Trump news: President rages over historic impeachment vote as White House expert reveals details of Ukraine policy
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Your support makes all the difference.The House of Representatives has voted to formalise the Democrat-led impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump by 232-196, firmly along party lines, establishing key ground rules for the ongoing investigation and setting up a potentially explosive public hearing phase.
Before the ballots were cast, House speaker Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff reminded members of the “solemnity” of the day before angry Republicans Devin Nunes and Steve Scalise accused the opposition of “acting like a cult” and carrying out a “Soviet-style” operation. Mr Trump himself then raged at the result on Twitter, branding the inquiry: “The Greatest Witch Hunt In American History!”
Tim Morrison, the National Security Council’s top Russia adviser reportedly said the administration’s dealings with Ukraine gave him “a sinking feeling”, during testimony on Capitol Hill after lawyers for the president’s former national security adviser, John Bolton, said he will appear before the House panel next week should a subpoena be issued.
During his testimony, Mr Morrison confirmed that Mr Trump had sought a quid pro quo related to US security funding and an investigation into Joe Biden, but said he did not believe Mr Trump had broken the law.
The impeachment vote means that the House is moving into a new phase, with public hearings likely on the horizon as Democrats continue to pursue the president over potential wrongdoing.
And, shortly after the vote, Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill delivered a scathing resignation speech, in which she declared that she was the victim of a "double standard" because she had been accused of an inappropriate but consensual sexual relationship, and forced from Congress.
Mr Trump, she said, is meanwhile still the president after repeated accusations of sexual assault (he has denied doing so).
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Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was quick to point out that the "transcript" President Trump keeps claiming gets him off the hook is one of the most damning pieces of evidence against him:
Trump's nuclear sanctions against Iran are making it difficult for Tehran to import life-saving medicines, reports Negar Mortazavi.
Much excitement in the US following the Washington Nationals' sensational victory over the Houston Astros in baseball's World Series last night.
But should Donald Trump get the credit? Well, even Kellyanne Conway, perhaps his most vociferous public cheerleader, admits that might be going too far. But it needed to be spelt out.
Trump says the US and China are looking for a new location to sign their new trade deal following the cancellation of the APEC summit in Chile.
I hear the Trump National Doral Miami is nice this time of year...
The impeachment resolution debate is underway in the House.
Pelosi has just spoken and declared ("What is at stake in all of this is nothing less than our democracy," she says) and we've already heard from James McGovern, Hakeen Jeffries and Adam Schiff...
...and the Republicans have had plenty to say for themselves too.
After saying on the House floor that today is "not any cause for any glee or comfort, this is something that is very solemn," Speaker Pelosi gives a press conference and says she's confident the impeachment vote will proceed without a hitch.
She also had this to say on Katie Hill.
Trump's new distraction tactic is an old one: going after one of his favourite whipping boys, Jay Powell of the Federal Reserve.
Who are the "people" he's citing here? Specifically, I mean.
House minority leader Kevin McCarthy is currently giving a ludicrously hectoring performance here (invoking the name of Alexander Hamilton, just as pretty much everyone else has) and has repeated a lie the president himself tweeted yesterday.
"This Congress's records is more subpoenas than laws. That's the legacy," McCarthy whines, not entirely coherently.
"It's only fitting you take this vote on Halloween," he closes, to muted applause from the GOP.
His wounded tone is all very well but he lacked a line as snappy as Nunes's farcical "cult" accusation (below) or Steve Scalise calling the inquiry "Soviet-style".
More distraction from a clearly-rattled Trump as the House members go to vote.
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