The latest on the Trump impeachment inquiry

By Mike Hayes, Brian Ries, Fernando Alfonso III, Veronica Rocha and Bianca Britton, CNN

Updated 4:39 a.m. ET, October 12, 2019
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4:34 p.m. ET, October 11, 2019

Trump says he did not raise Biden in China trade talks

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

Andrew Harnik/AP
Andrew Harnik/AP

President Trump said he did not raise former Vice President Joe Biden in trade talks with China today.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said he didn't raise his political rival, and said the Chinese can do whatever they want with Biden.

Trump repeated a taunt that originated last evening about Biden's son: "Where is Hunter?"

Why this matters: Last week, Trump widened his requests for foreign leaders to investigate his political opponent, repeating accusations about the Bidens' involvement with Ukraine and China.

CNN reported that in a June call with Xi, Trump raised Biden's political prospects as well as those of Sen. Elizabeth Warren.

4:09 p.m. ET, October 11, 2019

Catch up: 3 key developments today in the impeachment inquiry

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch (C) arrives at the US Capitol on Oct. 11, 2019 in Washington, DC.
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch (C) arrives at the US Capitol on Oct. 11, 2019 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

House Democrats continued to move forward with their investigation inquiry into President Trump today.

If you're just tuning in, here's the latest on the inquiry:

  • Key deposition: Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch told lawmakers at a closed-door deposition that she was removed from her position because of pressure from President Donald Trump and what she described as "unfounded and false claims" about her, according to a copy of her statement obtained by The Washington Post and The New York Times.
  • Trump tried to block her testimony: Yovanovitch appeared Friday after the White House and State Department had directed her not to attend, according to a statement from the three Democratic committee chairmen leading the impeachment inquiry. In response, the chairmen issued a subpoena to compel her testimony.
  • More testimonies to come: US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland said he will appear Thursday. Democrats have scheduled depositions next week with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and State Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl.

3:00 p.m. ET, October 11, 2019

House Democrats say the Trump administration tried to block Yovanovitch's testimony

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The chairmen of three House committees leading the impeachment probe said in a statement this afternoon that the Trump administration tried to block former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch's testimony today. 

“Last night, the Committees learned that the State Department, at the direction of the White House, directed Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch not to appear for her voluntary interview today," the chairmen said.

The chairmen — Reps. Adam Schiff, Elijah Cummings and Eliot Engel — called the attempt to block Yovanovitch from testifying "the latest example of the Administration’s efforts to conceal the facts" and "obstruct" the impeachment inquiry.

After the administration tried to stop Yovanovitch from appearing, the House Intelligence Committee issued a subpoena to compel her testimony this morning. 

"As is required of her, the Ambassador is now complying with the subpoena and answering questions from both Democratic and Republican Members and staff," the chairmen said.

2:29 p.m. ET, October 11, 2019

Trump sent an op-ed on the Ukraine controversy to all US senators today

From CNN's Manu Raju

Patrick Semansky/AP
Patrick Semansky/AP

President Trump sent a Wall Street Journal op-ed on the Ukraine controversy to all senators today, a Hill source confirmed. 

The op-ed by conservative columnist Kimberley Strassel called "Ukraine Smoke and Mirrors" claims the Democrats' case for impeachment has no substance.

The source added that it’s not uncommon for Trump to pass along talking points, articles and list of his accomplishments.

 This was first reported by Josh Dawsey at the Washington Post.

1:51 p.m. ET, October 11, 2019

Here's what Bernie Sanders has to say about the Trump impeachment inquiry

From CNN's Annie Grayer and Deanna Hackney

CNN
CNN

Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders held a brief news conference outside of his home in Burlington, Vermont. 

Asked by CNN if he had seen enough evidence to vote yes on impeachment, he said "Well, technically speaking, that’s something I won't tell you because I'm going to be acting as the United States as a juror."

If the House of Representatives votes to impeach the President, a trial will then be conducted in the Senate.

The senator repeated his claim that the Trump administration is "the most corrupt administration" in history:

"But this is what I will say, what I will say is that I believe that the Trump administration is probably the most corrupt administration, maybe in the history of the United States and I think the impeachment process will only further educate the American people to the degree as to how corrupt.” 

Sanders also made a specific plea to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell by saying, “If Trump is impeached — and I believe he will be and I believe he should be — and when that trial comes to the United States Senate, I hope McConnell will do the right thing for the American people what the Constitution really mandates and allow a full trial to be taking place.”

1:25 p.m. ET, October 11, 2019

White House was informed of arrest of Giuliani associates on Wednesday night

From CNN's Evan Perez

The White House was informed of the arrest of the two of Rudy Giuliani's associates – Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman – on Wednesday night, according to a law enforcement official.

The two men who are reported to have been involved in helping Giuliani try to dig up dirt on Joe Biden in Ukraine were arrested and charged with campaign finance violations.

Parnas and Fruman are facing charges of federal campaign finance violations.

12:32 p.m. ET, October 11, 2019

Former Ukraine ambassador says Trump led concerted effort against her

From CNN's Jeremy Herb

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, arrives on Capitol Hill, on Oct. 11.
Former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, arrives on Capitol Hill, on Oct. 11. J. Scott Applewhite/AP

Former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch told congressional investigators today she was removed from her position because President Trump had lost confidence in her and there had been “a concerted campaign against me,” according to a copy of her opening statement obtained by The Washington Post and The New York Times

Yovanovitch told lawmakers at a closed-door deposition that she believed she had been removed because of “unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives,” a reference to the effort led by Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and his associates to remove her as ambassador. 

Yovanovitch suggested some of those associates had financial motivations for pushing her out.

“With respect to Mayor Giuliani, I have had only minimal contacts with him—a total of three that I recall. None related to the events at issue,” she said, according to her prepared remarks. “I do not know Mr. Giuliani’s motives for attacking me. But individuals who have been named in the press as contacts of Mr. Giuliani may well have believed that their personal financial ambitions were stymied by our anti-corruption policy in Ukraine.”
12:17 p.m. ET, October 11, 2019

Democratic congresswoman says former Ukraine ambassador seems "credible"

From CNN's Lauren Fox and Ellie Kauffman 

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a non-voting delegate in the House from Washington, D.C., arrives for a meeting with former US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, on Capitol Hill on Friday, Oct. 11.
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a non-voting delegate in the House from Washington, D.C., arrives for a meeting with former US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, on Capitol Hill on Friday, Oct. 11. Caroline Brehman/CQ Roll Call/AP

A Democratic congresswoman who is attending the former US ambassador to Ukraine's testimony told reporters she finds Marie Yovanovitch "credible."

Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, from Washington, DC, spoke to reporters briefly leaving the Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF), saying Yovanovitch seemed “credible.”    

“She’s as apolitical as I’ve heard anyone...She’s acting like a kind of true ambassador, being herself,” Norton said after stepping outside the secure location where Yovanovitch is testifying today.

Yovanovitch has been testifying now for about an hour.

“She has been the object of false statements and she’s clearing that up," Norton said. "So far I think both sides are finding her very credible.”   

Norton added that Yovanovitch “has not indicated that anybody tried to” prevent her from testifying today.

Norton said that they’re just getting into the topic of President Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani now, adding “that is becoming very very deep."

11:55 a.m. ET, October 11, 2019

Appeals court says Trump will have seven days to seek another appeal on tax documents

From CNN's Katelyn Polantz, Ariane de Vogue and Pamela Brown

Patrick Semansky/AP
Patrick Semansky/AP

The DC Circuit said President Trump will have seven days to ask for another appeal on the decision endorsing the House's subpoena of his tax documents.

A 2-1 panel of appellate judges in Washington decided the case in the House's favor Friday. 

Trump could now ask for a rehearing or for the full DC Circuit to review the case, or it's possible Trump could attempt to go straight to the Supreme Court in an effort to stop his tax returns from being sent to the House.

A spokesperson for Trump's longtime accounting firm Mazars said in statement:

“Mazars USA will respect the legal process and fully comply with its legal obligations. We believe strongly in the ethical and professional rules and regulations that govern our industry, our work and our client interactions. As a matter of firm policy and professional rules we do not comment on the work we conduct for our clients.”

Trump attorney Jay Sekulow told CNN today, “We are reviewing the opinion and evaluating all appellate options.”

Although President Trump nominated Neomi Rao, the judge who wrote today’s dissent, as well as Greg Katsas, the DC Circuit that court still has a majority of judges appointed by a Democratic president.

If the lawyers go directly to the Supreme Court, all eyes will be on the President’s two nominees there: Brett Kavanaugh and Neal Gorsuch.