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As it happenedended

Trump news : President attacks Congress members as they prepare for impeachment vote, after mocking teen activist Greta Thunberg

House of Representatives prepares to vote to remove Trump from office next week

Pastor Robert Jeffress praises Donald Trump at White House Hanukkah event

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Donald Trump is set to face impeachment in the House of Representatives, becoming the fourth president in US history to face removal from office on charges of misconduct after the House Judiciary Committee'prepares to send articles of impeachment to the full Congress.

The full House is expected to vote on impeachment next week.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she doesn't plan to whip votes to support impeachment, saying that House leadership won't pressure Democrats in vulnerable districts or moderate Democrats fearing political fallout from supporting efforts to remove the president from office.

She said: "We are not whipping this legislation, nor do we ever whip something like this. People have to come to their own conclusions. They've seen the facts as presented ... They'll make their own decision. I don't say anything to them."

Meanwhile, the president had an explosive day on Twitter, including an attack on teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg after she was named TIME magazine’s Person of the Year ahead of him as the committee prepared to resume its debate over articles of impeachment threatening to end his presidency.

“So ridiculous. Greta must work on her Anger Management problem, then go to a good old fashioned movie with a friend! Chill Greta, Chill!” the president wrote on Twitter.

The president's campaign also shared a photo of the TIME cover with Mr Trump's face superimposed over the teenage climate activist.

Mr Trump also faced criticism for hosting notoriously antisemitic Texan pastor Robert Jeffress at his White House Hanukkah party, a man who once claimed Jews would go to hell and that Mr Trump’s impeachment would cause a “Civil War-like fracture” in American society.

Follow along developments as they happened.

As we await the House Judiciary Committee to continue its markup hearing on the impeachment articles drafted against Donald Trump, here's some analysis from The Independent's Andrew Feinberg on why the FBI's IG report isn't going to change any hearts or minds:

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 19:38

The House Judiciary Committee has reconvened to continue markups on the impeachment articles against Donald Trump. 

We'll continue to bring you live updates and analysis as they come in. 

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 19:41

Here's some analysis from The Independent's Andrew Feinberg as he watches the proceedings from within the room where the hearings are being held:

"Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Arizona, is once again raising the Council of Foreign Relations video of Vice President Joe Biden discussing how he got Viktor Shokin, the Ukrainian prosecutor who was widely thought of as corrupt by the US government, UK government, the IMF, World Bank, et cetera. She neglects to note that Biden was conveying the wishes of the US government and its allies."

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 19:46

House Judiciary Committee Jerrold Nadler asks the committee: “Do we want a dictator?” 

He goes on to note that Republicans have argued “Congress is unpopular, so obstruction of justice is a good thing.” 

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 19:48

Republican Ranking Member Doug Collins lashes out at House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler for suggesting Donald Trump was a "dictator", saying the Democrats' "facts are failing" so they are resorting to "inflammatory language".

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 20:04

Matt Gaetz responds to the controversy he stirred earlier in the hearings when he called out Hunter Biden for having drug addiction issues:

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 20:15

Democrat Madeleine Dean lays down the hammer on Republican talking points about needing to go to court against Donald Trump rather than filing impeachment charges against the president:

"Do not be confused by the lawyers on the other side who would teach the wrong civics lesson and distract you that we need to go to court. We need permission of a president, we need permission of a court. We do not."

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 20:18

Democrat Hakeem Jeffries brings up Donald Trump’s attacks on everyone from Joe Biden to the president’s tweets today against teen climate activist Greta Thunberg: “Are you here to defend that as well?” 

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 20:22

Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference during the House Judiciary Committee's markup hearings for the impeachment articles against Donald Trump. Here's some of what you may have missed: 

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 20:30

Democrat Lou Correa is clarifying that Joe Biden was following US policy when he held up US aid to Ukraine while demanding the firing of a corrupt prosecutor, while Donald Trump was seeking "personal gain" when he withheld the crucial military aid to Ukraine.

Chris Riotta12 December 2019 20:34

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