Trump news: Giuliani accused of 'campaign of lies' in impeachment inquiry, as president ordered to pay $2m over misuse of foundation
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The president has meanwhile angrily denounced as “degenerate” a Washington Post report that he asked his attorney general, William Barr, to declare publicly that the Zelensky call of 25 July contained no illegality, only for Mr Barr to decline.
House investigators released the transcript of their interview with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent, who accused Mr Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani of leading a campaign of “lies and deceit” against former Ukraine ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.
Meanwhile, Mr Giuliani is lawyering up as federal investigators look into whether he violated lobbying laws in his attempts to dig up dirt on Mr Trump's political rivals.
Next week, the first televised witness testimonies in the impeachment proceedings begin with Bill Taylor, whose damning testimony contradicted the so-called quid pro quo arrangement between Mr Trump and Ukraine.
Mr Taylor and Mr Kent appear on Wednesday.
On Friday, viewers will hear from Ms Yovanovitch.
In another blow to Mr Trump, a judge has ordered he must personally pay $2m following a lawsuit from the New York Attorney General alleging that his now-dissolved foundation twas used as a personal "chequebook" for his political and personal dealings. Last year, the president said on Twitter that he "won't settle" the case and called it a political attack from "sleazy" New York Democrats.
At a rally in Louisiana on Wednesday night, Mr Trump attacked the Democrats as “totalitarian”, labelling the inquiry into his conduct in office a “hoax” and reviving his attack on 2020 candidate Elizabeth Warren, again deriding her claim to Native American heritage by labelling her “Pocahontas”.
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Trump angrily refutes Washington Post's Bill Barr story
Trump's first tweet of the day is another angry rebuttal of The Post's story about him wanting Bill Barr to speak out in defence of the Zelensky call. Not drastically different to his rant at the press last night.
Here's our breaking story.
Kentucky gubernatorial defeat turns up heat on McConnell
Following Republican governor Matt Bevin's defeat in the Kentucky election on Tuesday night (he still hasn't conceded), attention has turned to state senator Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader who prides himself on being known as the "Grim Reaper" for laying low Democratic bills and resolutions.
Democrat Andy Beshear has declared victory in the historically red state, a major upset, and, on Wednesday, #MoscowMitchIsNext was trending on Twitter among gleeful Democrats.
McConnell is seen by some Republicans as too close to Trump and not loyal enough to the president by others. His many opponents online were quick to note that challenger Amy McGrath, a former fighter pilot, is outpacing him in fundraising terms at an alarming rate, which bears ill with an election just one year away.
Bill Gates mocks Elizabeth Warren's wealth tax
Trump attacked Elizabeth Warren in Monroe last night and Microsoft billionaire Bill Gates isn't too fond of her either, it appears.
Asked about the 2020 candidate's proposed wealth tax, Gates told The New York Times's DealBook conference on Wednesday: "I’ve paid over $10bn (£7.8bn) in taxes. I’ve paid more than anyone in taxes. If I had to pay $20bn (£15.6bn), it’s fine."
"But when you say I should pay $100bn, then I’m starting to do a little math about what I have left over,” he said, joking.
Here's Samuel Osborne's report.
Trump campaign accused of running misleading Facebook competition
The Trump campaign is being accused of running a misleading competition on Facebook and via email to win breakfast with the president in New York.
"This is your LAST CHANCE to meet me this quarter, and I really want to discuss our Campaign Strategy for the rest of the year with you over breakfast," one of the Facebook ads in question read.
But the winner, Joanna Kamis, arrived at the restaurant in question on 26 September but the president was not there.
North Korea says nuclear talks 'on the verge of extinction'
Trump's efforts to bring North Korea in from the cold and abandon its nuclear programme appear to have come to nought after Pyonyang branded Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe "a moron" for planning joint military exercises with South Korea.
Here's Adam Withnall has more.
Trump brands Washington Post 'degenerate'
The president, clearly still fuming, has just denounced The Washington Post as "degenerate" over its report about Bill Barr and the Justice Department.
Warren warns Twitter's ban on political advertising could muzzle activists
Elizabeth Warren has slammed Twitter's decision to ban forms of political advertising on its platform, saying the move would ultimately prevent activists from spreading awareness about climate change – while allowing major polluters to advance misinformation.
Here's Chris Riotta's report.
Jennifer Williams arrives on Capitol Hill for deposition
Mike Pence's special adviser on Russia has arrived to speak to House impeachment investigators.
Whistleblower's lawyer hits out Republican trolls who named his suspected client online
Mark Zaid, the attorney for the CIA whistleblower at the heart of the impeachment inquiry, has attacked the likes of Don Jr and Breitbart News for naming a man they said was his client online in a bid to expose what they consider to be a deep state conspiracy againt the president.
Trump calls on Joe and Hunter Biden to testify
The president is now attempting to dictate who should appear before the House impeachment inquiry. I think that's really up to Adam Schiff isn't it?
The Senator Kennedy he is quoting, incidentally, was on stage with him in Monroe last night and had this to say about House speaker Nancy Pelosi.
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