WTF Just Happened Today

Monday, December 16, 2019

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1/ The House Judiciary Committee accused Trump of "multiple federal crimes" and argued that Trump "betrayed the nation by abusing his high office." The 658-page report labels Trump's behavior "both constitutional and criminal in character" and recommends two articles of impeachment: abuse of power for holding up nearly $400 million worth of security aid and a White House meeting until Ukraine agreed to announce investigations into Biden and 2016 election interference, and obstruction of Congress, saying "Trump's obstruction of Congress does not befit the leader of a democratic society. It calls to mind the very claims of royal privilege against which our founders rebelled." The House is expected to vote Wednesday on whether to impeach Trump. (New York Times / Washington Post / NBC News / Politico)

• READ: House Judiciary Committee report on impeachment. (Washington Post)

• Trump suggested that Nancy Pelosi's teeth were falling out while she was answering a question about why bribery wasn't included as one of the articles of impeachment against Trump. (Washington Post)

• The House told a federal appeals court that it still needs access to Robert Mueller's confidential grand jury information for use in the impeachment proceedings. The House argued that the grand jury information allegedly contains "certain redacted materials [that] pertain to a Trump Campaign member's dealings with Ukraine, and bear on whether the President committed impeachable offenses by soliciting Ukrainian interference in the 2020 Presidential election." (CNN)

• Two more vulnerable House Democrats plan to vote to impeach Trump. In total, 15 Democrats from 31 districts won by Trump in 2016 have publicly pledged to back articles of impeachment. (Politico / Wall Street Journal)

• Rep. Jeff Van Drew announced that he is switching parties and will become a Republican after attending a personal meeting with Trump on Friday. Van Drew has long been a vocal opponent of impeaching Trump. Six of his aides announced their resignation from his office following the news. Van Drew helped flip his GOP district in southern New Jersey during the last election. (Politico / CNN)

2/ Sen. Chuck Schumer requested that former national security adviser John Bolton and acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney testify as witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial. In a letter to Mitch McConne...

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