Impeachment hearing exposes 'absolute coverup by White House', as former top aide dodges questions
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Your support makes all the difference.Democrats in the House Judiciary Committee have launched the first impeachment hearings into allegations that Donald Trump obstructed justice and abused power, with the president's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski appearing before the committee as the first witness to testify on questions that were raised by the Mueller report released earlier this year.
The witness had been gagged by the White House, however, and two more aides – Rick Dearborn and Rob Porter – were reportedly told to ignore subpoenas and not attend the session with the Democratic-led panel on the grounds that they are protected by “absolute immunity”.
"The White House has no authority legal or otherwise to give these orders," House Judiciary chairman Jerry Nadler said of those gags.
But, Mr Lewandowski nevertheless refused to answer questions from Democrats, citing a gag letter from the White House, where he never worked.
The president’s latest campaign rally on Monday evening saw him attempt to appeal to the Hispanic voters of New Mexico he alienated in 2016, a day bookended by his calls for resignations at The New York Times over the latest sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh and a new poll forecasting Mr Trump’s defeat in key 2020 swing states.
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Mr Lewandowski didn't come to the hearing with a copy of the Mueller report, and has just caused the committee hearing to stop until he could get one.
Mr Lewandowski is asking where to find a particular portion of the Mueller report, and has been accused by Mr Nadler of "filibustering".
Mr Lewandowski is wasting quite a bit of time re-reading the Mueller report, saying that he is doing so in order to appease White House orders.
Mr Lewandowski is now saying he has not spoken to anybody form the White House counsel's office, except to say "hello".
He says that he received a letter, which he is now reading.
Mr Nadler is clearly annoyed.
Mr Lewandowski is refusing to answer any and all questions from Mr Nadler.
Mr Lewandowski is citing the White House in saying he will not answer any of the questions about his dealings with the president.
Mr Nadler is being challenged by Republicans over how much time he can have.
Republicans have introduced a motion to adjourn the hearing, which was not adopted.
Mr Collins is now calling the last few minutes "frustrating" and has accused Democrats of ethics violations on the committee.
Mr Lewandowski is answering some of his questions, surprisingly.
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