WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the public impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump[1]’s dealings with Ukraine[2] (all times local):
2:10 p.m.
White House[3] Pres Secretary Stephanie Grisham[4] is slamming the first round of interviews in Tuesday’s impeachment hearings.
The public heard Tuesday from Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman[5], who serves on the National Security Council[6], and Jennifer Williams[7], a career foreign service officer detailed to Vice President Mike Pence[8]’s office.
Grisham[9] is insisting the public “learned nothing new in today’s illegitimate ‘impeachment’ proceedings,” and is characterizing the witnesses’ testimony as little more than “personal opinions and conjecture.”
She’s also charging the proceedings “further” expose that Democrats are “blinded by their hatred for Donald Trump[10] and rabid desire to overturn the outcome of a free and fair election.”
Trump[11] has also been weighing in with a constant stream of retweets criticizing the process and attacking Vindman[12], who still works for the White House[13].
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2 p.m.
House Intelligence Committee[14] Chairman Adam Schiff[15] says President Donald Trump[16]’s pressure on Ukraine[17] for political investigations was “a failed effort to bribe Ukraine[18].”
Trump[19] urged the investigations as the U.S. withheld military aid from the country. Closing a Tuesday morning impeachment hearing, Schiff[20] criticized Republicans for arguing that because the aid was eventually released, “this makes it OK.”
Schiff[21] said, “it’s no less odious because it was discovered.”
Democrats are investigating Trump[22]’s dealings with Ukraine[23] in their impeachment probe. Republicans say they don’t have enough evidence to prove high crimes and misdemeanors.
California Rep. Devin Nunes[24] said in his closing statement that Democrats “poison people with nonsense.” Nunes[25] is the top Republican on the intelligence panel.
The committee is scheduled for another hearing Tuesday afternoon.
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1:50 p.m.
A White House[26] aide says he knew he was “assuming a lot of risk” by reporting his concerns about a July 25 phone call between President Donald Trump[27] and Ukraine’s new president.
Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman[28] was asked during Tuesday’s impeachment hearing whether he understood he was taking on the “most important person” when he did it.
Vindman[29] earlier in his opening statement told his father, an immigrant from Ukraine[30], not to worry about his coming forward, that he would be fine because in the U.S. it was OK to speak out.