WASHINGTON (AP) - For only the fourth time in U.S. history, the House of Representatives has started a presidential impeachment inquiry. House committees are trying to determine if President Donald Trump violated his oath of office by asking a foreign country to investigate a political opponent.
A quick summary of the latest news:
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch told House investigators that Ukrainian officials had warned her before her abrupt recall from Kyiv earlier this year that Rudy Giuliani and other allies of President Donald Trump were planning to “do things, including to me” and were “looking to hurt” her reputation. A transcript of Yovanovitch’s testimony was released Monday.
- Four White House officials scheduled to appear before House impeachment investigators for depositions failed to show up Monday, following Trump’s orders not to cooperate with the probe. Those scheduled for depositions were John Eisenberg, Trump’s deputy counsel for national security affairs; Robert Blair, a senior adviser to acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney; Michael Ellis, senior associate counsel to the president; and Brian McCormack, with the Office of Management and Budget.
- The whistleblower who raised concerns about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and sparked the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry is willing to answer written questions submitted by House Republicans. But Trump indicated in a Twitter posting Monday that such an arrangement is not good enough. The whistleblower “must be brought forward to testify. Written answers not acceptable!” Trump said in his tweet.
___
WHAT’S NEXT
Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said interview transcripts from the depositions of former special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker and U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland will be released Tuesday.
Democrats have called for 11 witnesses to meet the impeachment investigators this week, including Energy Secretary Rick Perry and former national security adviser John Bolton. It’s unclear whether any of them will come to Capitol Hill.
___
NUMBERS THAT MATTER
The House has 16 legislative days between now and the end of the year. Dec. 12 is the final day lawmakers have votes scheduled - unless leaders extend the calendar - before everyone heads home for the holidays and the beginning of the election year.
____
WORTH READING
The freshly released transcripts of interviews with Yovanovitch, ousted from her post in Kyiv in May, and Michael McKinley, a former top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. They spoke to House investigators in October.
Yovanovitch: http://apne.ws/mBvxghb
McKinley: http://apne.ws/PrBMFaM
Please read our comment policy before commenting.