Trump compares impeachment inquiry to 'lynching' in explosive rant, as key witness gives 'damning' testimony to Congress

'All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here – a lynching'

Donald Trump calls emoluments clause 'phony'

Donald Trump has compared the impeachment inquiry surrounding him to “a lynching” in an apparent bid to inflame controversy and distract from Bill Taylor’s deposition on Capitol Hill, the US charge d’affaires for Ukraine who discussed his alarming text exchanges with Gordon Sondland and Kurt Volker during the session.

“So some day, if a Democrat becomes President and the Republicans win the House, even by a tiny margin, they can impeach the President, without due process or fairness or any legal rights. All Republicans must remember what they are witnessing here – a lynching. But we will WIN!” the president tweeted, prior to Mr Taylor’s arrival.

The outrage followed Mr Trump’s call to his fellow Republicans to “get tougher and fight” at a drawn-out White House Cabinet meeting on Monday in which he also rubbished the US Constitution’s anti-corruption Emoluments Clause as “phoney”.

Mr Taylor, a diplomat who has sharply questioned Mr Trump’s policy on Ukraine, meanwhile provided lawmakers with a “disturbing” account, including establishing a “direct line” to the quid pro quo at the center of the impeachment probe , Democrats said on Tuesday.

Lawmakers emerging after hours of the private deposition said Mr Taylor, in a lengthy opening statement, recalled events that filled in gaps from the testimony of other witnesses.

They said Mr Taylor kept records of conversations and documents.

“The testimony is very disturbing,” said New York Representative Carolyn Maloney. Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips used the same word. Asked why, he said, “Because it’s becoming more distinct.”

Mr Taylor’s appearance was among the most watched because of a text message, released by House investigators earlier in the probe, in which he called Mr Trump’s attempt to hold back military aid to Ukraine “crazy.”

Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz said Mr Taylor “drew a straight line” with documents, timelines and individual conversations in his records.

“I do not know how you would listen to today’s testimony from Ambassador Taylor and come to any other (conclusion) except that the president abused his power and withheld foreign aid,” she said.

Lawmakers did not discuss other details of the closed-door session, which was expected to continue into the evening. Mr Taylor declined to comment as he entered the deposition. He was the latest diplomat with concerns to testify. Like the others, he was subpoenaed to appear.

But the career civil servant’s delivery was credible and consistent, people said, as he answered hours of questions from Democrats and Republicans, drawing silence to the room as lawmakers exchanged glances.

Mr Taylor laid out the quid pro quo of the White House’s decision to withhold military aid to Ukraine unless the new president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, agreed to Mr Trump’s requests to investigate Democrats, according to a person who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorised to discuss the private testimony.

Additional reporting by AP. Please allow a moment for our live blog to load

Key Points

• President compares impeachment inquiry to 'a lynching'
• Ukraine diplomat Bill Taylor arrives on Capitol Hill for deposition
• Putin, Orban 'influenced Trump's attitude to Ukraine'
• President told neither of his choices eligible to be Homeland Security secretary
• Trump pleads for Republican support, rubbishes Emoluments Clause

[22 October 2019 17:15 · Chris Riotta]

House investigators reportedly issued Bill Taylor a subpoena ahead of his closed-door impeachment testimony today, according to new reports:

[22 October 2019 17:35 · Chris Riotta]

Here's my updated story on Donald Trump comparing his impeachment to a "lynching," along with the latest reactions from the White House and Capitol Hill: 

[22 October 2019 17:55 · Chris Riotta]

The White House Press Secretary has just released the following statement:

"Yesterday, President Donald J. Trump authorized $4.5 million in direct support to the Syria Civil Defense (SCD) to continue United States support for the organization’s important and highly valued work in the country.  Over the course of the 8-year conflict in Syria, the SCD has rescued more than 115,000 people, including many ethnic and religious minorities.  The United States encourages our allies and partners to join us in our support for the SCD and in our efforts to protect civilians, religious and ethnic minorities, and other innocent victims of the Syrian conflict."

[22 October 2019 18:25 · Chris Riotta]

The former chairman of the Republican National Committee has posted a photograph of an actual lynching, along with some fighting words for the president after his incendiary tweet. 

“It’s pathetic that you act like you’re such a victim,” he wrote, adding: “You should know better.” 

[22 October 2019 18:45 · Chris Riotta]

A new poll shows Joe Biden still sitting at the top of the 2020 hopefuls vying for a shot to take on Donald Trump in the next presidential election, now followed by Bernie Sanders, who has enjoyed an uptick after relaunching his campaign:

[22 October 2019 19:05 · Chris Riotta]

"I'm in charge of the Hatch Act," Donald Trump reportedly "barked" at his acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney after suggesting his Cabinet should attend one of his 2020 rallies:

[22 October 2019 19:25 · Chris Riotta]

Sources inside the White House are pointing to Donald Trump's musings about replacing his acting chief of staff as signs Mick Mulvaney could soon be out of the administration:

[22 October 2019 19:45 · Chris Riotta]

Mitt Romney has spoken out about White House Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney's comments from a press briefing earlier this week in which he effectively admit to the administration participating in a quid pro quo with Ukraine:

[22 October 2019 20:05 · Chris Riotta]

Here's video of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo meeting the foreign minister of Morocco for an official state visit:

[22 October 2019 20:25 · Chris Riotta]

Half of Americans support impeaching Donald Trump and removing him from office, a poll has found.

Although support for impeachment hit a new high in the CNN poll, the US president’s approval ratings for handling major issues have not significantly fallen.

Of the national sample of 1,003 people, 57 per cent disapproved of Mr Trump’s handling of the presidency and 41 per cent said they approved.

Fifty per cent of respondents said Mr Trump should be impeached and removed from office, while 43 per cent said they do not feel that way, the highest proportion so far. Seven per cent had no opinion.

Almost half, 49 per cent, said Mr Trump used his office improperly in his dealings with Ukraine‘s president to gain political advantage against a potential 2020 opponent, while 43 per cent disagreed.