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As it happenedended1570657446

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 21:04 BST
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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.

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Hillary Clinton has been busy trolling the MAGA crowd by appearing on PBS to say she could "obviously" beat Trump "again", alluding to her winning the popular vote in 2016, only for the big man to claim the Electoral College 304-227.

She has also been responding to the president directly on Twitter after he sarcastically suggested she run again.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 11:25
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Kamala Harris has a new jam and has started wearing Converse. "Don't call it a comeback."

"Justice is on the ballot when we have a crook in the White House. And let’s be clear, the way I think about, he’s just a walking indictment in a red tie," she told the students of Iowa State University.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 11:40
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How Trump's giant re-election effort compares to his underdog days in 2015.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 11:55
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Trump is up early and not taking due care with his tweets.

Total Wirch Hunt!

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 12:05
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Trump is now repeating his weak line on the whistleblower's ties to a 2020 Democrat and appears to have forgiven Fox anchor Tucker Carlson over his disloyalty.

And now we're back to Schiff bashing.

Oh and raging against the UN - a pet theme we've not heard in a while.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 12:15
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A little more on the Democratic response to Trump's refusal to co-operate with the House impeachment inquiry last night.

Schiff's response was very much in line with Speaker Pelosi.

2020 candidates Biden and Julian Castro condemned his actions as an abuse of power and a further instance of an impeachable offence respectively.

Castro's line of attack was also taken up by Vermont congressman Peter Welch on CNN.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 12:30
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We're now back to self-justification on Syria.

Ha! He can't even be bothered to type out his own Yom Kippur greeting to his Jewish followers, idly retweeting North Carolina senator Richard Burr instead.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 12:40
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Democratic congressman Mark Pocan of Wisconsin has written to secretary of state Mike Pompeo arguing the  White House decision to stop Ambassador Sondland from appearing yesterday violates a federal spending bill and the responsible party should therefore have their salary withheld.

Trump's tweets yesterday appeared to indicate he was that man.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 12:55
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"No Context Rudy" really ought to be a Twitter account.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 13:10
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On The Late Show last night, Stephen Colbert labelled Trump's refusal to co-operate with the impeachment inquiry "absolutely bonkers".

The host speculated the president must have developed "phone spurs" to be excused, described Cipollone's letter to the House as "officially bitchy" and said of Trump: "Half of Congress absolutely hates him - and the Democrats aren't fond of him either."

He also rightly ridiculed Florida congressman Matt Gaetz ("star of Frat Baby") for this slice of hot buffoonery yesterday.

Adam White has more.

Joe Sommerlad9 October 2019 13:25

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