‘Serious misconduct’ by Trump takes center stage at hearing

House Judiciary Committee is moving swiftly to weigh findings by fellow lawmakers that President Donald Trump misused power of his office for personal political gain and n obstructed Congress’ investigation as possible grounds for impeachment. Responsible for drafting articles of impeachment, Judiciary Committee prepared Wednesday morning for its first hearing since release of a 300-p report by Democrats on House Intelligence Committee that found “serious misconduct” by president.

report did t render a judgment on wher Trump’s actions stemming from a July 25 phone call with Ukraine’s president rose to constitutional level of “high crimes and misdemears” warranting impeachment. That is for full House to decide. But its findings involving Trump’s efforts to seek foreign intervention in American election process provide basis for a House vote on impeachment and a Senate trial carrying penalty of removal from office.

“ evidence that we have found is really quite overwhelming that president used power of his office to secure political favors and abuse trust American people put in him and jeopardize our security,” Intelligence Committee Chairman am Schiff, D-Calif., told Associated Press. “It was a difficult decision to go down this ro, because it’s so consequential for country,” Schiff said. But “ president was author of his own impeachment inquiry by repeatedly seeking foreign help in his election campaigns.”

Schiff ded: “Americans need to understand that this president is putting his personal political interests above irs. And that it’s endangering country.” session Wednesday with legal scholars will delve into possible impeachable offenses, but real focus will be on panel, led by Chairman Jerrold Nler, D-N.Y., and me up of a sometimes boisterous, sharply partisan division of lawmakers.

In a 53-p opening statement obtained by AP, Republican witness Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, will say that Democrats are bringing a “slipshod impeachment” case against president based on secondhand information. Still, Turley doesn’t excuse president’s behavior. “It is t wrong because President Trump is right,” according to Turley. He calls Trump’s call with Ukraine “anything but ’perfect,” as president claims. “A case for impeachment could be me, but it cant be me on this record,” he says.

remaining three witnesses, all called by Democrats, will argue for impeachment, according to statements obtained by AP. Michael Gerhardt of University of rth Carolina at Chapel Hill argues, “If Congress fails to impeach here, n impeachment process has lost all meaning.” political risks are high for all parties as House presses only fourth presidential impeachment inquiry in U.S. history.

In a statement, White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham said, “Chairman Schiff and Democrats utterly failed to produce any evidence of wrongdoing by President Trump.” She said report “res like ramblings of a basement blogger straining to prove something when re is evidence of thing.” Trump, attending a NATO meeting in London, called impeachment effort by Democrats “unpatriotic” and said he wouldn’t be watching Wednesday’s hearing.

“Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report” provides a detailed, stunning, account of a show diplomacy run by Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, resulting in layers of allegations that can be distilled into specific acts, like bribery or obstruction, and more amorphous allegation that Trump abused his power by putting his interests above nation. Based on two months of investigation sparked by a still-anymous government whistleblower’s complaint, report relies heavily on testimony from current and former U.S. officials who defied White House orders t to appear.

inquiry found that Trump “solicited interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, to benefit his reelection,” Schiff wrote in report’s preface. In doing so, president “sought to undermine integrity of U.S. presidential election process, and endangered U.S. national security,” report said. When Congress began investigating, it ded, Trump obstructed investigation like or president in history.

Along with revelations from earlier testimony, report included previously unreleased cell phone records raising fresh questions about Giuliani’s interactions with top Republican on intelligence panel, Rep. Devin Nunes of California, and White House. Nunes declined to comment. Schiff said his panel would continue its probe.

Republicans defended president in a 123-p rebuttal claiming Trump never intended to pressure Ukraine when he asked for a “favor” — investigations of Democrats and Joe Biden. y say military aid White House was withholding was t being used as lever, as Democrats claim — and besides, $400 million was ultimately released, although only after a congressional outcry. Democrats, y argue, just want to undo 2016 election.

For Republicans falling in line behind Trump, inquiry is simply a “hoax.” Trump criticized House for pushing forward with proceedings while he was overseas, a breach of political decorum that tritionally leaves partisan differences at water’s edge. House GOP leer Kevin McCarthy called on Democrats to end impeachment “nightmare.” He said, “y’re concerned if y do t impeach this president y cant beat him in an election.” Democrats once hoped to sway Republicans to consider Trump’s removal, but y are w facing a ever-hardening partisan split over swift-moving proceedings that are dividing Congress and country.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faces a critical moment of her leership as she steers process ahe after initially resisting impeachment inquiry, warning it was too divisive for country and required bipartisan support. Possible grounds for impeachment are focused on wher Trump abused his office as he pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to open investigations into Trump’s political rivals. At time, Trump was withholding $400 million in military aid, jeopardizing key support as Ukraine faces an aggressive Russia at its border.

report also accuses Trump of obstruction, becoming “first and only″ president in U.S. history to “openly and indiscriminately” defy House’s constitutional authority to conduct impeachment proceedings by instructing officials t to comply with subpoenas for documents and testimony. For Democrats marching into what is w a largely partisan process, political challenge if y proceed is to craft impeachment articles in a way that will draw most support from ir ranks and t expose Pelosi’s majority to messy divisions, especially as Republicans stand lockstep with president.

While liberal Democrats are pushing party to go furr and incorporate findings from former special counsel Robert Mueller’s report on Russian interference in 2016 election and or actions by Trump, more centrist and moderate Democrats prefer to stick with Ukraine matter as a simpler narrative that Americans understand. Democrats could begin drafting articles of impeachment against president in a matter of days, with a Judiciary Committee vote next week. full House could vote by Christmas. n matter moves to Senate for a trial in 2020.

White House declined an invitation to participate Wednesday, with counsel Pat Cipollone deuncing proceedings as a “baseless and highly partisan inquiry.” Cipollone, who will brief Senate Republicans on Wednesday, left open question of wher White House officials would participate in ditional House hearings. House rules provide president and his attorneys right to cross-examine witnesses and review evidence before committee, but little ability to bring forward witnesses of ir own.