From Fox News:
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an impeachment inquiry into former President Trump exactly two years ago amid a scandal that surrounded the former president over a phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“This week, the president has admitted to asking the president of Ukraine to take actions which would benefit him politically,” Pelosi, D-Calif., said in Tuesday afternoon remarks. “The action of – the actions of the Trump presidency revealed the dishonorable fact of the president’s betrayal of his oath of office, betrayal of our national security, and betrayal of the integrity of our elections.”
“Therefore, today, I am announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. I am directing our six committees to proceed with their investigations under that umbrella of impeachment inquiry,” she added. “The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law.”
The announcement of the inquiry sparked months of contentious hearings on Capitol Hill. The hearings elevated the profiles of several people involved in the events, including Rudy Giuliani, who would become key to Trump’s false claims that the presidential election was stolen, and Alexander Vindman, who became a hero in anti-Trump circles.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., also seized a major spotlight as a staunch defender of Trump in those hearings. She later was named honorary chair of the Trump campaign in New York for 2020 and replaced Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., as the House GOP conference chair this year with Trump’s support.
Trump was eventually impeached by the House before a Senate trial in early 2020, where he was found not guilty of obstruction of Congress and abuse of power.
The times have found us. The actions taken to date by the President have seriously violated the Constitution. It is for this reason that the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. pic.twitter.com/cHq7zgKJ1g
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) September 24, 2019
Immediately after the trial ended, the Democratic presidential primary became the most high-profile news event in the U.S., only to be quickly overshadowed by the COVID-19pandemic and widespread riots and protests against police brutality.
Read the full report here.
'CAN'T MAKE THIS UP': Chuck Schumer’s Guest Booted from Impeachment Trial Over GPS Ankle Bracelet, Felony Charges
Chuck Schumer’s personal guest to attend the Senate’s ongoing Impeachment trial was removed Wednesday stemming from issues related to his electronic ankle bracelet and multiple felony charges.
“Scenes from the impeachment trial: Schumer invited Lev Parnas to be his personal guest today at the trial. Minutes ago, Parnas was ejected from the gallery…because he’s wearing an ankle bracelet mandated bc he’s a criminal defendant accused of serious felonies!” posted Sen. Ted Cruz on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/tedcruz/status/1222583748450975746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1222583748450975746&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftwitchy.com%2Fdougp-3137%2F2020%2F01%2F29%2Fyou-cant-make-this-up-ted-cruz-lindsey-graham-explain-why-chuck-schumers-guest-at-impeachment-trial-was-ejected-from-the-gallery%2F
The best way to sum up this whole debacle is to understand that Senator Schumer’s desire for Lev Parnas to attend the Senate trial apparently cannot be accommodated because Mr. Parnas has an electronic ankle bracelet imposed upon him by the court. You can’t make this up.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) January 29, 2020
“The best way to sum up this whole debacle is to understand that Senator Schumer’s desire for Lev Parnas to attend the Senate trial apparently cannot be accommodated because Mr. Parnas has an electronic ankle bracelet imposed upon him by the court. You can’t make this up,” added Sen. Lindsey Graham.
'ENOUGH': Lindsey Graham to Introduce Legislation Condemning Dems’ Impeachment Inquiry
Senate Republicans -led by Lindsey Graham- will introduce new legislation Thursday officially condemning House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry against President Trump.
“The South Carolina Republican, a close ally of President Donald Trump, has attacked Democrats for their handling of the impeachment process. His resolution — backed by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell — criticizes the House for its ‘closed-door, illegitimate impeachment inquiry,’” reports Politico.
“This is a kangaroo court and it will not stand,” Graham said this week. “I’ve got a resolution saying if you’re going to impeach the president give him the same rights that Richard Nixon had and that Bill Clinton had…what’s going on now is disgusting.”
“The Graham resolution could put pressure on Republicans who have appeared open to considering the evidence in the House impeachment inquiry. But even Republicans who have declined to offer predictions on how the inquiry might end have attacked Democrats for how they’ve handled impeachment,” adds Politico.
Graham exploded on the Democrats’ “sham” impeachment investigation Tuesday; telling reporters on Capitol Hill the whole process is completely “Un-American.”
“This is a sham. This is a joke. I’m going to let the whole world know that if we were doing this to a Democratic president, you would be all over me right now… This is a lynching in every sense. This is un-American.”
Read the full story at Politico.