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Trump news – live: Key impeachment witness gives 'extremely disturbing' testimony about Ukraine call

Follow the latest updates from Washington

Clark Mindock
New York
,Joe Sommerlad,Alex Woodward
Tuesday 29 October 2019 19:35 GMT
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Donald Trump mimics police killing Dayton mass shooter during speech

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Alexander Vindman, the top Ukraine expert at the US National Security Council, is testifying to the House impeachment inquiry over concerns he raised about Donald Trump’s 25 July phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky and the administration’s bid to pressure the country into investigating the son of domestic political rival Joe Biden.

The president has meanwhile taken to Twitter to join right-wing media pundits in questioning the patriotism and political loyalties of the decorated Iraq War veteran, branding Lieutenant Colonel Vindman a “Never Trumper”.

House Democrats announced on Monday they will hold a vote on taking the impeachment hearings public on Thursday in response to Republican criticism as Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to John Bolton, failed to appear on Capitol Hill to give a deposition of his own.

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"Just the oppidite". Does he have a cold?

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 15:10

Rapper and MAGA cap-wearer Kanye West, promoting his new album and drifting ever further to the right under the influence of Candace Owens, has said the Democratic Party has "brainwashed" African-Americans into "making us abort our children".

Last week he said his decision to endorse Trump - whose "dragon energy" he previously declared he admired - was "God’s practical joke to all liberals".

The man needs a lie down.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 15:20

Don Jr is a fan of Jesus is King by the way, which is no kind of endorsement in my book.

Andy Gregory has more.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 15:30

Alexander Vindman arrived on Capitol Hill a short while ago in full dress uniform as the American right kicks into overdrive to question his patriotism and credibility.

Although he was indeed born in the Soviet Union, Vindman was brought to the US aged three, graduated from Harvard and stands before the impeachment inquiry as a decorated lieutenant colonel in the US Army who completed multiple overseas tours and was awarded the Purple Heart after being injured in Iraq in 2003 by a roadside bomb.

Trump received five draft deferrals from Vietnam for "bone spurs".

(Shawn Thew/EPA)

Here's a handy list of other American public servants born overseas to put conservative minds at rest.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 15:45

House Republicans have been staging a press conference on impeachment and minority leader Kevin McCarthy was not making a whole lot of sense.

Amazingly, Wyoming congresswoman Liz Cheney found herself the unlikely voice of decency on Vindman.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 16:00

There are undoubtedly going to be plenty of rubber Trump masks doing the rounds this Halloween and one punter at a fairground in Naples, Florida, has already been punched for wearing one.

Harry Cockburn has the whole story.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 16:10

Speaking to GQ, reverred actor and committed "Never Trumper" Robert De Niro says the president has "blood on his hands" over the El Paso mass shooting after the killer posted a white supremacist manifesto on 8chan decrying the "Hispanic invasion of Texas", echoing Trump's own campaign rhetoric.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 16:20

This was Joe Biden's response to Trump tweeting about Vindman.

Former CIA director John Brennan has also weighed in.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 16:30

"Grassroots Resistance organisation" The Democrat Coalition will run the pro-impeachment advert below during the president's favourite TV show, Fox and Friends, tomorrow morning.

Although Trump's often influenced by whatever he sees on Fox, this one feels like a long shot.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 16:40

Trump misspoke yesterday and referred to his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky as "the new Russian president", provoking an excitable reaction online.

Joe Sommerlad29 October 2019 16:55

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