WTF Just Happened Today

Wednesday, October 2, 2019

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1/ The House threatened to subpoena the White House if it doesn't comply with its request for documents related to Trump's attempts to get Ukraine to investigate Biden and his son. House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings notified committee members that the subpoena will be issued Friday, citing the White House's "flagrant disregard" of previous requests for documents. Cummings said the committee has "tried several times to obtain voluntary compliance with our requests for documents" over the last several weeks, but the White House hasn't responded. Separately, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said that any efforts by Trump and his administration to stonewall or interfere with their investigation "will be considered as evidence of obstruction of justice." Schiff joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi in condemning Trump's tweets and his demand to "meet" the whistleblower, calling it "a blatant effort to intimidate witnesses" and "an incitement of violence." Later in the day, Trump argued that whistleblowers should only be protected if they're "legitimate." (New York Times / ABC News / Axios / Associated Press / CNBC)

• Read Cummings' full memo to the House Oversight and Reform Committee (New York Times)

2/ Trump complained that House Democrats' impeachment inquiry is "BULLSHIT" that's "wasting everyone's time." Trump also called Adam Schiff a "low life," and a "dishonest guy" who "couldn't carry" Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's "blank strap" – an apparent reference to a "jock strap." Trump also blamed the impeachment inquiry for declines in the stock market and suggested staffers were inappropriately listening in on his phone calls. Trump's tweets came after he suggested that the impeachment inquiry amounted to an attempted coup. At a joint news conference later in the day with Finland's president, Trump attacked reporters who asked about the impeachment inquiry, calling it a hoax and a fraud, but said he would cooperate with the inquiry, claiming: "I always cooperate." (NBC News Reuters / Washington Post / Talking Points Memo)

3/ Trump repeatedly involved Pence in his efforts to pressure the Ukraine president at a time when Volodymyr Zelensky was seeking recognition and support from Washington. In May, Trump instructed Pence not to attend Zelensky's inauguration, and, months later, Trump had Pence tell Zelensky that U.S. aid was being withheld while demanding for an investigation Biden and his son...

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