Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Confirmed, per a senior White House official, who says Trump has blessed the move. Trey Gowdy is on the Trump team.


The White House says there is nothing wrong with pressuring a foreign government to intervene in a US election. They say: they will not cooperate with an impeachment inquiry unless it’s on their terms. They mean: the President is above the law. The Constitution says otherwise.


Dems pursuing an impeachment inquiry of Trump want to probe whether the sale of anti-tank missiles to Kiev last year was connected to Ukraine’s decision to halt investigations into Trump’s campaign chairman


.@SpeakerPelosi's office confirms she's received letter from WH outlining why the administration won't be cooperating with impeachment inquiry. Below is the link to the 8-pg letter from WH Counsel Pat Cipollone.


White House Counsel Pat Cipollone has told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in an 8-page letter that Trump and his administration won't participate in the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry.


“If it were to be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of security in a Republic? The answer would be, An inviolable respect for the Constitution and Laws—the first growing out of the last.” — Alexander Hamilton


...And this is explicitly illegal to do. "At least one NSC official alerted the White House's national security lawyers about the concerns. Those same lawyers would later order the transcript of the call moved to a highly classified server."


We are gratified at the seriousness with which the Court addressed our petition for grand jury information relating to the House impeachment inquiry. We remain confident in our case and look forward to the resolution of this matter.


NEW -- ABC News has learned that a two-page memo, written by the whistleblower a day after Trump’s call, describes one White House official who told the whistleblower Trump's Ukraine call was ‘frightening’


The judge said she was “extremely disturbed” Education Secretary Betsy DeVos sought to collect on the student loans in spite of her order to stop doing so. “I'm not sending anyone to jail yet, but it's good to know I have that ability," the judge added


So Neil Gorsuch apparently was concerned today about “massive social upheaval” if #SCOTUS rules LGBTQ can’t be fired under Civil Rights Act. Except, 21+ states have these laws now, including his beloved Colorado, where he was law professor. There’s been no upheaval.


Dianne Feinstein says Dems would WELCOME a chance to question Rudy Guiliani before Senate Judiciary


WH official confirms: Trump has invited Erdogan to the WH on Nov 13th.


This is total BS. Ambassador Sondland is a wealthy businessman who doesn't have to remain silent. He could choose to testify, just like Watergate witnesses. The American people can draw the reasonable inference that he is covering up corruption


Who would have thought? Settling reduces the challenges of having to provide information through discovery. Now, what would Jerry have to hide?


Obstruction of Congress is an impeachable offense. Pompeo needs to go. State Department blocks ambassador from testifying to Congress in Trump impeachment inquiry


Chairman Adam Schiff says Congress is investigating whether there was an effort by the President, the Secretary of State, and others to cover up misconduct


SCHIFF on Sondland not being allowed to testify & the administration withholding documents: "The failure to produce this witness, the failure to produce these documents, we consider yet additional strong evidence of obstruction of the constitutional functions of Congress."


Here's a simple test: The Democrats either hold Sonland in contempt based on obstruction, or they don't. Hey, it's just a Constitutional crisis. Why bother with protecting the prerogatives of a co-equal branch of government in the face of lawlessness and obstruction?


Two-thirds of #LGBTQ+ people experienced discrimination in their everyday lives. Nobody should be fired because of who they are or who they love.


Trump's campaign manager says Minneapolis Mayor wants to extort him because the Mayor is asking to be paid UPFRONT for the event. WHEN YOU ARE A BAD PAY WORDS GETS OUT DONNIE


#BREAKING Turkish military helicopters are flying at the Syria-Turkey border.


JUST IN - Ambassador to EU Gordon Sondland, scheduled to testify before Congress today, won’t. Says he was “directed” by @StateDept early this morning not to appear


What they’re hiding is worse than obstruction.


I knew this test was coming. Say it with me: "Sir, you are in contempt. Sargent at arms, take that man into custody."


The company behind the non-partisan news site RealClearPolitics has been secretly running a Facebook page filled with far-right memes and Islamophobic smears


If ⁦@MittRomney⁩ helps bring down Trump, he will be a true patriot. That would be a large part of his legacy.


Analysis: Want to stop Russia from messing with our democracy? Empower U.S. counterintelligence to go on the attack.


I’m still struggling to understand how betraying the Kurds will elicit forceful, bipartisan uproar, while only one party seems to care that the President repeatedly betrayed the American people.


Pompeo broke faith with his people and the country. His ambition blinded him. He should quit. His immediate political prospects are grim


New McConnell statement: "A precipitous withdrawal of U.S. forces from Syria would only benefit Russia, Iran, and the Assad regime. And it would increase the risk that ISIS and other terrorist groups regroup. "


U.S. blacklists 28 Chinese companies for their alleged role in running Muslim internment camps


Trump gave Putin 2 birthday presents today. He invites Turkey to crush Kurdish allies and US is going to pull out of the Open Skies Treaty. Also Barr is traveling around Europe trying to prove Russia didn't interfere in the elections. Awesome.


Putin has given himself and other high-ranking officials a raise for his 67th birthday: 4.3% that matches last year's inflation rate.


"I can't figure out why Republicans are attacking Trump for selling out the Kurds... but not for selling out the U.S. Constitution." Discussing the latest on @CNNTonight. See also my @PostOpinions column on the betrayal of the Kurds


Former Trump officials and lobbyists dined with Zelensky campaign at Trump hotel months before infamous phone call


Remember when Erdogan sat in his car to enjoy watching his goons physically attack protestors in Washington, DC under Trump


This morning, House investigators are set to take the deposition of Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union. Sondland, according to text message evidence, not only facilitated Trump's Ukrainian gambit but also shut down a top diplomat who raised concerns.


BREAKING: Impeachment imminent! The #DonFather Trailer


In Trump’s eyes, the Kurds, who paid in blood in the war against ISIS, are nothing but a militia that has done its job and can now go to hell


Lawyers for Donald Trump may have overplayed their hand by arguing that neither he nor his businesses can be investigated by a state prosecutor


Don Lemon lays into John Kasich for equivocating on impeachment and the Ukraine call, telling Kasich that "you’re doing exactly what the apologists are doing" and if "you’re not helping people understand the problem, then you are part of the problem."


Under Open Skies, countries that are part of the treaty must notify other nations 72 hours in advance of a mission to conduct an observational flight, to which the host country has one day to respond.


in new WashPost poll, 28% of Republicans, and 58% of all Americans, favor House impeachment inquiry 18% of Republicans, and 49% overall, favor Trump’s impeachment and removal danger to Trump rising fast


We've launched an investigation into Rudy Giuliani's role in the Ukraine scandal


“At least five of Chao’s 18 meetings with local Kentuckians were requested in emails from McConnell staffers, who alerted Chao’s staffers which of the officials were ‘friends’ or ‘loyal supporters.’”


Farmers are going to "lose farms that they've had in their families for generations," says Land O'Lakes CEO


An FBI investigation of Atomwaffen Division, a homicidal neo-Nazi guerrilla organization, is gathering steam with new arrests


Since @SenateMajLdr McConnell announced he’d defend the president no matter what, @realDonaldTrump clearly feels he now has total freedom to do whatever he and Putin want: —Abandon the Kurds —Pull out of Open Skies —Call to impeach a Senate Republican


This isn't hard – not supporting our longtime allies the Kurds means we are surrendering the Middle East to Iran, Russia and Turkey and it tells our friends that an alliance with America means nothing. Be nice with nice guys and tough with tough guys not the other way around.


58% support an impeachment inquiry against ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩, 60% think he doesn’t uphold ethics in government.


Lt. Gen. Mike Nagata (ret.) goes on record -- he was the first commander assigned to train up Syrians to fight ISIS for themselves -- saying Trump's decision helps Russia and Iran: “There is not enough recognition that this could go horribly wrong in so many ways.”


Eye-popping shouting match erupts after CNN’s Cuomo corners Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow


Activist Greta Thunberg joins global climate protests from South Dakota.


I think the GOP in early days of the Trump-Ukraine scandal believed Trump. Then, within a few days they were hit with evidence they couldn't deny, so they hid in their offices and were backed into a corner. They were waiting on Trump's next mistake, and he just made it.


"In 20 years of writing about the military, I have never heard officers in high positions express such alarm about a president."


TONIGHT: Former National Security Advisor @AmbassadorRice tells us what she really thinks about Trump's decision to abandon the Kurds in northern Syria.


"Were old Joe McCarthy still with us he would be in awe of the lengths to which Donald Trump and his GOP and 'conservative' lackeys have gone to discredit their perceived Democratic enemies"


Opinion: Trump’s latest lies about the Ukraine scandal are imploding fast


Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Ed Stack said his company destroyed $5 million worth of assault rifles, driving the NRA and gun reform advocates to Twitter.


One Child Policy: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver


Turkey has started bombing the Semelka Border Crossing at the Syria-Iraq border. U.S. troops are still withdrawing from the area! This is horrific. We are on the verge of a genocide green lit by an American President


#Manbij civil council statement "We assure everyone that we are ready to defend our land, our people and ourselves towards any Turkish aggression targeting us, and we call on our people, Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Circassians, to join forces with our forces to defend our home"


Turkey is bombing Northern Syria. U.S. Troops have not completely withdrawn. Turkey has no idea where U.S. Troops are or will be. In essence Trump has given Turkey permission to invade and a pass if our Troops are harmed or killed by friendly fire.


As Republicans turn on people like Mitt Romney & US intelligence agents, I'd like to remind everyone that the crook they're stupidly protecting is banned from operating a charity in all of NY because he and his swindling kids stole from a children's cancer charity.


Many caveats here, but this is a fascinating piece. If Romney does come out vocally in favor of removing Trump in a Senate trial (still not certain), it’ll cause serious divides in the GOP — and will badly damage Trump even if he survives impeachment.


“Twitter took down Trump’s Nickelback meme, and now for the weather, where I’m told it will be raining expired ranch dressing, rats, and bedbugs—all in honor of Guy Fieri’s birthday."


Sometimes the only way to explain / predict Trump's foreign policy is to think "what would Putin want the US to do?"


The WH’s announcement of the decision blindsided not just America's Kurdish partners, but also sr. officials at the Pentagon, State Dept., and WH, lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and US allies, according to current and fmr. US officials


Top Kurdish general: Watching over ISIS prisoners now a 'second priority


Gym Jordan, who swears he didn't see a thing when his wrestlers were being sexually assaulted, spends a lot of time telling Elijah Cummings how to conduct oversight. America can do better.


Florida businessmen with Giuliani, Ukraine ties won’t comply with impeachment inquiry


Opinion: If Republicans stay loyal to Trump, they’ll be implicated in the moral decay of our politics


It’s not illegal to meet a whistleblower. The whistleblower wasn’t way off on the call. The Syria mission didn’t have a 30-day timeline. The guy in that photo isn’t Burisma’s boss. Trump doesn’t have 95% GOP approval. Fact checks on his tweet barrage


Pat Robertson is "appalled" by Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria: "The President of the United States is in great danger of losing the mandate of Heaven if he permits this to happen."


Barring a reversal of this decision, the Administration must come before Congress and explain how betraying an ally and ceding influence to terrorists and adversaries is not disastrous for our national security interests. My statement with @ChrisMurphyCT — Senator Mitt Romney


President Donald Trump’s decision to remove some U.S. forces from northeastern Syria provides a vivid example of how he feels freer than ever to make foreign policy on impulse. More here:


Facebook has incredible power to affect elections and our national debate. Mark Zuckerberg is telling employees that he views a Warren administration as an “existential” threat to Facebook. The public deserves to know how Facebook intends to use their influence in this election.


The judge said she was “astounded” that the department violated her June order to stop collecting the debts from students, who had been promised refunds of their tuition.


Dick's Sporting Goods CEO Ed Stack said his company destroyed $5 million worth of assault rifles, driving the NRA and gun reform advocates to Twitter.


EXC Losses at @realDonaldTrump's Turnberry resort have more than doubled to £10.7m, marking the 5th consecutive year it's failed to turn a profit. It remains reliant on £115m in loans & its helicopter charter biz has been scrapped.


If anyonone thinks this is not fostered by the autocrats of the world think again. That includes Putin and MBS. Trump is clearly selling out the country for a personal benefit. Next could be nukes. Is that what the GOP want?


Asked whether he consulted with Joint Chiefs before late night Syria announcement, Pres. Trump says, "I consulted with everybody. I always consult with everybody."


It almost look like Russian organized crime has captured the US presidency and GOP...


RE Trump's announcement on Syria plus the Ukraine scandal, from a European intel source: "The world order is collapsing in front of our eyes"


Trump knows it’s over and he’s going down. He’s accelerating Putin’s mission to destroy America. As much as he can, As fast as he can, While he still can. Don’t be fooled any longer. From this moment forward, It will become evident to all, That he only ever worked for Russia.


TURKISH INTEREST GROUP EVENT KICKS OFF AT TRUMP HOTEL, WITH GOVERNMENT SPONSORS


I attended a counter protest today @RepMattGaetz organized a protest with trumpers to protest our Congressman @CharlieCrist who made the decision to support #ImpeachmentInquiry. Our counter protesters out numbered the trump supporters 3 to 1. Gaetz chickened out and didn’t show


Can’t wait to see how Barr argues in support of immunity from investigation for a sitting president after allowing Mueller to investigate Trump and even saying that Mueller could have reached a conclusion as to whether Trump has committed a crime.


BREAKING: Turkey is already bombing the Kurds and sending in the tanks. Trump gave Erdogan the green light to commit a genocide against Kurds. The blood will be on the hands of Trump and his supporters.


Top US general Joseph Votel says Trump did not consult him on Syria announcement


Turkey attacks Kurds, SDF in Iraq, Syria as U.S. withdraws


I'm sorry, USA. We can no longer consider you an ally. This treaty is paramount to European security. Trump is fulfilling his promises to Putin. No longer trying to hide anything.


5 were killed in the Turkish attack at Semelka


USA TODAY's Editorial Board: Trump is 'unfit for the presidency'


Erratic Trump endangers US personnel, world standing: McGurk


Political and economic corruption intersect in Ukraine: report


Trump inverts the truth in attack on Biden's Ukraine message


Under scrutiny for corruption, Trump blurs meaning of corruption


Trump's ill-considered Syria pullout finds limit of GOP loyalty


“Donald Trump got "rolled" by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a National Security Council source with direct knowledge of the discussions told Newsweek.”


Gen. Mazloum Kobani Abdi, commander of Syrian Democratic Forces, says watching over ISIS prisoners locked up in Syria is a "second priority," following announcement that Turkey will soon launch its “long-planned operation” in the country.


The Humiliation of Lindsey Graham


TRUMP: "When I took over our military, we did not have ammunition. I was told by a top general, maybe the top of them all, 'Sir, I'm sorry sir, we don't have ammunition.' I said, I will never let that happen to another president."


"History is grabbing Romney by the lapels and screaming at him: Choose! He knows that the president is a liar and a destroyer. He knows Trump has no morality"


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