Trump news: House panel votes to advance impeachment articles as president announces US-China trade deal
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Your support makes all the difference.The House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines to support articles of impeachment against Donald Trump on Friday after an abrupt end to Thursday’s 12-hour marathon debate over their merits, a session characterised by Republican stalling and heated protestations.
Following the votes, the president announced a trade deal between the US and China will begin lifting tariffs on Chinese goods by 15 December — a deal he previously said wasn't likely until after the next election.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell meanwhile gave an interview to Sean Hannity on Fox News yesterday evening and pledged “total co-ordination” between GOP senators and the White House should a trial take place in January, raising fresh concerns about impartiality.
President Trump himself has congratulated British prime minister Boris Johnson over his party’s landslide win in the UK general election on a record-breaking day of tweets and his hosting of the Christmas Congressional Ball at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Meanwhile, Democrats on the 2020 campaign trail have rallied behind union workers at Loyola University in California ahead of next week's debate there.
That solidarity was first expressed by Elizabeth Warren, who said she would not cross a picket line for the debate.
Soon after, virtually every candidate who has qualified for the debate.
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And the voting begins on the committee's first article of impeachment against Donald Trump for abuses of power.
It passes by 23-17.
Now for the obstruction of justice charge:
Another 23-17 vote in support.
Both votes were on party lines, with all Republicans opposed.
The charges now head to the full House.
House committee supports articles of impeachment, full House set to impeach Donald Trump
The House of Representatives is set to begin the process of removing a president from office for the fourth time in US history, as the House Judiciary Committee voted on party lines to send articles of impeachment to Congress.
Donald Trump is charged with obstruction of justice for his attempts to block testimony in his impeachment inquiry, from which he's also been charged for abuses of power in his dealings with Ukraine.
The House committee's 14-hour-long hearing on Wednesday came to an abrupt end so Democrats, they said, could bring the historic moment to the light of day.
Following a 10-minute hearing, Texas Republican Louie Gohmert says today is a "sad day for the country" after "three years of hell" for Donald Trump.
"This was a kangaroo court", he told reporters after the vote.
Republican Debbie Lesko called it a "travesty" that "railroaded" an investigation — which took place over several weeks, included a 300-page report following several hours of witness testimonies, and led to several days of judiciary hearings that included Republican participation, which mostly amounted to criticising Democrats.
Here's The Independent's Andrew Feinberg with breaking news from another historic day in Washington:
"The panel's vote to approve articles of impeachment against Mr Trump comes nearly 21 years to the day after it approved articles of impeachment to charge then-President Bill Clinton with two counts of perjury, one count of obstruction of justice, and one count of abuse of power."
Republicans continue to rail against the hearings and investigation.
Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson — who has enjoyed an unprecedented spotlight by using the impeachment hearings to grandstand against the proceedings — said the process was "rigged" and part of a "left-wing" promise to impeachment the president by Christmas.
Congressman Gohmert said Republicans should use the upcoming proceedings to call their own witnesses.
And asked whether the president should have told teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg that she has an "anger management" problem, Mr Johnson "the president communicates in a unique way".
Moments after Democrats voted to impeach Donald Trump, the president announced on Twitter that the US has reached a trade deal with China:
The White House takes a swipe at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi:
Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler makes a a brief statement to reporters: "Today is a solemn and sad day. ... The House will act expeditiously. Thank you."
In a statement from White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, she says "this desperate charade of an impeachment inquiry in the House Judiciary Committee has reached its shameful end."
"The President looks forward to receiving in the Senate the fair treatment and due process which continues to be disgracefully denied to him by the House.”
The president has had ample opportunity to participate in House impeachment hearings and investigations, which he refused, including providing counsel, submitting testimony, and introducing and examining witnesses.
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