North Korea warns US to prepare for 'Christmas gift,' but no one's sure what to expect - CNN

The ominous comments, which some have interpreted as a sign that North Korea could resume long-distance missile tests, comes as the clock ticks closer to the country's self-imposed end-of-year deadline for nuclear negotiations with the Trump administration.

Talks between the two sides have appeared to be in a rut in recent months, with North Korea conducting several shorter-range missile tests.

In a statement translated on the state news agency, Ri Thae Song, a first vice minister at the North Korean Foreign Ministry working on US affairs, accused US policy makers of leveraging talks with Kim Jong Un for domestic political gain.

"The dialogue touted by the US is, in essence, nothing but a foolish trick hatched to keep the DPRK bound to dialogue and use it in favor of the political situation and election in the US," Ri said, using the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"It is entirely up to the US what Christmas gift it will select to get," added Ri.

In 2017, North Korea referred to its first test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) as a "gift" for the US on the Fourth of July holiday. That launch sparked what became a tense, months-long standoff between the two sides.

What happens in the coming weeks will likely determine if Washington's next so-called "Christmas gift" turns out to be similarly volatile.

"It's hard to predict because it could go either way," said Duyeon Kim, senior adviser on Northeast Asia and nuclear policy to the International Crisis Group. "It really depends on the circumstance and the situation, which will better inform how North Korea reacts.

An important meeting

On Wednesday, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency announced that the country's most powerful political body, the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, will meet at the end of December "in order to discuss and decide on crucial issues in line with the needs of the development of the Korean revolution and the changed situation at home and abroad."

Whatever North Korean leader Kim Jong Un plans to do with respect to nuclear negotiations will likely be finalized at that meeting, according to Duyeon Kim.

"The outcome of this meeting and Pyongyang's policy line will depend on how happy they are with Washington and will be revealed in (Kim Jong Un's) New Year's Day address," said Duyeon Kim.

Washington, for its part, has not voiced increased alarm over the status of talks with North Korea.

Speaking in London on the sidelines of a NATO summit Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said "we'll see what happens" when it comes to North Korea.

"My relationship with Kim Jong Un is really good, but that doesn't mean he won't abide by the agreement we signed," Trump said. "I hope he lives up to the agreement, but we're going to find out," added Trump.

"(Kim Jong Un) definitely likes sending rockets up, doesn't he? That's why I call him "Rocket Man."

Kim's back on a horse

North Korea's decision to hold the meeting was announced the same day as KCNA released dozens of photographs showing Kim Jong Un on horseback touring Mount Paektu, an active volcano that sits on the country's border with China, alongside his wife and other officials. This was Kim's second trip on horseback atop the mountain since October.

While the photographs are the butt of jokes and mockery online, the images of Kim on horseback touring the mountain are imbued with potent symbolism.

According to legend, Mount Paektu is the birthplace of Dangun, the mythical founder of the first Korean kingdom some 4,000 years ago.

Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Un's grandfather and North Korea's founding father, is also believed to have led a cavalry unit against the Japanese occupation from a base on the mountain.

Putting Kim on a horse at Mount Paektu, wearing a similar coat to the one his grandfather was often seen wearing publicly, is likely meant to remind North Koreans of the Kim family's legacy of fighting imperialism, according to Michael Madden, an expert in North Korean leadership at the Stimson Foundation.

"Kim Jong Un is taking on the anti-imperialist credentials of his grandfather," added Madden.

However, it's unclear why Kim held the photo shoot at the mountain. Kim may have stopped there after a recently reported visit to the nearby township of Samjiyon, rather than making a dedicated visit.

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2019-12-04 07:30:00Z
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Trump hits Macron for ‘non-answer’ on ISIS fighters, in tense meeting overseas - Fox News

President Trump tangled with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday in a tense exchange in front of reporters in London, where Trump asked Macron if he’d like to take back “some nice ISIS fighters” and then dinged him for his “non-answer” -- just hours after he challenged the French premier’s rebuke of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

“I have not spoken to the president about that -- would you like some nice ISIS fighters?” he said, when asked about ISIS fighters from Europe captured in Syria. “I can give them to you, you can take every one you want.”

After Macron’s answer, in which he urged Trump to “be serious” and called for a broader push against ISIS overall, Trump took another swipe.

“This is why he’s a great politician, because that’s one of the greatest non-answers I’ve ever heard,” Trump joked.

That exchange came hours after Trump criticized a “very, very nasty statement” about the NATO alliance -- referring to comments Macron made that recent U.S. troop actions in Syria are contributed to the “brain death” of the military alliance.

“Nobody needs NATO more than France,” Trump said, alluding to France being invaded twice during both World Wars. “It’s a very dangerous statement for them to make,” Trump said. “Frankly, the one that benefits the least is the United States. We are helping Europe unite and go against a common foe – may not be a foe – I can't tell you."

“It is a very tough statement to make when you have such difficulty in France when you look at what is going on," Trump continued. "They have had a very rough year. You just can't go around making statements like that about NATO. It is very disrespectful."

Macron’s remarks came weeks after Turkey – a member of NATO – invaded northern Syria.

"What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO," Macron told magazine in the wake of the United States' decision to withdraw troops from northeast Syria. He said the U.S. appears to be "turning its back on us."

"So as soon as you have a member who feels they have a right to head off on their own, granted by the United States of America, they do it," Macron said, referring to Turkey's military offensive into Syria following the troop withdrawal. "And that's what happened."

But on Tuesday, the two were more conciliatory, with Macron repeatedly saying they “agree” on Trump’s quest to get countries to stump up more in defense spending.

Countries commit to spending at least 2 percent of their own GDP in defense spending as part of the alliance. A number of countries have spent less than that, including France and Germany, while the U.S. spends significantly more.

Macron noted that the U.S. has “overinvested” for decades and that he is a strong advocate of a stronger European component in NATO. But he also warned against paying too much emphasis on the cost, rather than the overall strategy.

“It is not just about money, we have to be respectful with our soldiers,” he said.

Another issue between the two countries is Macron’s recent decision to impose a French digital services tax on American companies, including Facebook, Google and Twitter.

The White House this week announced that the tax, which it claims “discriminates” against U.S. companies, will be met with tariffs of up to 100 percent on $2.4 billion worth of French products such as cheese, yogurt, sparkling wine and makeup, The Washington Post reported.

“I’m not so in love with Facebook, Google, or Twitter—well, I do well on Twitter from the other side,” Trump said. “But I don’t want France taxing American companies.”

He repeated that sentiment in the press conference on Tuesday: “They’re not my favorite people because they’re not exactly for me -- but that’s OK, I don’t care, they’re American companies.”

This comes as Trump is set to meet with NATO members during a two-day summit in London. Trump would not confirm if he'll meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish media in late November quoted Erdogan's adviser saying the country was considering dropping out of NATO.

Fox News' Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Fox News' Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2019-12-03 15:08:27Z
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Live: Trump meets with French President Macron at NATO summit - Fox News

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2019-12-03 14:24:55Z
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NATO Summit: Trump slams Macron over NATO criticism - The - The Washington Post

President Trump said Dec. 3 that French President Emmanuel Macron had been ‘very insulting’ by describing NATO as ‘brain dead’ as the two leaders prepared to meet at NATO summit in London.

LONDON — President Trump on Tuesday slammed as “very, very nasty” and “very disrespectful” recent comments by his French counterpart about the diminished state of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance.

Referring to comments President Emmanuel Macron made last month in an interview with the Economist magazine — in which Macron described the “brain death” of NATO due to lack of American support — Trump attacked Macron during his first remarks on the first day of the NATO 70th anniversary summit in London, calling the comments “very insulting.”

“You just can’t go around making statements like that about NATO,” Trump said, sitting next to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a one-on-one meeting between the two leaders Tuesday morning.

Though Trump himself has long been a vocal critic of NATO — a combative stance that has alarmed Western allies and seemed to prompt Macron’s comments — Trump took umbrage at the French assessment of the alliance, and he depicted France as the beneficiary of American largesse.

Evan Vucci

AP

President Trump speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at Winfield House in London, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019.

“I would say that nobody needs NATO more than France,” Trump said. “That’s why I think when France makes a statement like they made about NATO, that’s a very dangerous statement for them to make.”

[White House opens new fronts in trade war, targeting Brazil, Argentina and France]

Trump’s tough talk on France came just a day after the United States threatened new tariffs of up to 100 percent on $2.4 billion in French products, including wine, cheese and yogurt — a response, Trump’s chief trade negotiator said, to a French digital services tax that the United States concluded is discriminating against American Internet companies.

Trump, who has had a contentious relationship with large technology companies such as Facebook and Google since becoming president, said he had no particular affinity for those companies, but nonetheless took a proprietary interest.

“They’re our companies; they’re American companies,” he said. “If anyone is going to take advantage of the American companies, it’s going to be us. It’s not going to be France.”

Trump comments came during what was billed a photo opportunity between himself and Stoltenberg. Instead, it turned into a freewheeling news conference, which lasted more than 50 minutes and — as the NATO secretary general sat by, only occasionally speaking at Trump’s invitation — covered issues ranging from the impeachment inquiry Trump is facing back home to the upcoming British elections to Trump’s thoughts on whether his secretary of state should seek a Senate seat.

Kevin Lamarque

Reuters

President Trump speaks during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ahead of the NATO summit in Watford, in London, Dec. 3, 2019.

Trump arrived in London on Air Force One and amid the swirl of impeachment; on Wednesday, the House Judiciary Committee will hold its first impeachment hearing. But one ocean and more than 3,000 miles away from the inquiry now devouring his presidency, Trump recycled some of his familiar talking points — “impeachment is a hoax,” he said — while also gamely fielding questions on the topic.

He said he did not think his position at NATO was weakened because of the inquiry, which he dismissed as a political ploy by Democrats, hoping to defeat him in the 2020 presidential election. But he added, “I think it’s very unpatriotic for the Democrats to put on a performance where they do that.”

Asked whether impeachment has cast a cloud as he tries to negotiate with other world leaders, Trump briefly turned pensive.

“Does it cast a cloud? Well, if it does, then the Democrats have done a very great disservice to the country, which they have,” he said. “They’ve wasted a lot of time.”

Trump also weighed in on the hotly anticipated Justice Department inspector general’s report about the Russia investigation due next week, claiming that he has heard from “outside” sources that it is “very powerful” and contains “a lot of devastating things.”

Turning to his host country, the president half-injected himself into Dec. 12 British elections — continuing his habit of weighing in on British politics, even though many of the country’s leaders wish he would steer clear. He said he was planning to meet with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, but when asked why he was staying out of the British elections, he said, “I don’t want to complicate it.”

[In a bitter British election, influence of wealthy U.S. donors causes a stir]

Yet several moments later, he praised Johnson — “I think Boris is very capable, and I think he’ll do a good job,” Trump said — and touted his support for Brexit. “You know that I was a fan of Brexit,” Trump said. “I called it the day before.”

The president also weighed in on whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should run for a Senate seat in Kansas, a state he previously represented as a House member.

“If I thought we were going to lose that seat, because we shouldn’t lose that seat . . . then I would sit down and talk to Mike,” Trump said. “But you could never find anybody that could do a better job as secretary of state.”

Asked about North Korea’s continued missile tests, Trump was sanguine, saying the country would “be in a war right now if it weren’t for me.”

“I have confidence in him,” he said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. “I like him, he likes me, we have a good relationship.”

Still, Trump added: “He definitely likes sending rockets up, doesn’t he? That’s why I call him Rocket Man.”

As the news conference wound down, the president was asked about the decision by Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth II, to step back from his royal duties following a controversial interview last month about his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who committed suicide earlier this year.

“I don’t know Prince Andrew but it’s a tough story,” Trump said. (In fact, photos exist of Trump and Andrew together on several different occasions).

 Then, the president looked around the room and asked, “Anybody else?” Satisfied that his impromptu news conference had answered all queries, he ate breakfast with Stoltenberg before departing for a private campaign fundraiser that raised an estimated $3 million.

Read more

NATO hopes to get through 70th anniversary without explosions from Trump or Macron

NATO countries boost defense spending ahead of summit showdown with Trump

Trump isn’t running in Britain’s election. That hasn’t stopped him from getting in the middle.

Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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2019-12-03 12:55:00Z
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Trump slams Emmanuel Macron's rebuke of NATO, says France needs the alliance the most - Fox News

President Trump on Tuesday slammed French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent rebuke of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying France historically is the country most in need of the military protection afforded by the 70-year-old alliance.

FRANCE’S MACRON CLAIMS NATO EXPERIENCING A ‘BRAIN DEATH’ IN WAKE OF US TROOP MOVEMENTS IN SYRIA

In London at a bilateral meeting alongside NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump reacted to Macron telling The Economist magazine in early November that recent U.S. troop actions in Syria are contributing to the “brain death” of the NATO military alliance.

Trump said Macron made a “very, very nasty statement” which was “very disrespectful” to the 28 countries who are members of the alliance.

“Nobody needs NATO more than France,” Trump said, alluding to France being invaded twice during both World Wars. “It’s a very dangerous statement for them to make,” Trump said. “Frankly, the one that benefits the least is the United States. We are helping Europe unite and go against a common foe – may not be a foe – I can't tell you."

“It is a very tough statement to make when you have such difficulty in France when you look at what is going on," Trump continued. "They have had a very rough year. You just can't go around making statements like that about NATO. It is very disrespectful."

Macron’s remarks came weeks after Turkey – a member of NATO – invaded northern Syria.

"What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of NATO," Macron told magazine in the wake of the United States' decision to withdraw troops from northeast Syria. He said the U.S. appears to be "turning its back on us."

"So as soon as you have a member who feels they have a right to head off on their own, granted by the United States of America, they do it," Macron said, referring to Turkey's military offensive into Syria following the troop withdrawal. "And that's what happened."

Speaking Tuesday, Trump suggested he could see France “breaking off” from NATO but did not elaborate further.

"It is a very, very nasty statement. I think they have a very high unemployment rate in France. France is not doing well economically at all," Trump said. He pointed to the yellow vest movement in which demonstrators took to the streets to protest government tax reforms burdening the middle class.

CLICK HERE FOR THE ALL-NEW FOXBUSINESS.COM

Trump also slammed Macron’s recent decision to impose a French digital services tax on American companies, including Facebook, Google and Twitter. The White House this week announced that the tax, which it claims “discriminates” against U.S. companies, will be met with tariffs of up to 100 percent on $2.4 billion worth of French products such as cheese, yogurt, sparkling wine and makeup, The Washington Post reported.

“I’m not so in love with Facebook, Google, or Twitter—well, I do well on Twitter from the other side,” Trump said. “But I don’t want France taxing American companies.”

Trump said if anyone is going to be “taking advantage” of American companies, it’s going to be the United States. “Before me, the United States was a sucker,” Trump added.

This comes as Trump is set to meet with NATO members during a two-day summit in London. Trump would not confirm if he'll meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish media in late November quoted Erdogan's adviser saying the country was considering dropping out of NATO. Turkey withdrew some 40 troops from a NATO drill in Norway after the country's founder, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and Erdogan himself were depicted as enemies.

Fox News' Greg Norman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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2019-12-03 12:24:16Z
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North Korea threatens US with Christmas gift - The - The Washington Post

KCNA Via Reuters North Korean leader Kim Jong Un cuts a ribbon during a ceremony in North Korea in a KCNA photo provided on Dec. 2, 2019.

TOKYO — North Korea said Tuesday that dialogue with the United States has been nothing but a “foolish trick” and warned Washington that it could be on the receiving of an unwelcome Christmas gift.

The North Korean regime has given the United States until the end of the year to drop its “hostile policy,” come up with a new approach to talks and offer concessions in return for its decision to end nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) tests in 2018.

But a recent decision by the United States to postpone a joint air drill with South Korea clearly has not satisfied Pyongyang.

Ri Thae Song, vice foreign minister in charge of U.S. affairs, accused Washington of trying to buy time by calling for a “sustained and substantial dialogue,” an approach he rejected.

“The dialogue touted by the U.S. is, in essence, nothing but a foolish trick hatched to keep the DPRK bound to dialogue and use it in favor of the political situation and election in the U.S.,” he said, referring to his country by the initials of its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
“The DPRK has heard more than enough dialogue rhetoric raised by the U.S. whenever it is driven into a tight corner,” Ri said. “So, no one will lend an ear to the U.S. any longer.”

Ri then again reminded the United States of the fast-approaching deadline, effectively repeating a veiled threat to resume long-range missile tests.

“The DPRK has done its utmost with maximum perseverance not to backtrack from the important steps it has taken on its own initiative,” he said in a statement carried by the North’s state-run Korean Central News Agency. “What is left to be done now is the U.S. option, and it is entirely up to the U.S. what Christmas gift it will select to get.”

North Korea has a history of timing launches with an eye on international developments and even U.S. holidays.

Last week, North Korea chose Thanksgiving Day to launch two projectiles from what it called a “super large multiple-rocket launcher,” marking the 14th test of short-range rockets or missiles it has undertaken this year.

On July 4, 2017, North Korea conducted its first test of an ICBM, the Hwasong-14, with leader Kim Jong Un describing it as a “gift package” for the Americans on their Independence Day.

North Korea has also dialed up the military threats in recent months, suggesting it may soon launch a ballistic missile in the direction of Japan.

When Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said last week’s launch was a threat to the region and the worldand described the projectiles as ballistic missiles, North Korea responded by calling him the worst idiot in the world and the stupidest man in history.

“Abe may see what a real ballistic missile is in the not distant future and under his nose,” KCNA said Saturday. “Abe is none other than a perfect imbecile and a political dwarf.”

Min Joo Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.

Read more

North Korea launches two projectiles in Thanksgiving message to Trump

North Korea threatens military escalation as clock ticks on year-end deadline

U.S. and South Korea postpone military drills in bid to save North Korea dialogue

Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world

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2019-12-03 11:15:00Z
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Impeachment latest: House Intelligence Committee to release impeachment report on Trump and Ukraine — live updates - CBS News

House Republicans defend Trump in impeachment report

---

Latest updates on the impeachment inquiry

• Lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee are beginning to review a report on President Trump and Ukraine.
• Republicans finished their own report on the investigation, accusing Democrats of conducting "an orchestrated campaign to upend our political system."
• The Judiciary Committee is gearing up for its first hearing in the impeachment probe, scheduled for Wednesday.
• The White House says it won't participate in Wednesday's hearing, calling the impeachment inquiry "baseless" and "partisan."
• Ukraine's president denied the July 25 call with Trump involved discussion of a "quid pro quo."

---

Washington -- The House Intelligence Committee is beginning to review a draft of report on the investigation into President Trump's dealings with Ukraine on Monday, before turning over the impeachment inquiry to the House Judiciary Committee. In their own report, House Republicans defended the president's dealings with Ukraine and accused Democrats of trying to overturn the results of the 2016 election.

Members on the Intelligence Committee returning from the Thanksgiving break could begin going over the draft on Capitol Hill on Monday evening, a committee official said. The committee will meet Tuesday at 6 p.m. to vote on adopting the report before sending it to the Judiciary Committee, along with the separate report prepared by Republican members.

Trump Impeachment Inquiry More

More in Trump Impeachment Inquiry

Also on Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied his July 25 phone conversation with President Trump involved any discussion of a quid pro quo. "I never talked to the president from the position of a quid pro quo," he told Time and three European publications.

The Judiciary Committee is scheduled to hold its first hearing in the impeachment probe on Wednesday. Lawmakers will hear from four constitutional law experts about the history of impeachment and what constitutes an "impeachable offense." Republicans on the Judiciary Committee demanded the addition of other witnesses to showcase a "wider array of perspectives regarding impeachment."

The White House said Sunday it won't participate in the hearing, responding in a letter to an offer from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler. Under the House resolution governing the process, Mr. Trump or his counsel can attend proceedings and question witnesses.

White House counsel Pat Cipollone rejected the offer, saying it only "exacerbates the complete lack of due process and fundamental fairness afforded the president throughout this purported impeachment inquiry."

​Schiff: Republican report "intended for an audience of one"

6:42 p.m.: Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff reacted to the Republicans' impeachment report, accusing the minority of ignoring evidence of wrongdoing by the president.

"The Minority's rebuttal document, intended for an audience of one, ignores voluminous evidence that the president used the power of his office to pressure Ukraine into investigating his political rival by withholding military aid and a White House meeting the President of Ukraine desperately sought. In so doing, the President undermined our national security and the integrity of our elections," he said.

"Tellingly, the Minority dismisses this as just part of the President's 'outside the beltway' thinking. It is more accurately, outside the law and constitution, and a violation of his oath of office," he added. -- Stefan Becket

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Judiciary Committee announces witnesses for Wednesday's hearing

4:17 p.m.: The House Judiciary Committee released the names of the four people who will appear in Wednesday's impeachment hearing, which is titled "The Impeachment Inquiry into President Donald J. Trump: Constitutional Grounds for Presidential Impeachment." They are:

• Noah Feldman, a professor at Harvard Law School
• Pamela S. Karlan, a professor of public interest law at Stanford Law School and the co-director of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic
• Michael Gerhardt, a University of North Carolina law professor of jurisprudence
• Jonathan Turley, a professor of public interest law at George Washington University and a CBS News legal analyst

-- Caroline Cournoyer

​Top Republican on Judiciary Committee slams Democrats over hearing

4:10 p.m.: Less than 48 hours before the first impeachment hearing in the House Judiciary Committee, the committee's highest-ranking Republican accused Democrats of violating the minority party's rights and conducting an unfair impeachment process.

In a letter to Democratic Chairman Jerry Nadler, ranking member Doug Collins complained that neither the witness list for Wednesday's hearing nor the report from the House Intelligence Committee have been publicized. Without those, Collins said the committee will have to weigh impeachment "without any evidence for us to review."

The Intelligence Committee, however, held weeks of closed-door and televised hearings with more than a dozen witnesses, and nearly all of the transcripts of the closed-door sessions have been released.

The Intelligence Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday to consider the report, a draft of which will be made available to members Monday evening. Chairman Adam Schiff said last week that their findings will be given to the Judiciary Committee "soon after Congress returns from the Thanksgiving recess."

The Judiciary Committee released the witnesses for Wednesday's hearing shortly after the release of Collins' letter.

Collins also pointed out that a former Democratic representative, Jane Harman, said on Sunday that "the process is being rushed." -- Caroline Cournoyer

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House Republicans defend Trump on Ukraine in impeachment report

House Intelligence Committee ranking member Devin Nunes is flanked by Chairman Adam Schiff at a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill on November 20, 2019. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images

3:45 p.m.: House Republicans have finished a report detailing their conclusions from the initial stages of the impeachment investigation, issuing a staunch defense of President Trump's dealings with Ukraine and accusing Democrats of conducting "an orchestrated campaign to upend our political system."

The 110-page report, written by Republican staffers on the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight Committees, is meant to supplement the Democrats' report on their findings.

The Republicans' report argues that the evidence collected over nearly two months of private and public testimony does not support the allegations at the center of the impeachment inquiry, which they portray as an attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 campaign.

"The Democrats' impeachment inquiry is not the organic outgrowth of serious misconduct; it is an orchestrated campaign to upend our political system," it says. "The Democrats are trying to impeach a duly elected President based on the accusations and assumptions of unelected bureaucrats who disagreed with President Trump's policy initiatives and processes." -- Stefan Becket and Arden Farhi

Read more here.

​Judiciary chairman: If Trump has “nothing to hide,” he should comply with impeachment process

Nadler speaks during a hearing on May 21, 2019. Patrick Semansky / AP

3:06 p.m.: House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler said it's "unfortunate" that neither President Trump nor anyone to represent him will participate in the impeachment hearing on Wednesday.

"Allowing the President to participate has been a priority for the House from the outset," he said in a statement. "The American people deserve transparency. If the President thinks the call was 'perfect' and there is nothing to hide, then he would turn over the thousands of pages of documents requested by Congress, allow witnesses to testify instead of blocking testimony with baseless privilege claims, and provide any exculpatory information that refutes the overwhelming evidence of his abuse of power." -- Caroline Cournoyer

Pompeo criticizes timing of next impeachment hearing

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to the media in the briefing room at the State Department, on November 26, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Getty

12:24 p.m.: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo criticized House Democrats for continuing to hold impeachment hearings this week while the president is out of the country.

The House Judiciary Committee will conduct its first public hearing on Wednesday. Mr. Trump departed the White House for London on Monday morning, where he will attend the NATO summit through Wednesday.

Pompeo called the timing "unfortunate" and said Democrats are breaking a "long tradition" of supporting presidents when they travel overseas.

"I regret that they've chosen to hold these hearings at the same time that the president and our entire national security team will be traveling to Europe, to London, to work on these important matters," he said. -- Melissa Quinn

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Trump predicts impeachment inquiry will be "boon" to Republicans

Trump calls impeachment a "boon" for Republicans

11:18 a.m.: Before leaving the White House for the NATO summit in London, Mr. Trump spoke with reporters about the impeachment inquiry. He called the probe a "hoax" that is hurting Democrats among voters.

"They're getting killed in their own districts," he said. "I think it's going to be a tremendous boon for the Republicans. Republicans have never been so committed as they are right now, so united. So it's really a great thing in some ways but in other ways it's a disgrace."

Mr. Trump also criticized Democrats for holding Wednesday's hearing, given that he will be overseas, and noted the trip was planned months ago.

"This is one of the most important journeys that we make as president," he said of the meeting with other world leaders, during which they will mark the 70th anniversary of the NATO alliance.

The White House informed the House Judiciary Committee on Sunday it would not participate in Wednesday's proceedings and accused the panel of deliberately scheduling the hearing to conflict with Mr. Trump's trip. -- Melissa Quinn

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Trump tweets about Zelensky's interview

9:30 a.m. President Trump responded with a tweet to reports of the Ukrainian president's interview with Time and other news outlets.

"Breaking News: The President of Ukraine has just again announced that President Trump has done nothing wrong with respect to Ukraine and our interactions or calls. If the Radical Left Democrats were sane, which they are not, it would be case over!" Mr. Trump wrote.

Zelensky also warned against claims by the president that Ukraine is a corrupt country and said when such comments come from the U.S., it "is the hardest of signals."

"Everyone hears that signal. Investments, banks, stakeholders, companies, American, European, companies that have international capital in Ukraine, it's a signal to them that says, 'Be careful, don't invest.' Or, 'Get out of there,'" Zelensky said. "This is a hard signal." -- Melissa Quinn

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Zelensky says July 25 call with Trump was not from "position of a quid quo pro"

9 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated in a new interview his July 25 phone conversation with President Trump did not take place "from the position of a quid pro quo."

Speaking with reporters from Time and three European publications, Zelensky denied that the withholding of U.S. military aid was an attempt by President Trump to pressure his administration to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. But Zelensky did criticize the Trump administration's decision to hold back the assistance given Ukraine's ongoing war against Russia.

"Look, I never talked to the president from the position of a quid pro quo. That's not my thing," Zelensky said in the interview. "I don't want us to look like beggars. But you have to understand. We're at war. If you're our strategic partner, then you can't go blocking anything for us. I think that's just about fairness. It's not about a quid pro quo. It just goes without saying."

Zelensky's comments prompted a response from Mr. Trump, who again defended the controversial call and attacked congressional Democrats.

"Breaking News: The President of Ukraine has just again announced that President Trump has done nothing wrong with respect to Ukraine and our interactions or calls. If the Radical Left Democrats were sane, which they are not, it would be case over!" Mr. Trump tweeted.

Zelensky also warned against claims by the president that Ukraine is a corrupt country and said when such comments come from the U.S., it "is the hardest of signals."

"Everyone hears that signal. Investments, banks, stakeholders, companies, American, European, companies that have international capital in Ukraine, it's a signal to them that says, 'Be careful, don't invest.' Or, 'Get out of there,'" Zelensky said. "This is a hard signal." -- Melissa Quinn

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White House won't participate in Wednesday's hearing

6 a.m.: In his letter Sunday night, Cipollone accused Nadler of intentionally scheduling the hearing to interfere with Mr. Trump's trip to the NATO summit in London later this week. He called the Democrats' impeachment inquiry "baseless" and "partisan."

Cipollone also said Nadler had provided "little information" about the hearing.

"We understand from rumors and press reports (though not from any notice provided in your letter or in the official notice of the hearing) that the hearing will consist of an academic discussion by law professors. We understand this to mean that your initial hearing will include no fact witnesses at all," the letter said.

Read more here.

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Judiciary to hold first hearing on Wednesday

5:30 a.m.: The House Judiciary Committee will hold its first hearing in the impeachment inquiry this week, as Democrats move quickly into the next phase of the proceedings.

The first hearing, titled "The Impeachment Inquiry into President Donald J. Trump: Constitutional Grounds for Presidential Impeachment," will feature testimony from legal experts, Democratic committee aides said.

"The Committee intends this hearing to serve as an opportunity to discuss the historical and constitutional basis of impeachment, as well as the Framers' intent and understanding of terms like 'high crimes and misdemeanors,'" Nadler wrote.

Read more here.

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2019-12-03 11:18:00Z
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