Trump urges Republicans to attack 'substance' of impeachment inquiry – live – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

The Chilean president also announced that he was calling off the UN climate change conference, known as COP 25, that was set to be held in Santiago.

CNN Chile(@ CNNChile)

🔴 AHORA – Presidente Piñera suspendió la cumbre de la APEC y la COP 25

🔴 Sigue informándote ➡️https://t.co/PS8t8UYoplpic.twitter.com/cJIDlH4VQc

October 30, 2019

The announcement shocked many, given that the Chilean foreign ministersaidjust six days ago that there was “no chance” of the global meetings Being cancelled due to the escalating protests.

The announcement that Chile was cancelling next month’s APEC summit comes amid intensifying protests in the country.

CNNreportedearlier this week:

Chilean PresidentSebastian Pinerareplaced his Cabinet Monday following days of violent protests that have paralyzed the country, seen the military return to the streets, and led to the deaths of at least 20 people. …

Despite the reshuffle, thousands of protesters returned to the streets of the Chilean capital Monday, calling for Pinera’s resignation and clashing with security forces in violent street battles.

A fire broke out on the corner of a main street in Santiago, engulfing clothing stores, a McDonald’s and a medical center, according to CNN Chile. Police have responded by firing tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons.

Chile has just announced that it is pulling out of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, which was scheduled to take place next month.

The announcement could jeopardize (Trump) ‘s “phase one” trade deal with China, given that the president intended to sign the agreement at the summit.

Josh Wingrove(@ josh_wingrove)

And now Chile’s president has cancelled the APEC summit next month.

This throws the Trump-Xi meeting and ” phase one “trade deal signing up into the air.

October 30, 2019

Asked about the cancelled summit, White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley told reporters: “We don ‘t know. I’m going to get to the bottom of it. ”

The Senate foreign relations committee is holding a confirmation hearing for deputy secretary of stateJohn Sullivan’snomination as the next US ambassador to Russia.

As the deputy to secretary of stateMike Pompeo, Sullivan will certainly be asked by the panel’sDemocratsabout how the department navigated Ukraine policy with some ofTrump‘s external advisers, namelyRudy Giuliani, trying to influence decisions.

Sullivan was also the official tasked with informingMaria Yovanovitchthat she was being recalled from her post. Yovanovitch testified earlier this month that Sullivan told her she had “done nothing wrong” and that the president had pressured officials to remove her, an account Sullivanreportedlydoes not intend to dispute.

HouseDemocratsdiscussed their resolution outlining next steps in the impeachment inquiry during a morning meeting, and members reportedly had no questions for the chairman of the rules committee.

Ben Siegel(@ benyc)

.@ RepMcGovernsays he briefed House Democrats on the impeachment resolution in their caucus meeting this morning – and that there were no questions.

(October) , 2019

Christopher Anderson, one of the career diplomats testifying in the impeachment inquiry today, will reportedly tell House investigators thatJohn Boltonvoiced concern aboutRudy Giuliani‘s role in deciding Ukraine policy.

Anderson worked for two years as an assistant toKurt Volker, (Trump) ‘s former special envoy for Ukraine.

CNNreports:

According to Anderson’s prepared statements, he helped in May to develop ‘key deliverables’ to show newly-elected Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelensky‘s’ commitment to reform. 1) demonstrating Zelenskyy’s independence from powerful vested interests and pursuing anticorruption reform as well as antitrust reform; 2) strengthening U.S.-Ukrainian energy cooperation; and 3) improving our bilateral security relationship which included Ukraine increasing its purchases of key U.S. military equipment. ’

In the mid-June meeting, ‘Bolton stated that he agreed with our three lines of effort and that he also supported increased senior White House engagement, ”according to the prepared statement.

’However, he cautioned that Mr. Giuliani was a key voice with the President on Ukraine which could be an obstacle to increased White House engagement, ’Anderson is expected to tell the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committees.

Catherine Croft, a Ukraine expert at the state department, has arrived on Capitol Hill to testify in The impeachment inquiry.

Alex Moe(@ AlexNBCNews)

Catherine Croft, the State Department special adviser for Ukraine to appear for her closed door joint deposition before the House Intel, Oversight and Foreign Affairs Committees as part of the ongoing impeachment inquirypic.twitter.com/IylXpCIqTh

(October) , 2019

The career diplomat reportedly intends to tell the House committees leading the inquiry that she repeatedly heardTrumpvoice distrust of Ukraine, despite the state department’s official position of support for the country.

Trumphas a fairly light public schedule today, which is leaving him plenty of time this morning to Attack HouseDemocrats‘impeachment inquiry over Twitter.

The president is urging congressionalRepublicansto attack the “substance” of the impeachment inquiry rather than the process.

Donald J. Trump(@ realDonaldTrump)

….. the call with the Ukrainian President was a totally appropriate one. As he said, “No Pressure.” This Impeachment nonsense is just a continuation of the Witch Hunt Hoax, which has been going on since before I even got elected. Rupublicans, go with Substance and close it out!

(October) , 2019

Many of Trump’s closest allies on Capitol Hill have criticized the inquiry for being too secretive, claiming Democrats are wrong to conduct closed-door interviews and not allow Republicans to call witnesses.

However, it seems like those complaints may now be moot. If the resolution that House Democrats released yesterday is approved, the inquiry will probably soon move to public hearings and Republicans will be allowed to request witnesses – although the Democratic chairman of the House intelligence committee is allowed to deny those requests.

The resolution’s release is surely at least partly why Trump is urging his allies to cast doubt on the specific allegations against him. The president also dismissedAlexander Vindman, a national security council official and Purple Heart recipient, as a “Never Trumper witness”.

Donald J. Trump(@ realDonaldTrump)

Yesterday’s Never Trumper witness could find NO Quid Pro Quo in the Transcript of the phone call. There were many people listening to the call. How come they (including the President of Ukraine) found NOTHING wrong with it. Witch Hunt!

(October) , 2019

Vindman stated told impeachment investigators yesterday that he heard Trump’s call with the Ukrainian president and was so alarmed by it he notified his superior of his concerns.

Vindman also (reportedly) testified that the White House omitted key words and phrases aboutJoe Bidenfrom its memo on the call, which Trump is incorrectly referring to here as a “transcript”. Vindman’s testimony will probably cast more doubt on the memo and redouble Democrats ’demands to see a full readout of the call.

Good morning, live blog readers!

HouseDemocrats‘impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump continues today with the testimony of two career diplomats,Catherine CroftandChristopher Anderson.

Croft and Anderson willreportedlytestify that Trump and some of his advisers voiced distrust of Ukraine in a manner that did not align with the official position of the state department. According to her opening statement, Croft will tell impeachment investigators that she heard Trump “describe Ukraine as a corrupt country”, both “directly and indirectly”.

Their testimony is not expected to create as many waves as that ofAlexander Vindman, the national security council official who reportedly told the House committees yesterday that he was concerned after hearing Trump’s Ukraine call and reported it to his superiors.

However, each witness seems to be helping to build a larger picture of a president using foreign policy to try to advance his re-election prospects – and a team of advisers who largely let him do it.

Here’s what else the blog is keeping its eye on:

• (Trump) will present the medal of honor to Master Sgt Matthew Williams for “gallantry in Afghanistan” at 5pm ET.
• The FBI director,Christopher Wray,will testify before Congress at 10 am ET.
• BillandHillary Clintonwill speak at Georgetown University this evening.

That’s all still coming up, so stay tuned.