Trump impeachment trial opens as watchdog faults White House on Ukraine

By Susan Cornwell, David Morgan and Richard Cowan

 

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi holds and speaks about information from a report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office stating that President Donald Trump broke the law by withholding military aid from Ukraine as she begins a news conference at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 16, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate impeachment trial on whether to remove U.S. President Donald Trump from office formally began on Thursday even as a congressional watchdog found that the White House broke the law by withholding security aid for Ukraine approved by Congress.

 

The assessment from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) was a setback for Trump, but it was unclear if it would figure in his trial in the Republican-led Senate given that key questions such as whether witnesses will testify or new evidence will be considered remain unanswered.

 

Democrat Adam Schiff, who heads a team of seven House of Representatives members who will serve as prosecutors, appeared on the Senate floor to read the two charges passed by the House on Dec. 18 that accused Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine.

 

Chief Justice John Roberts, wearing his black judicial robe, took an oath to preside over the trial and then swore in the assembled senators who will serve as jurors. Roberts instructed them to raise their right hand, asking, "Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help you God?"

 

The 99 senators present signed their assent one by one. One senator - Republican Jim Inhofe - was in his home state of Oklahoma to be with a family member facing a medical issue, according to his office, but was due to sign next week.

 

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday, seizing on a report from a nonpartisan congressional watchdog, accused the Trump administration of breaking the law in withholding aid for Ukraine that Congress had approved.

 

The Senate is expected to acquit Trump, as none of its 53 Republicans has voiced support for removing him, a step that requires a two-thirds majority. Trump has denied wrongdoing and has called the impeachment process a sham.

Opening statements were due to start on Tuesday.

 

The abuse of power cited in the House articles of impeachment included Trump's withholding of $391 million in security aid for Ukraine, a move Democrats have said was aimed at pressuring Kiev into investigating political rival Joe Biden, the president's possible opponent in the Nov. 3 U.S. election.

 

Congress had approved the funds to help Ukraine combat Russia-backed separatists. The money was ultimately provided in September after the controversy had spilled into public view.

 

"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law," the GAO said on Thursday, referring to the fact that Congress had voted to appropriate the funds.

 

The GAO's findings are not legally binding, but its reports are seen by lawmakers as objective, reliable and generally uncontested. It has no prosecutorial power.

 

A pivotal event leading to the impeachment was a July 25 call in which he asked Ukraine's president to investigate Biden and his son Hunter over unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and to look into a discredited theory promoted by Trump's allies that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

 

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who sought the GAO investigation, said the findings undercut Republican claims that there was nothing wrong with Trump's action.

 

"The GAO is an independent, nonpartisan entity calling the balls and strikes as they see them," he told Reuters.

 

"Republican senators and the administration may try to dismiss it. But we now have a clear, lucid finding that the Trump administration violated the law and we know that the president ordered the administration to commit an illegal act."

 

WITNESSES OR NO WITNESSES

This is only the third impeachment trial in U.S. history and no president has been removed as a direct result of the process. Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before the full House could vote to impeach him. The House impeached Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998, but the Senate did not convict them.

 

Crucial to how long the trial lasts is whether the Senate will consider new evidence and hear from witnesses, support for which is divided largely along party lines, though some Republican senators seemed open to the idea on Thursday.

 

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a news conference the GAO's conclusion "reinforces - again - the need for documents and eyewitnesses in the Senate."

 

Schiff indicated that the House prosecutors are considering calling Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, if the Senate permits testimony in the trial.

 

Giuliani has said Parnas, a Ukraine-born U.S. citizen, helped him in investigating the Bidens. Documents released this week indicate Parnas was also involved in monitoring the movements of former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch before Trump removed her in May.

 

In an interview with MSNBC aired on Wednesday, Parnas said he was acting on Trump's directions:

 

"President Trump knew exactly what was going on. He was aware of all of my movements."

 

An arm of Congress, the GAO is viewed as a top auditing agency for the federal government that advises lawmakers and various government entities on how taxpayer dollars are spent.

 

Its report said that the U.S. Constitution does not grant a president unilateral authority to withhold funds in the way that Trump did. Instead, a president has a "strictly circumscribed authority" to withhold spending only in limited circumstances expressly provided by law. Holding up money for a policy reason, which the Trump administration did in this case, is not permitted, the report said.

 

Republican Senator John Cornyn said that while there may have been a civil violation of the law, it was not a criminal matter and certainly not an impeachable act.

 

"The Constitution says you impeach presidents for treason, bribery, and high crimes and misdemeanors. And it's none of those things," said Cornyn, a former judge, after taking the oath. "That's what it is, a civil violation of the Impoundment Act," Cornyn added, mentioning the relevant federal law.

 

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell, David Morgan and Richard Cowan; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey and Tim Ahmann; Writing by Sonya Hepinstall; Editing by Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-17

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This GAO report is merely another nail in the coffin.

 

I think that we are witnessing some serious historical moments.

 

All throughout this story, from the beginning where there were whispers of a 'Whistle-Blower' to the current discussions, accusations and trial the truth has slowly come out. Yes, pretty much every fact that has come into public view has been labeled a "LIE!" by Trump and his supporters, but pretty much each and every fact has turned out to be true. 

 

The Whistle-Blower's story has, for all intents and purposes, been wholly confirmed.

 

The Diplomats' story have, for all intents and purposes, been wholly confirmed.

 

The Civil Servants from the NSC and other agencies' story have, for all intents and purposes, been wholly confirmed.

 

Is the story from Lev Parnas true? I do not know. He is under arrest for felonies, so whatever he says MUST be taken with a (proverbial) grain of salt, but it just rings true, it just sounds like everything else we have heard, and it jibes with the arrogance and unethical behaviour that the Trump Administration has shown.

 

Each and every step of the way, Trump and his acolytes have claimed "Witch Hunt!" and "Fake News!" and "Hoax!" and worse, but each and every step of the way the allegations have been borne out.

 

I think that we are witnessing the end of the Trump Presidency, and that many, many more people than Trump are going for a fall (remember Nixon's collateral damage?).

 

There is something that I hope those around Trump remember for the sake of their proverbial souls; the Trump Test. Can anyone name a person whose reputation has been enhanced by their proximity to Trump? One person? One name? One? Being around Trump will mean the end of a person's reputation; the evidence for that is ALREADY clear. Those in proximity need to be very, very aware that there will be an ugly splash zone.

 

What is next? Will the Republicans stand up and become "Profiles in Courage"? Or will they slink into the slime?

 

It is sad to see stuff like this occur anywhere; I sincerely hope that the US can deal with this quickly, but I sadly suspect that Trump will force the entire country to be mud-covered before he hits the final door.

 

Sad, sad times for the USA.

 

 

That was fast. The news this AM said that it would start next week.

Still, sooner started sooner finished and Trump can get back to campaigning.

Nothing to fear.

Between the GAO Lev Parnas the ambassador and all the others the Mitch better allow witness if not look out down ballot lol what a mess all in an effort to slander anothér man Donald trump is truly the most undignified human beeing I’m aware of pathetic just pathetic 

Of course he broke the law, he had no right to withhold the aid.

Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senators now need to decide if they want to please Trump and his hard core base by protecting Trump’s last few months as POTUS, or if they want to lose votes from the rest of the nation.

 

The votes of Trump’s hard core base are always ‘in the bag’, the votes of the rest of America need to be earned.

 

Protecting Trump against mounting evidence of his crimes will cost GOP Senators votes.

2 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Surprising for such a "somber, solemn and prayerful" event to see Nancy squealing with glee. All I will say is this impeachment makes the Smollett lynching look credible.

 

 

He who laughs last? 

Trump's soaring popularity insures a crushing landslide in the fall. Heh... 

42 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

He who laughs last? 

Trump's soaring popularity insures a crushing landslide in the fall. Heh... 

In your dreams Boon Mee

 

6 minutes ago, Langsuan Man said:

In your dreams Boon Mee

 

Same.

Polls.

Predicted.

Hillary.

Win.

????????????????

Edited January 17, 20206 yr by Kelsall

32 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

He who laughs last? 

Trump's soaring popularity insures a crushing landslide in the fall. Heh... 

Soaring? Where do you have evidence? Here is a summary of all polls, including outliner Rasmussen Reports. Right wing pollster. 

I notice on thier site they spell out how trump has a 51% likelyhood of voters not voting for him. Just to tease your premise.

 

 

While the diminishing Democratic field of White House hopefuls continues to slug it out, just over half of voters still plan to vote against President Trump come November.

 

 

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey shows that 44% of Likely U.S. Voters say they are more likely to vote for Trump in the 2020 presidential election. But 51% say they are more likely to vote against him. This compares to 42% and 52% respectively

How Popular Is Donald Trump?Trump Approval RatingsUpdated 4 hours ago 42.4%Approve42.4%Approve52.9%Disapprove52.9%Disapprove42.4%Approve42.4%Approve52.9%Disapprove52.9%Disapprove 2.webloc

1 minute ago, Kelsall said:

Same. Polls. Predicted. Hillary. Win. ????????????????

Glad to see you repeating your STALE post. Don't bet on it this time.

More 2018 shellacking 

1 minute ago, earlinclaifornia said:

3 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Same. Polls. Predicted. Hillary. Win. ????????????????

Glad to see you repeating your STALE post. Don't bet on it this time.

More 2018 shellacking

One's stale is another's etched in stone. As Nancy would tell you, Hillary lost forever.

 

26 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Same.

Polls.

Predicted.

Hillary.

Win.

????????????????

Another alternative fact. The polls did not predict any such thing. The polls were correct.

18 minutes ago, rabas said:

One's stale is another's etched in stone. As Nancy would tell you, Hillary lost forever.

 

And etched in stone is she did by the margins predicted but lost through trumps 70,000 votes stretched across 3 states to squeak out a win via the electoral college that’s etched in stone as well 

Let me be the FIRST to predict the Nixon resignation announcement by trump.

8 minutes ago, Tug said:

And etched in stone is she did by the margins predicted but lost through trumps 70,000 votes stretched across 3 states to squeak out a win via the electoral college that’s etched in stone as well 

First ever President Impeached in first term. Etched in stone.

12 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

First ever President Impeached in first term. Etched in stone.

First President ever impeached soley on partisan grounds. Etched in Marble.

 

I wish I could come back in 50 years and read about it.

12 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

First ever President Impeached in first term. Etched in stone.

First president impeached (for nonsense) in the first term to win a second term. Towering stone monument under construction.

 

But, Earl, you saw that coming!

31 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

Let me be the FIRST to predict the Nixon resignation announcement by trump.

Trump: Never wanted to be president, but I'm gonna get those idiot Democrats.

 

Trump: I resign.

 

Trump: May I introduce the next President of the United States, the first woman, first female minority, first ethnic non-American, first woman of color, and a true Indian, Nikki Haley. 

 

Dems: Who to run? Old white man Bernie? Old white man Biden? Second richest old white man Bloomberg?

 

After 3 years of total nonsense, Democrats loose their entire voter base.

 

Edited January 17, 20206 yr by rabas

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Mitch McConnell and the GOP Senators now need to decide if they want to please Trump and his hard core base by protecting Trump’s last few months as POTUS, or if they want to lose votes from the rest of the nation.

 

The votes of Trump’s hard core base are always ‘in the bag’, the votes of the rest of America need to be earned.

 

Protecting Trump against mounting evidence of his crimes will cost GOP Senators votes.

If Mitch really wanted the full senate to behave impartially and give this trial a fair chance, all he has to do is allow a secret ballot.  I would bet my right nut that the Senate would convict if the GOP senators didn't have to worry about the wrath of Trump and his loony base. 

4 minutes ago, rabas said:

Trump: Never wanted to be president, but I'm gonna get those idiot Democrats.

 

Trump: I resign.

 

Trump: May I introduce the next President of the United States, the first woman, first female minority, first ethnic non-American, first woman of color, and a true Indian, Nikki Haley. 

 

After 3 years of total nonsense, Democrats loose their entire voter base.

Your prediction is as good as mine. Independent registered myself.

48 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

First President ever impeached soley on partisan grounds. Etched in Marble.

 

I wish I could come back in 50 years and read about it.

Because Republicans do not regard the President enlisting the help of foreign powers to interfere in a US election.

 

Yep, I agree, ‘Partisan’.

4 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

What is next? Will the Republicans stand up and become "Profiles in Courage"? Or will they slink into the slime?

 

It is sad to see stuff like this occur anywhere; I sincerely hope that the US can deal with this quickly, but I sadly suspect that Trump will force the entire country to be mud-covered before he hits the final door.

 

Sad, sad times for the USA.

They will slink into the slime as they believe Trump will be re-elcted and they think more of their own destiny; their own selfishness abounds and they could care less about the fate of the country and America's standing in the World.

 

The sad truth is that Trump could win again- he is going to use the same strategy he used to win in 2016.  He will go after the Electoral Votes and not worry about the overall popular vote.  The polls show  a neck in neck race in the needed electoral states like Pennsylvania; Michigan; Ohion; Indiaina and Wisconsin.  

 

Trump's  appeal in these state's is the economy and low unemployment and these people will vote  their pocket.  They don't understand the whole impeachment issue and the real issue that Trumpp has broken the law/  They don't care.

 

The only way to get rid of Donald Trump is either vote him out or go after him trhough the courts.  Trump's one fear is going to jail- If enough evidence on both a federal or state level is secured against him for numerous charges and conviction- he could be persuaded to resign in the hope that a Presidet Pence would pardon him.

 

In addition- a deal could be then cut with New York State to drop their case and investigation.   Trump could then slither back to wither New York and Florida and spend  his twighlight years complaining about the media; fake news and  whatever.

 

Donald Trump will go down in History as the most corrupt and incompetent President in history not to mention the most selfish and narcissitic person who has held that role.  History will also be unkind to the Republican Senate who has ignored the truth; facilitated a law breaker and corrupt President and failed to stop any of it.

And regarding a couple of Trump's biggest bootlickers....

 

Nunes now says he talked to key Ukraine figure, after suggesting he hadn't

 

Pompeo stonewalls as evidence emerges of possible surveillance of ex-Ukraine ambassador

5 hours ago, Samui Bodoh said:

This GAO report is merely another nail in the coffin.

 

I think that we are witnessing some serious historical moments.

 

All throughout this story, from the beginning where there were whispers of a 'Whistle-Blower' to the current discussions, accusations and trial the truth has slowly come out. Yes, pretty much every fact that has come into public view has been labeled a "LIE!" by Trump and his supporters, but pretty much each and every fact has turned out to be true. 

 

The Whistle-Blower's story has, for all intents and purposes, been wholly confirmed.

 

The Diplomats' story have, for all intents and purposes, been wholly confirmed.

 

The Civil Servants from the NSC and other agencies' story have, for all intents and purposes, been wholly confirmed.

 

Is the story from Lev Parnas true? I do not know. He is under arrest for felonies, so whatever he says MUST be taken with a (proverbial) grain of salt, but it just rings true, it just sounds like everything else we have heard, and it jibes with the arrogance and unethical behaviour that the Trump Administration has shown.

 

Each and every step of the way, Trump and his acolytes have claimed "Witch Hunt!" and "Fake News!" and "Hoax!" and worse, but each and every step of the way the allegations have been borne out.

 

I think that we are witnessing the end of the Trump Presidency, and that many, many more people than Trump are going for a fall (remember Nixon's collateral damage?).

 

There is something that I hope those around Trump remember for the sake of their proverbial souls; the Trump Test. Can anyone name a person whose reputation has been enhanced by their proximity to Trump? One person? One name? One? Being around Trump will mean the end of a person's reputation; the evidence for that is ALREADY clear. Those in proximity need to be very, very aware that there will be an ugly splash zone.

 

What is next? Will the Republicans stand up and become "Profiles in Courage"? Or will they slink into the slime?

 

It is sad to see stuff like this occur anywhere; I sincerely hope that the US can deal with this quickly, but I sadly suspect that Trump will force the entire country to be mud-covered before he hits the final door.

 

Sad, sad times for the USA.

 

 

 

The Republicans will probably behave like the Democrats did when Clinton deliberately lied to cover up his inappropriate sexual abuses.

 

Sad, but that's what politicians do now. Cover the backs of those in the same trough gorging gang.

3 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

In your dreams Boon Mee

 

That's before the new China deal was done. Changes things.

This whole thing seems remarkably orchestrated and phony

2 hours ago, Nyezhov said:

First President ever impeached soley on partisan grounds. Etched in Marble.

 

I wish I could come back in 50 years and read about it.

I trust your idea of his history would be no where to be found

3 hours ago, rabas said:

First president impeached (for nonsense) in the first term to win a second term. Towering stone monument under construction.

 

But, Earl, you saw that coming!

pffff

still amazed with so much bla bla bla (BS) from the Republicans, all about the Dems did that but didn't did that, rushed things but not 1 time the Republicans denied the facts, not 1 time....
HE did it, lock him up