Democratic House managers are ending their opening statements on Friday, the fourth day of the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump.
Happening now: House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) has explained Democrats' big picture fear underlining the second article of impeachment: If Trump and his officials can ignore congressional subpoenas, future presidents will be immune to oversight.
This post will be updated with new developments as the trial continues.
Why it matters: This is Democrats' last chance to talk directly to the senators serving as the president's jury — and, more importantly, their last attempt to sway at least four Republicans to vote next week to subpoena additional witnesses and documents..
- Democratic House managers have roughly five hours left to finalize their case against the president.
Highlights:
- Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) listed examples of federal agencies and major players in the Trump administration not complying with House subpoenas as evidence of the president obstructing Congress — the second article of impeachment.
- Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) accused the president of directing "the entire executive branch" not to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry.
- Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) argued that lifting a hold on military aid to Ukraine without an explanation — and only after a congressional investigation had begun — showed that the hold was never in place for legitimate policy reasons, but only to benefit the president's political standing.
- Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) closed Democrats' arguments on the abuse of power article, saying that Trump's alleged pressure campaign "[crushed] Ukraine's confidence in the U.S. as a partner" and threatened to undermine international order in the West.
The mood in the chamber:
- Senators are silently acknowledging the last day they will hear from House managers by organizing their notes and questions ahead of hearing from Trump's team tomorrow.
The other side: The White House has invoked “absolute immunity” or argued that the president retains "constitutional privileges" to not deliver documents or testimony to the House, per the New York Times.
- Sekulow also said he’s not concerned about a recording allegedly of Trump at a dinner with Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman saying former Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch should be fired. Trump has maintained he doesn't know the two men.
Kellyanne Conway, one of Trump's closest advisers, said Congress should want to investigate Joe and Hunter Biden for corruption at a Friday press briefing. Schiff has dismissed a witness swap that would bring Hunter Biden to the stand in exchange for testimony from Trump administration officials. ...
- A call from Trump allegedly asking Ukraine's president to announce an investigation of