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As it happenedended

Trump news - live: Dozens more sexual misconduct allegations against president revealed as he claims Boris Johnson 'will do a lot' for US

Follow the latest updates from Washington, as they happened

Joe Sommerlad,Clark Mindock
Wednesday 09 October 2019 16:04 EDT
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Donald Trump has been accused of 26 further counts of sexual misconduct in a forthcoming new book, All the President's Women by Barry Levine and Monique El-Faizy, which recounts him hiding behind a tapestry in order to allegedly molest a woman at his resort at Mar-a-Lago in Florida in one instance.

The president's refusal to co-operate with the impeachment inquiry into his dealings with Ukraine - which he accidentally branded a “Wirch Hunt” on Twitter – has prompted House speaker Nancy Pelosi to hit back, reminding the president: “You are not above the law. You will be held accountable.”

The White House issued an eight-page letter to House Democrats late on Tuesday denouncing its investigation into whistleblower allegations that Mr Trump attempted to extort dirt on a domestic political rival from a foreign power as “constitutionally invalid”, after blocking US ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland from appearing on Capitol Hill earlier in the day to give his version of events.

Later on during the day on Wednesday, Mr Trump defended the wife of a US diplomat who killed a British teenager, saying that it can be difficult for Americans to get used to driving on the left side of the road.

Mr Trump also downplayed the historical significance of the Kurdish forces currently being bombed by Turkey in Syria, saying that they did not help the United States during the Second World War.

He also continued to fight back against impeachment concerns, saying that Democrats leading the investigation into him and his actions should themselves be impeached.

Please allow a moment for our live blog to load

An interestingly waffly letter from Facebook in response to the Biden campaign's complaint that Trump was spreading false claims and conspiracy theories about his dealings with Ukraine in adverts on the site that they declined to fact-check.

The reply is from Katie Harbath, the social media giant's public policy director for global elections, who used to be a Republican National Committee staffer and worked on Giuliani's failed 2008 presidential bid.

Trump has spent $5m (£4m) on Facebook ads in the last three months, Biden just $700,000 (£573,000).

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 18:30

Meanwhile, on the 2020 campaign trail, Elizabeth Warren had a big announcement this morning.

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 18:50

A new profile of Rihanna in Vogue is getting plenty of attention all across the internet, and the piece has even managed to find relevance to this live blog.

According to the piece, the 31-year-old singer and businesswoman really slammed Donald Trump, and called him the "most mentally ill human being in America".

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 19:10

Joe Biden has joined in with his Democrats calling for the impeachment of Donald Trump.

Mr Biden was perhaps the most prominent Democrat who had not called for impeachment, and indicates just the latest bad news for the president.

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 19:30

Fox News is reporting that Donald Trump has ordered the US military not to help as Syrian Kurds face bombardment from Turkey.

The SDF has requested that the US implement a no fly zone in the region, as Turkey has carried out its military offensive.

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 19:50

Some big organizing numbers out of the Bernie Sanders campaign, right here:

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 20:10

Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney says that Congress "must and will" act following the attacks by Turkey in northern Syria.

The comments have come as reports have emerged that Donald Trump has told the US military not to intervene.

"President Trump's decision to withdraw US forces from northern Syria is having sickening and predictable consequences," Ms Cheney said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement continued: "This decision aids America's adversaries, Russia, Iran, and Turkey, and paves the way for a resurgence of Isis. This action imperils American security and that of our allies. Congress must and will act to limit the catastrophic impact of this decision."

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 20:30

Lindsey Graham, normally a staunch supporter of Donald Trump's, says that the president's decision to pull US troops from Syria could be the "biggest mistake" of his presidency.

"I know that every military person has told him don't do this," Mr Graham said on Fox News.

"So if he follows through with this, it'd be the biggest mistake of his presidency."

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 20:50

Here are Mr Trump's remarks from an event at the White House, just now.

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 20:52

A few more highlights of Mr Trump's event in the White House today, which included a discussion about incandescent lightbulbs.

Clark Mindock9 October 2019 21:03

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