In a pillared House chamber at 10 a.m. ET on Wednesday, in the shadow of the 2020 presidential and congressional elections, House Democrats are set to host the first public hearing involving the potential impeachment of a president since November 19, 1998 -- and, they insist, they aren't happy about it.
"It’s a sad day," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, told Fox News on Tuesday. "A calm day. A prayerful day." For his part, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., called the hearings a "solemn undertaking" in a letter to colleagues.
Behind the scenes, House Democrats were predicting a "phenomenal week," Fox News is told. At the same time, Republicans have been preparing a methodical and vigorous cross-examination of Democrats' witnesses, whose accounts of President Trump's alleged wrongdoing have been based largely on hearsay and intuition.
Capitol Hill security officials told Fox News they're not anticipating the kinds of organized protests that rocked the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh last year, but sources on both sides of the aisle have cautioned that the day will be unpredictable. The proceedings are to be held in the cavernous House Ways and Means Committee hearing room at the Longworth House Office Building.
With the bang of a gavel, Schiff will open the impeachment hearings Wednesday into Trump's alleged pressure on Ukraine to investigate 2020 presidential candidate Joe Biden's dealings in the country. The former vice president, a Democrat, has boasted about pressuring Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, as his son Hunter Biden held a lucrative role board of a Ukrainian natural gas company despite having little relevant expertise.
A whistleblower's complaint about Trump's July 25 telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ignited the impeachment investigation. During the hearing Wednesday, a key exchange during that 30-minute call, which has been outlined in a Sept. 24 transcript released by the White House, could take center stage. Zelensky has said he felt no pressure during the call.
"I would like you to do us a favor though," Trump said at one point in the call, after a mention of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. Ukraine apparently was not aware that the U.S. was withholding new military aid until August, approximately two weeks before the U.S. ultimately released the aid and well after Trump's phone call with Zelensky.
The clown bow-tie of the first opening statement is fitting.
NEVER TRUMPERS!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2019
READ THE TRANSCRIPT!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 13, 2019
Caught part of Shiff’s opening remarks and those were filled with blatant lies.........It was even broadcast on the local radio station so had to turn it off.
Schiff says that there will be no mention of the “Whistleblowers” name and also states that he doesn’t know who the WB is....
OK!!!!
So test it.
Have someone say his name and see if Schiff immediately slams down the gavel.
How would he know if someone outed the WB without knowing the name.
Kent and Taylor glowing look at each other as if they have a private thing going on between them.
I just received this text link below on my 88022 Donald Trump reelection notice line.
http://bit.ly/2Qg6xbu
Takes you to his his donation site.
However you want to get to President Trumps 2020 website, if you can, donating to his re-election in this 24 hours will send a big message!
Went to youtube.
Opted to watch Trump’s inauguration instead. Hillary just walked in, aced the stairs not once but twice. Kissyface with Jimmy Carter. Good times.
It is becoming more clear, this has John Bolton’s fingerprints all over it.
Regean would have fired this Taylor Constitution “irregular” immediately upon assuming office. This IRREGULAR speak ain’t flying.
Dear Diary...
Do you guys remember before the introduction of the shot clock in college basketball the old stall offense? Teams would literally pass the ball for several minutes before taking a shot or to run out the clock if they had the lead. We’re watching the political equivalent of this today. That type of basketball was a snooze and so is this hearing. Democrats are trying to run out the clock until next November. They’re failing badly.
So Ukrainians losing their lives is Trump’s fault.
(Russia not mentioned.)
So Ukrainians need support (our money), and it’s a High Crime for us or Trump to ask for anything in return...
Did I get that right?
Don't these people know that the 60s are over -- and so are the 70s?
Frankly this is silly.
Oh goodness I can’t wait...
If anything this is a pretty slick move from San Fran Nan. The rabid base gets their investigation and she puts Schiff in charge of it. This thing is bombing, but at least she can say to the RAT voters she tried, and any blowback to it from them will be aimed at Schiff. Pelosi threw him under the bus today and she keeps her hands clean!
Quotes:
Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-Texas) made a motion to subpoena the whistleblower. After a back-and-forth, Schiff responded that the motion will be suspended until after today’s witnesses testify.
Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) claimed that Schiff is the only lawmaker who knows the identity of the whistleblower — a statement Schiff immediately disputed.
Schiff: “I do not know the identity of the whistleblower, and I am determined to make sure that identity is protected,” he said.
He sure as Hell knows the identity. Was he called on THIS LATEST LIE?