HERE'S THE DEAL
IMPEACHMENT EDITION

Greetings from Washington, where impeachment developments continue at a brisk pace.  And sleep for Congressional staff, witnesses and reporters is on the decline. 

For the latest, you can watch our video summary.  Or keep reading.

National security officer raised concerns about Ukraine policy, phone call

• Tuesday’s star witness was Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a career Army officer who now serves as the top Ukraine expert on the National Security Council.

• In his opening statement, Vindman testified that he twice raised concerns about President Trump’s July call with the Ukrainian president, concluding that it was improper for the president to request an investigation into a U.S. citizen, Joe Biden.

• And he stated that Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, encouraged investigations into the Bidens and the 2016 election. That is contrary to previous testimony from Sondland.  

• The New York Times reported that Vindman wrote a memo in August to try to unfreeze the aid to Ukraine that had been put on hold, but President Trump refused to sign it.

December may be a pivotal time 

• House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D- Md., confirmed yesterday that the House of Representatives may have to work past its target recess date of December 12.

• Democrats caution that there is no clear schedule yet, but there is increasing chatter that the final weeks of December will be pivotal.

House Democrats propose impeachment rules

• House members plan to vote Thursday on a new Democratic framework for the impeachment process.  

• Their resolution would allow for a two-step committee process: First, public hearings by the House Intelligence Committee, which would report its findings to the House Judiciary Committee.  That committee would then hold public proceedings to determine if there is enough evidence to impeach the president.  

• Other committees investigating the president could also submit reports to the Judiciary Committee.

• During the Judiciary proceedings, President Trump or his legal team would be allowed to participate, with the right to cross-examine witnesses and object to testimony. 

• Republicans would not be able to call their own witnesses or issue subpoenas without agreement from some Democrats.

Tensions rise over whistleblower’s identity, safety

• Democrats expressed concern for the safety of the whistleblower involved in the Ukraine case and questioned Republicans’ intent, as reports surfaced that the person is facing death threats.  

• Meanwhile, Republicans called for the whistleblower to testify, arguing they should be allowed to question that person.

• Former White House national security aide Charles Kupperman filed a lawsuit Friday, stating he could not comply with both the House subpoena to testify and the president’s order to decline. 

• As he waited for a ruling, Kupperman did not appear at a deposition Monday. A judge hears his case Thursday.

• Federal Judge Beryl A. Howell ruled that the Department of Justice must hand House Democrats grand jury materials that had been redacted from the Mueller report by October 30.  DOJ is appealing the ruling.

• For Democrats, the opinion was key  because it concluded that their impeachment work is Constitutionally-based and, effectively, a judicial proceeding which should be enforced by the courts.