesday afternoon after the standoff ended, an Intelligence Committee official said. Cooper was expected to face questions about Trump's decision this year to withhold $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine.

 

Cooper had initially agreed to testify voluntarily but after pushback from the Pentagon was subpoenaed by the House Intelligence Committee early on Wednesday, according to an official working on the impeachment probe.

 

In an Oct. 22 letter to Cooper's attorney that was seen by Reuters, the Pentagon suggested Cooper could not be "sanctioned for refusing to comply" with a subpoena and reminded her of White House guidance that personnel could not participate in the inquiry.

 

In testimony on Tuesday, William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, said Trump had made aid contingent on the Ukrainian president announcing he would investigate Biden, his son Hunter Biden's tenure on the board of a Ukrainian energy company, and a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

 

So far, few Republicans have appeared inclined toward Trump's removal, though there have been some cracks in their support. Senator John Thune, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, told reporters that the picture painted by Taylor's testimony "based on the reporting that we've seen is not a good one."

 

The inquiry could lead to the House passing formal charges known as articles of impeachment, prompting a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate on whether to remove Trump from office.

 

Democratic lawmakers hope to complete the impeachment inquiry by year's end and are coalescing around two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction, lawmakers and aides told Reuters.

 

Democratic Representative David Cicilline told reporters that holding the depositions in private protects the integrity of the inquiry.

"One of the reasons you do these in private is because you want to prevent witnesses from attempting to align their testimony to the testimony of another witness by watching it or reading a transcript. It's how you protect the integrity of any investigation," Cicilline said.

Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell added, "We see this as an effort not only to intimidate this witness but also to intimidate future witnesses from coming forward. It's not going to work. We're not going to be deterred."

 

Republican Representative Mark Meadows told reporters after Cooper's testimony that he wanted to hear from more witnesses with "first-hand knowledge" of the events.

 

(Reporting by Richard Cowan, Patricia Zengerle, Mark Hosenball and David Morgan; Additional reporting by Phil Stewart, Jonathan Landay, Amanda Becker and Susan Heavey; Writing by Will Dunham and Amanda Becker; editing by Alistair Bell, Clarence Fernandez and Grant McCool)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-24

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[mtls2005]

Screech alert... note the "diversity". ????

 

 

[bendejo]

The president obviously has nothing to hide.

 

They should open the hearings to the public, let us all hear the slimy details.

 

No collusion.

No corruption.

Perfect phone calls!

Trump/Putin 2020!

 

 

[keith101]

 

What an absolute bunch of losers at the behest of the soon to be IMPEACHED Trump .

[Tippaporn]

The Dem's are an absolute disgrace to America.  The Republicans will not stand for their abuse.  Shocking to see so many who claim to be patriotic Americans stand in support with Schiff, Pelosi, Nadler and the Dem's in an unconstitutional impeachment attempt.

 

Good on the Republicans.  Just wait.  Rather than Trump going down it will be Schiff and Pelosi at a minimum who will take a fall.

[Just1Voice]

13 minutes ago, keith101 said:

 

What an absolute bunch of losers at the behest of the soon to be IMPEACHED Trump .

Keep dreaming. lol

[keith101]

1 minute ago, Just1Voice said:

Keep dreaming. lol

Trump lovers are fools to trust him

[bendejo]

This stunt reeks of the 2000 election vote count disruption in Florida.

Wait, Florida?  What was Matt doing November-December 2000?

 

 

[mtls2005]

8 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

The Dem's are an absolute disgrace to America.  The Republicans will not stand for their abuse.  Shocking to see so many who claim to be patriotic Americans stand in support with Schiff, Pelosi, Nadler and the Dem's in an unconstitutional impeachment attempt.

 

Good on the Republicans.  Just wait.  Rather than Trump going down it will be Schiff and Pelosi at a minimum who will take a fall.

 

Then you should be pleased? Right?

 

All is working according to your "plan"? When will the "Sharks with lasers" show up?

 

Bloomberg is reporting that the WH and the president encouraged this unlawful stunt.

 

Interesting that these few republicans left standing are NOT choosing to defend the president. Thin ice.

 

 

 

 

[Tippaporn]

3 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Then you should be pleased? Right?

 

All is working according to your "plan"? When will the "Sharks with lasers" show up?

 

Bloomberg is reporting that the WH and the president encouraged this unlawful stunt.

 

Interesting that these few republicans left standing are NOT choosing to defend the president. Thin ice.

 

 

 

 

I am pleased.  Very pleased.  This unconstitutional impeachment attempt will be the final nail in the coffin of the Dem party.  How can one not be pleased?

[Tug]

It’s a clown show distraction and an attempted intimidation there are republicans sitting in on thease hearings they have access we are in the discovery phase of this all will come out when when they have all the facts so stop sniveling 

[Sujo]

7 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I am pleased.  Very pleased.  This unconstitutional impeachment attempt will be the final nail in the coffin of the Dem party.  How can one not be pleased?

Great, we welcome your support for the investigation.

 

Now, hows the evidence going? 

[mtls2005]

6 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

This unconstitutional impeachment attempt

 

Actually writing such a statement, for posterity, is revealing, and not in a good way.

 

 

 

Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution: 

.

.

.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment. 

 

 

So do let us know how it is "Unconstitutional"?

 

 

 

[sfokevin]

9 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

This unconstitutional impeachment attempt...

Rather than regurgitating an ignorant FoxNews talking point could you post a link to a ANY legal argument that says concludes the process is unconstitutional?... 

[sfokevin]

It should be noted that in every one of these closed door interviews of witnesses there are an equal number of Democrats and Republicans sitting at the table!... 

 

It is telling that none of these Republicans listening to all this closed door testimony can find anything supporting Trumps position to leak to the press... 

[mtls2005]

Desperation brings out the worst in people...

 

1. Matt Gaetz tweets he is inside SCIF

2. Matt Gaetz then tweets it was his staff who tweeted

3. Matt Gaetz then deletes both tweets

 

 

Debasing national security in this manner is shocking, but not surprising.

 

For a normal government employee such an action would result in termination, loss of security clearance and potential criminal charges.

 

For republicans, just another day compromising what little integrity thay have left at the bottom of their tiny barrel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tippaporn]

15 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Actually writing such a statement, for posterity, is revealing, and not in a good way.

 

 

 

Article 1, Section 2 of the United States Constitution: 

.

.

.

The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall
have the sole Power of Impeachment. 

 

 

So do let us know how it is "Unconstitutional"?

 

 

 

I don't understand how anyone can be so blind to the fact that Trump is being prevented from defending himself.  That's unconstitutional.  Amazing that so many are willing to disregard a constitutional right as long as it allows for the impeachment of someone they hate.  Now it's your turn.  Please explain how it is constitutional to deny someone to defend himself and why you agree that it's a good idea?

[Becker]

3 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I don't understand how anyone can be so blind to the fact that Trump is being prevented from defending himself.  That's unconstitutional.  Amazing that so many are willing to disregard a constitutional right as long as it allows for the impeachment of someone they hate.  Now it's your turn.  Please explain how it is constitutional to deny someone to defend himself and why you agree that it's a good idea?

Because the constitution does not forbid it. Any more questions please don't hesitate to ask.

[mtls2005]

10 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I don't understand

 

No need to preface statements like that which follows...we already get that about you.

 

 

[sfokevin]

20 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I don't understand how anyone can be so blind to the fact that Trump is being prevented from defending himself.

Because this is not a trial (That part is coming - Antpd then Trump can defend himself)... This phase is just like a prosecutor collecting evidence.... And again in each and every one of these meeting there is an equal number of Democrats and Republicans sitting at the table listening to and asking questions of these witnesses!... It is telling that the Republicans sitting there are not leaking anything!...

 

And in related news Trump has just tweeted that the latest witness (who he appointed) is a “Never Trumper Bureaucrat”... next he will say his action were treasonous and you know what they used to do with those guys in the good ole days...

[Tippaporn]

5 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

No need to preface statements like that which follows...we already get that about you.

 

 

Personal baiting post ignored.

[keith101]

15 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I don't understand how anyone can be so blind to the fact that Trump is being prevented from defending himself.  That's unconstitutional.  Amazing that so many are willing to disregard a constitutional right as long as it allows for the impeachment of someone they hate.  Now it's your turn.  Please explain how it is constitutional to deny someone to defend himself and why you agree that it's a good idea?

If he ever had the guts to appear at a hearing how long before he started lying and give them more fuel for his impeachment you really don't think before you speak just like Trump .

[Sujo]

12 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I don't understand how anyone can be so blind to the fact that Trump is being prevented from defending himself.  That's unconstitutional.  Amazing that so many are willing to disregard a constitutional right as long as it allows for the impeachment of someone they hate.  Now it's your turn.  Please explain how it is constitutional to deny someone to defend himself and why you agree that it's a good idea?

Seems there is quite a lot you dont understand.

 

People and documents have been subpoena’d but trump wont allow that evidence. So he is the one stopping evidence that could defend him.

 

This is an investigation, where on this earth does the accused get a say in how an investigation is conducted?

 

After the investigation there will be a vote on whether to impeach. Is successful there will be a trial in the senate. At the trial he can defend himself as much as he likes. Just like anyone else has a right to do.

 

So no, he is not being prevented from defending himself. What he is trying to do is stop himself being investigated. That is obstruction of justice and by itself is an impeachable offence.

 

 

[Bluespunk]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

Trump also criticized his Republican critics on Twitter, writing: "The Never Trumper Republicans, though on respirators with not many left, are in certain ways worse and more dangerous for our Country than the Do Nothing Democrats. Watch out for them, they are human scum!"

I think people are able to recognise scum easily enough for themselves...

[Enoon]

 

The disruption of state proceedings, state committees, hearings and investigations, by rowdy groups of people who are themselves "politicians"?

 

Very "Balkan".

 

And not a very good "look" for the USA.

 

 

[mtls2005]

Vice President Mike Pence’s Big Brother Is Sitting In On Congress’s Closed-Door Impeachment Depositions

 

WASHINGTON — As dozens of House members in charge of the impeachment investigations sit in on closed-door depositions about Ukraine, at least one person in the room has unusually close ties to President Donald Trump’s administration — Vice President Mike Pence’s older brother, Rep. Greg Pence.

 

Pence has had access to all the closed-door testimonies of officials speaking on Trump’s actions, US–Ukraine relations, and the controversial phone call between Trump and the Ukrainian president, which sparked the official impeachment investigation.

 

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kadiagoba/greg-pence-impeachment-inquiry-congress-brother

[Saint Nick]

29 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Personal baiting post ignored.

Seems more like stating facts!

[johnnybangkok]

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

I don't understand how anyone can be so blind to the fact that Trump is being prevented from defending himself.  That's unconstitutional.  Amazing that so many are willing to disregard a constitutional right as long as it allows for the impeachment of someone they hate.  Now it's your turn.  Please explain how it is constitutional to deny someone to defend himself and why you agree that it's a good idea?

You have had this explained to you before on other threads and many times in this one. Any chance of an apology or are you just going to continue to grasp at straws in your defense of the indefensible? 

[Sticky Wicket]

Dems are desperate and desperate people do desperate things

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/15/moodys-trump-on-his-way-to-an-easy-2020-win-if-economy-holds-up.html

[Thakkar]

That pic of a gathering of old white congressmen “Looks like a protest outside a pharmacy that ran out of Viagra.”

—Seth Meyers