Congressional colleagues remember Cummings
A number of senior lawmakers offered their memories of the late congressmanElijah Cummingsat the Capitol, where the longtime Baltimore representative will lie in state today.
House speakerNancy Pelosinoted that Cummings’ ceremony had a connection to Abraham Lincoln.
Geoff Bennett(@ GeoffRBennett)
Chairman Cummings lay in repose on the same catafalque where Lincoln lay in repose, Pelosi says.
Senate majority leaderMitch McConnellsaid that Cummings, who had severe health problems for years, had “gone home.”
Chad Pergram(@ ChadPergram)
At service for Cummings, McConnell quotes Cummings, yelling through his bullhorn, trying to get people to go home during the ’15 Baltimore riots. “‘Go home. Let’s all go home’ … Our distinguished colleague truly has gone home. Home to his Father’s house.”
Republican representativeMark Meadowsbecame emotional reflecting on his “unexpected” friendship with Cummings.
Alex Moe(@ AlexNBCNews)
An emotional NC GOP@ RepMarkMeadowsremembers his dear friend Chairman@ RepCummingspic.twitter.com/6dKXZD0bwN
The ceremony for the late congressmanElijah Cummingshas begun on Capitol Hill, and House speakerNancy Pelosiis now delivering remarks about her longtime colleague.
CBS News(@ CBSNews)
Ceremony for the late Rep. Elijah Cummings on Capitol Hill is now underwayhttps://t.co/1zCXvBJerLpic.twitter.com/MJt3mbGCCp
Cummings’ casket arrives at the Capitol
Elijah Cummings, the late Democratic congressman from Baltimore who died last week, has arrived at the Capitol to lie in state.
Susan Davis(@ DaviSusan)
Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., Son of sharecroppers, arrives at the U.S. Capitol for the last time accompanied by military honor guard and awaited by his family.pic.twitter.com/KVKREx0imU
(October) , 2019
Many lawmakers were present to welcome Cummings’ casket, and even some of the late congressman’s former colleagues were there to honor him.
Melanie Zanona(@ MZanona)
SPOTTED in the Capitol Hill for Cummings’ memorial service: former Speaker Paul Ryan, Rev. Al Sharpton and former Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa
(October) , 2019
Democrats reportedly concerned that impeachment witnesses coordinating testimony
Some HouseDemocratsare voicing concerns that certain witnesses in the impeachment inquiry are coordinating their testimony with each other.
The Daily Beastreports:
Two Democratic lawmakers told The Daily Beast that, over the course of the nine witness depositions they have conducted over the last several weeks, there have been suggestions that certain witnesses spoke to each other about what they would say to impeachment investigators.
If any of the witnesses lied under oath for the sake of protecting themselves or the president, they could face criminal charges. Some Democrats have voiced suspicion ofGordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the EU, doing just that.
A lawyer for Sondlandhas saidthat his client “Does not recall” a conversation withBill Taylorabout holding up Ukraine’s military aid to demand public announcements of investigations intoJoe Bidenand the 2016 election, contradicting the US ambassador to Ukraine’s tesimony in the impeachment inquiry.
RepresentativeEric Swalwell,who sits on the House intelligence committee, echoed these concerns on CNN this morning.
Kyle Griffin(@ kylegriffin1)
Rep. Eric Swalwell on CNN on the impeachment inquiry: “We have evidence, very recently, that there are witnesses in our case who are talking to each other. That’s exactly what we don’t want to happen.”
(October) , 2019
Updated
SenatorLindsey Graham‘s resolution condemning HouseDemocrats‘impeachment inquiry comes as some ofTrump‘ s closest allies have criticized the Senate judiciary committee chairman for not doing more to defend the president against the investigation.
However, it seems like that Trump’s allies are not going to go easy on Graham now that he is introducing the resolution, according to an Axios reporter.
Jonathan Swan(@ jonathanvswan)
After seeing this tweet, a source close to@ DonaldJTrumpJrsaid this of@ LindseyGrahamSC: “If you’re going to talk the talk on Fox, you better walk the walk in the chamber. And a resolution is just talk. People expect action. ”https://t.co/1EK2namVj2
(October) , 2019
As senatorLindsey Grahamannounced his plans to introduce a resolution condemning the impeachment inquiry,Trumpsent this tweet specifically thanking HouseRepublicansfor “being tough” against the investigation.
Donald J. Trump(@ realDonaldTrump)
Thank you to House Republicans for being tough, smart, and understanding in detail the greatest Witch Hunt in American History. It has been going on since long before I even got Elected (the Insurance Policy!). A total Scam!
(October) , 2019
A group of conservative lawmakers successfully delayed the testimony ofLaura Cooperfor five hours yesterday after they stormed the secure area where the Pentagon official was set to be interviewed for the inquiry.
If Trump is hoping that Senate Republicans will start deploying similar antics to distract from the incriminating new details coming to light from the investigation, Graham clearly got the message.
Graham to introduce resolution condemning impeachment inquiry
SenatorLindsey Graham, the chairman of the Senate judiciary committee and a close ally ofTrump‘s, will introduce a resolution condemning HouseDemocrats‘“closed door, illegitimate impeachment inquiry.”
The South Carolina Republican intends to hold a press conference today at 3 p.m. E.T. announcing the resolution, which is co-sponsored by Senate majority leaderMitch McConnell.
A number of congressionalRepublicanshave criticized House Democratic leadership for conducting interviews in the impeachment inquiry behind closed doors, but this argument could soon become moot if the inquiry advances to public hearings.
Giuliani reportedly searching for a defense attorney
Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, is reportedly looking for his own defense attorney now that HouseDemocrats’impeachment inquiry has cast a spotlight on his dealings in Ukraine.
CNNreports:
The move by Giuliani, who is PresidentDonald Trump‘s personal attorney,is notable because last week he said he would notbe seeking a new lawyer unless he felt one was needed. …
Earlier on Wednesday, Giuliani s aid he had not heard from the FBI, US attorneys for the Southern District of New York or any other lawyer pertaining to the Ukraine matter. …
Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Giuliani’s business dealings in Ukraine in addition to a counterintelligence probe, CNN has previously reported. Two associates of the former New York mayor,Lev ParnasandIgor Furman, were charged with campaign finance-related offenses and pleaded not guilty in a court appearance Wednesday.
Giuliani defended his dealings with Ukraine in a tweet last night, claiming that he was just doing everything he could to defend the president:
Rudy Giuliani(@ RudyGiuliani)
With all the Fake News let me make it clear that everything I did was to discover evidence to defend my client against false charges. Dems would be horrified by the attacks on me, if my client was a terrorist.But they don’t believe@ realDonaldTrumphas rights. Justice will prevail
(October) , 2019
Trumpprovided some clarity in a midnight tweet about why he seemed to indicate yesterday that his administration was building a border wall in … Colorado?
The president said during his speech at a shale gas conference in Pittsburgh: “You know why we’re going to win New Mexico? Because they want safety on their border. And they didn’t have it. And we’re building a wall on the border of New Mexico, and we’re building a wall inColorado. We’re building a beautiful wall. A big one that really works, that you can’t get over, that you can’t get under. ”
Colorado’s Democratic governor mocked Trump’s comment over Twitter, citing it as evidence for the need to teach geography in school.
Jared Polis(@ GovofCO)
Well this is awkward … Colorado doesn’t border Mexico. Good thing Colorado now offers free full day kindergarten so our kids can learn basic geographypic.twitter.com/bEXLDJYUku
(October) , 2019
However, Trump then tweeted late last night that he referred to Colorado because there were people from the state in the Pittsburgh audience.
Donald J. Trump(@ realDonaldTrump)
(Kiddingly) We’re building a Wall in Colorado ”(then stated,“ we’re not building a Wall in Kansas but they get the benefit of the Wall we’re building on the Border ”) refered to people in the very packed auditorium, from Colorado & Kansas, getting the benefit of the Border Wall!
(October) , 2019
Given that Trump directly said that his administration was “building a wall in Colorado, ”this explanation still seems … questionable.
Democrats reportedly plan to hold public impeachment hearings next month
Good morning, live blog readers!
The impeachment inquiry has escalated rapidly in recent weeks, and HouseDemocratsare reportedly already looking to advance the investigation into its next stage – public hearings – by mid-November.
The Washington PostReports:
[O] n Wednesday, after conservative lawmakers stormed the hearing room and delayed the proceedings for five hours, some Democrats were feeling pressure to advance public hearings in hopes of avoiding further disruptions. …
House SpeakerNancy Pelosi(D-Calif.) And her leadership team still hope to hold an impeachment vote before the holidays, though increasingly Democrats are privately acknowledging the inquiry could easily drag into December. Multiple Democratic officials said they hope to finish private depositions in early November so they can use the two-week work period just before Thanksgiving to have public hearings.
Donald Trump‘s allies have complained about the impeachment inquiry based on its process, claiming that the reliance so far on closed-door interviews has been too secretive.
However, once the probe moves to the hearings stage and officials start publicly repeating the details that have been reported in recent weeks about Trump participating in a quid pro quo, the president could be facing a career- ending situation.
Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on today:
- The late Democratic congressman (Elijah Cummingswill lie in state at the Capitol.
- Trumpwill participate in the Diwali ceremonial lighting of the Diya and present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Roger Penske.
- Bidenwill attend the funeral of Democratic activist Sonny Sloan in Wilmington, Delaware.
The blog will have much more coming up, so stay tuned.
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