United States&nbsp;congressional Democrats, faced with stepped-up efforts by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/judge-validates-impeachment-enquiry-against-donald-trump-orders-mueller-document-release-258208">President Donald Trump's</a> Republican allies to disrupt their impeachment enquiry, are now considering calling only career government employees to testify at public hearings expected to start next month, according to congressional sources.

Democrats on the three House of Representatives committees handling the initial inquiries plan to conduct at least two more weeks of closed-door depositions with witnesses knowledgeable about dealings that Trump, his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other officials have had with Ukrainian authorities including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Top Trump advisers such as Giuliani, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have defied House subpoenas for documents.

But other witnesses have appeared for committee depositions despite instructions from the Trump administration to boycott such proceedings, and in some cases have provided what Democrats describe as damning evidence about Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to serve his own political interests.

The Democratic-led inquiry is focussed on Trump's request in a July 25 telephone call to Zelenskiy to investigate a domestic political rival, Joe Biden, the former vice president who is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. US&nbsp;law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election.

Televised proceedings could help Democrats stoke public support for a House vote to impeach Trump later this year, while increasing pressure on Republican lawmakers to break with Trump and support an impeachment resolution.

But after a group of Republican lawmakers threw the enquiry into chaos this week by barging into a high-security hearing room and forcing a delay in testimony from a Pentagon official, Democrats have grown more concerned about the potential for disruptions, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak on the record.

Republicans have denounced the inquiry as illegitimate and called on Democrats to hold a full House vote authorizing the investigation and to give Trump and Republican lawmakers the ability to cross-examine witnesses and subpoena their own. 
 
Early-stage

While the planning of public proceedings remains at an early stage, the sources said Democrats are inclined to avoid open testimony by Giuliani, Mulvaney, Pompeo and others.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/republicans-to-unveil-measure-knocking-trump-impeachment-effort-258014">Trump's former national security adviser</a> John Bolton could prove to be the exception, given closed-door testimony that he was alarmed by efforts to pressure Ukraine. But sources said it is not clear whether Bolton would be willing to speak publicly about what occurred.

Democrats are instead considering a limited number of public hearings that would feature testimony only by nonpolitical career diplomats such as acting US&nbsp;Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor and former US&nbsp;Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, according to the sources.

In closed-door testimony on Tuesday, Taylor told the three investigating House committees that Trump made the release of $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine contingent on Kiev publicly declaring that it would carry out investigations into Biden and a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 US&nbsp;election.

Yovanovitch testified earlier that Trump ousted her from her post in Ukraine based on "unfounded and false claims" after she came under attack from Giuliani.

United States congressional Democrats, faced with stepped-up efforts by President Donald Trump's Republican allies to disrupt their impeachment enquiry, are now considering calling only career government employees to testify at public hearings expected to start next month, according to congressional sources.

United States congressional Democrats, faced with stepped-up efforts by President Donald Trump's Republican allies to disrupt their impeachment enquiry, are now considering calling only career government employees to testify at public hearings expected to start next month, according to congressional sources. Democrats on the three House of Representatives committees handling the initial inquiries plan to conduct at least two more weeks of closed-door depositions with witnesses knowledgeable about dealings that Trump, his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other officials have had with Ukrainian authorities including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Top Trump advisers such as Giuliani, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Energy Secretary Rick Perry have defied House subpoenas for documents. But other witnesses have appeared for committee depositions despite instructions from the Trump administration to boycott such proceedings, and in some cases have provided what Democrats describe as damning evidence about Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to serve his own political interests. The Democratic-led inquiry is focussed on Trump's request in a July 25 telephone call to Zelenskiy to investigate a domestic political rival, Joe Biden, the former vice president who is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. US law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election. Televised proceedings could help Democrats stoke public support for a House vote to impeach Trump later this year, while increasing pressure on Republican lawmakers to break with Trump and support an impeachment resolution. But after a group of Republican lawmakers threw the enquiry into chaos this week by barging into a high-security hearing room and forcing a delay in testimony from a Pentagon official, Democrats have grown more concerned about the potential for disruptions, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak on the record. Republicans have denounced the inquiry as illegitimate and called on Democrats to hold a full House vote authorizing the investigation and to give Trump and Republican lawmakers the ability to cross-examine witnesses and subpoena their own. Early-stage While the planning of public proceedings remains at an early stage, the sources said Democrats are inclined to avoid open testimony by Giuliani, Mulvaney, Pompeo and others. Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton could prove to be the exception, given closed-door testimony that he was alarmed by efforts to pressure Ukraine. But sources said it is not clear whether Bolton would be willing to speak publicly about what occurred. Democrats are instead considering a limited number of public hearings that would feature testimony only by nonpolitical career diplomats such as acting US Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor and former US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, according to the sources. In closed-door testimony on Tuesday, Taylor told the three investigating House committees that Trump made the release of $391 million in security assistance to Ukraine contingent on Kiev publicly declaring that it would carry out investigations into Biden and a debunked conspiracy theory about the 2016 US election. Yovanovitch testified earlier that Trump ousted her from her post in Ukraine based on "unfounded and false claims" after she came under attack from Giuliani.

United States Democrats to limit witnesses in public impeachment hearings: Report

President Donald Trump's Twitter attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi following an acrimonious White House meeting appears to have backfired spectacularly.

Trump tweeted a picture of the encounter Wednesday showing a standing Pelosi pointing at the president while he and everyone else in the room were seated, with the caption "Nervous Nancy's unhinged meltdown!"

However, far from being upset at the picture, Pelosi posted it as her Twitter banner, and her supporters said it showed her literally standing up to Trump.

"Can a woman beat Donald Trump? Yes. Speaker Pelosi does it every day," Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said as she retweeted the picture.

"Thanks for the new cover photo @realDonaldTrump!," tweeted Pelosi's deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill.

Others pointed out that several members of Trump's cabinet looked as if they would rather be somewhere else.

"The men on your right reflect the embarrassment we all feel," tweeted actress Mia Farrow.

Pelosi has previously gone viral with her apparent trolling of Trump, with her slow clapping of his last State of the Union speech becoming an instant meme.

After leaving the White House meeting, she told the press she prayed for the president and his family "all the time."

"Now we have to pray for his health because this was a very serious meltdown on the part of the President," she said.

Hours later, Trump suggested Pelosi had mental problems of her own.

"Nancy Pelosi needs help fast! There is either something wrong with her 'upstairs,' or she just plain doesn't like our great Country. She had a total meltdown in the White House today. I was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person!" Trump tweeted.

One of the Democrats who attended the meeting, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said Trump launched into a "nasty diatribe" against them, while Pelosi said the president experienced a "meltdown."

Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham rejected the Democratic version of events, saying the president had been "measured and decisive," and that Pelosi walking out was "baffling but not surprising."

The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Pelosi since her explosive September 24 statement announcing a formal impeachment inquiry.

President Donald Trump's Twitter attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi following an acrimonious White House meeting appears to have backfired spectacularly. Trump tweeted a picture of the encounter Wednesday showing a standing Pelosi pointing at the president while he and everyone else in the room were seated, with the caption "Nervous Nancy's unhinged meltdown!

President Donald Trump's Twitter attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi following an acrimonious White House meeting appears to have backfired spectacularly. Trump tweeted a picture of the encounter Wednesday showing a standing Pelosi pointing at the president while he and everyone else in the room were seated, with the caption "Nervous Nancy's unhinged meltdown!" However, far from being upset at the picture, Pelosi posted it as her Twitter banner, and her supporters said it showed her literally standing up to Trump. "Can a woman beat Donald Trump? Yes. Speaker Pelosi does it every day," Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar said as she retweeted the picture. "Thanks for the new cover photo @realDonaldTrump!," tweeted Pelosi's deputy chief of staff Drew Hammill. Others pointed out that several members of Trump's cabinet looked as if they would rather be somewhere else. "The men on your right reflect the embarrassment we all feel," tweeted actress Mia Farrow. Pelosi has previously gone viral with her apparent trolling of Trump, with her slow clapping of his last State of the Union speech becoming an instant meme. After leaving the White House meeting, she told the press she prayed for the president and his family "all the time." "Now we have to pray for his health because this was a very serious meltdown on the part of the President," she said. Hours later, Trump suggested Pelosi had mental problems of her own. "Nancy Pelosi needs help fast! There is either something wrong with her 'upstairs,' or she just plain doesn't like our great Country. She had a total meltdown in the White House today. I was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person!" Trump tweeted. One of the Democrats who attended the meeting, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said Trump launched into a "nasty diatribe" against them, while Pelosi said the president experienced a "meltdown." Trump's spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham rejected the Democratic version of events, saying the president had been "measured and decisive," and that Pelosi walking out was "baffling but not surprising." The meeting was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Pelosi since her explosive September 24 statement announcing a formal impeachment inquiry.

Donald Trump's Twitter photo attack backfires as Nancy Pelosi owns it

The Democratic-led US&nbsp;House of Representatives will crank up its <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-democrats-subpoena-pentagon-docs-in-impeachment-inquiry-254451">impeachment inquiry</a> into President Donald Trump this week as lawmakers return after a two-week recess, with closed-door testimony from current and former administration officials looming.

The headline event could be testimony on Thursday from Gordon Sondland, the US&nbsp;ambassador to the European Union, that was rescheduled after Trump's administration blocked a previously scheduled appearance.

Sondland, a political appointee and Trump political donor rather than a career diplomat, participated in a text message exchange that Democrats have said reveals the internal concern among aides that the Republican president's pressure on Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Joe Biden, was improper.

The House Intelligence Committee, leading the impeachment inquiry, is scheduled on Monday to hear from Fiona Hill, former senior director for European and Russian Affairs on Trump's National Security Council.

The impeachment inquiry focuses on a July 25 phone call in which Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Biden, a top contender for the Democratic nomination to face him in the 2020 presidential election, and Biden's businessman son Hunter Biden.

Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US&nbsp;ally to dig up dirt on a domestic political rival after withholding $391 million in US&nbsp;security aid intended to help combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine.

Trump has denied wrongdoing. The inquiry could prompt the House to approve articles of impeachment - formal charges - leading to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Senate is led by Trump's fellow Republicans, who have shown little inclination toward removing him.

The Intelligence Committee also is scheduled to hear from Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and State Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl, a top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

"We expect to announce additional testimony from relevant witnesses in the coming days and remain prepared to compel testimony through duly authorized subpoenas as appropriate," Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a letter to House Democrats on Friday.

The most compelling details could come from Sondland, who is expected to discuss the text message exchange with Bill Taylor, the top US&nbsp;diplomat in Ukraine.

Sondland is expected to be asked why he relayed from Trump to other diplomats that the president said no "quid pro quos" connecting the Biden investigation with the US&nbsp;aid and to respond to media reports that he may not believe Trump`s insistence about no linkage between the two matters. Quid pro quo is a Latin term meaning a favor for a favor.

Zelenskiy agreed to investigate. Trump eventually allowed the aid.

Pressure&nbsp;on&nbsp;Giuliani

Lawmakers also may debate whether to seek to compel testimony from Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney who was pushing for Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.

On Thursday, two Giuliani associates - Ukraine-born Lev Parnas and Belarus-born Igor Fruman - who helped him with his efforts to investigate the Bidens were charged with scheming to violate US&nbsp;campaign finance laws.

Giuliani has defended his actions as proper in his role as Trump's lawyer.

A source familiar with the probe said that as part of the investigation into Parnas and Furman, federal investigators, including Manhattan prosecutors, are "examining Giuliani's interactions" with the two men.

Giuliani disputed that, saying he would have expected to have heard from prosecutors.

"I think the probe is a malicious rumor," Giuliani told Reuters.

Giuliani already has a subpoena from the Intelligence Committee demanding that he produce documents related to Ukraine by Tuesday. He has not said whether he will comply.

The Democratic-led US House of Representatives will crank up its impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump this week as lawmakers return after a two-week recess, with closed-door testimony from current and former administration officials looming.

The Democratic-led US House of Representatives will crank up its impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump this week as lawmakers return after a two-week recess, with closed-door testimony from current and former administration officials looming. The headline event could be testimony on Thursday from Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, that was rescheduled after Trump's administration blocked a previously scheduled appearance. Sondland, a political appointee and Trump political donor rather than a career diplomat, participated in a text message exchange that Democrats have said reveals the internal concern among aides that the Republican president's pressure on Ukraine to investigate a political rival, Joe Biden, was improper. The House Intelligence Committee, leading the impeachment inquiry, is scheduled on Monday to hear from Fiona Hill, former senior director for European and Russian Affairs on Trump's National Security Council. The impeachment inquiry focuses on a July 25 phone call in which Trump pressed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate former Vice President Biden, a top contender for the Democratic nomination to face him in the 2020 presidential election, and Biden's businessman son Hunter Biden. Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US ally to dig up dirt on a domestic political rival after withholding $391 million in US security aid intended to help combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of Ukraine. Trump has denied wrongdoing. The inquiry could prompt the House to approve articles of impeachment - formal charges - leading to a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. The Senate is led by Trump's fellow Republicans, who have shown little inclination toward removing him. The Intelligence Committee also is scheduled to hear from Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and State Department Counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl, a top aide to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "We expect to announce additional testimony from relevant witnesses in the coming days and remain prepared to compel testimony through duly authorized subpoenas as appropriate," Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a letter to House Democrats on Friday. The most compelling details could come from Sondland, who is expected to discuss the text message exchange with Bill Taylor, the top US diplomat in Ukraine. Sondland is expected to be asked why he relayed from Trump to other diplomats that the president said no "quid pro quos" connecting the Biden investigation with the US aid and to respond to media reports that he may not believe Trump`s insistence about no linkage between the two matters. Quid pro quo is a Latin term meaning a favor for a favor. Zelenskiy agreed to investigate. Trump eventually allowed the aid. Pressure on Giuliani Lawmakers also may debate whether to seek to compel testimony from Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney who was pushing for Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. On Thursday, two Giuliani associates - Ukraine-born Lev Parnas and Belarus-born Igor Fruman - who helped him with his efforts to investigate the Bidens were charged with scheming to violate US campaign finance laws. Giuliani has defended his actions as proper in his role as Trump's lawyer. A source familiar with the probe said that as part of the investigation into Parnas and Furman, federal investigators, including Manhattan prosecutors, are "examining Giuliani's interactions" with the two men. Giuliani disputed that, saying he would have expected to have heard from prosecutors. "I think the probe is a malicious rumor," Giuliani told Reuters. Giuliani already has a subpoena from the Intelligence Committee demanding that he produce documents related to Ukraine by Tuesday. He has not said whether he will comply.

Returning from recess, Democrats press Trump impeachment inquiry

US&nbsp;President Donald&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;on Thursday will hold his&nbsp;first&nbsp;campaign&nbsp;rally&nbsp;since Democrats<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-begins-trump-impeachment-inquiry-over-call-to-ukraine-leader-251866"> launched an&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry&nbsp;against him,</a> choosing a large arena in a&nbsp;Democratic&nbsp;stronghold&nbsp;in Minnesota to mount his latest public defense.

Supporters of the Republican president will gather inside the 20,000-seat Target Center in Minneapolis for the 7 p.m. CDT&nbsp;rally, while protesters promise to voice their opposition outside.

Trump’s path to re-election in November 2020 depends on clinching a cluster of farm and Rust Belt states decided by slim margins in 2016. Minnesota, which&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;lost by 1.5 percentage points to Democrat Hillary Clinton, is a key target, his campaign said.

Unlike 2016, when it spent little money and time in the Midwestern state, the campaign has already hired staff and organized voters there. Thursday's visit marks the president's fourth trip to the state in the past 16 months.

The visit comes against the backdrop of an&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;investigation by the&nbsp;Democratic-led US&nbsp;House of Representatives that has upended Washington.

The probe centers on a whistleblower’s allegations that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;used military aid to secure a promise from Ukraine’s president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the 2020&nbsp;Democratic&nbsp;presidential nomination, and his son Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian energy firm.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-remains-defiant-as-impeachment-enquiry-against-him-intensifies-252755">Trump&nbsp;has denied wrongdoing.</a> The White House said on Tuesday it would refuse to participate in the "partisan and unconstitutional"&nbsp;impeachment&nbsp;inquiry.

Alex Conant, a Republican strategist born in Minnesota, said the&nbsp;rally&nbsp;venue held a symbolic meaning.

"I think he wants to have the biggest crowd possible. If he gets 15,000 to 20,000 people on a Thursday night in Minneapolis, that sends a signal," Conant said.

Trump's visit has generated local backlash. The city's mayor was criticized for initially suggesting&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;was not welcome. The Minneapolis police union began selling pro-Trump&nbsp;T-shirts after the police chief said off-duty officers could not wear their uniforms to political events.

Vice President Mike Pence, who is also making a visit to Minnesota on Thursday, is scheduled to meet with the police union.

City and state leaders are holding several news conferences on Thursday to highlight&nbsp;Democratic&nbsp;causes and publicly reject&nbsp;Trump's platform. Local labor leaders are planning a late-afternoon march to protest&nbsp;Trump's visit.

"I believe in the people of Minnesota. In the end, I think we will see people voicing their opinions without any incident," said Amy Koch, a Republican strategist in Minnesota who plans on attending the&nbsp;rally.

No Republican presidential candidate has won Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972.

A poll released by Alliance for a Better Minnesota on Wednesday showed 52 per cent&nbsp;of registered voters in the state would vote for the&nbsp;Democratic&nbsp;candidate next year, while 42 per cent would vote for&nbsp;Trump. The survey of 1,175 voters was conducted with the left-leaning Public Policy Polling.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday will hold his first campaign rally since Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry against him, choosing a large arena in a Democratic stronghold in Minnesota to mount his latest public defense.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday will hold his first campaign rally since Democrats launched an impeachment inquiry against him, choosing a large arena in a Democratic stronghold in Minnesota to mount his latest public defense. Supporters of the Republican president will gather inside the 20,000-seat Target Center in Minneapolis for the 7 p.m. CDT rally, while protesters promise to voice their opposition outside. Trump’s path to re-election in November 2020 depends on clinching a cluster of farm and Rust Belt states decided by slim margins in 2016. Minnesota, which Trump lost by 1.5 percentage points to Democrat Hillary Clinton, is a key target, his campaign said. Unlike 2016, when it spent little money and time in the Midwestern state, the campaign has already hired staff and organized voters there. Thursday's visit marks the president's fourth trip to the state in the past 16 months. The visit comes against the backdrop of an impeachment investigation by the Democratic-led US House of Representatives that has upended Washington. The probe centers on a whistleblower’s allegations that Trump used military aid to secure a promise from Ukraine’s president to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and his son Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian energy firm. Trump has denied wrongdoing. The White House said on Tuesday it would refuse to participate in the "partisan and unconstitutional" impeachment inquiry. Alex Conant, a Republican strategist born in Minnesota, said the rally venue held a symbolic meaning. "I think he wants to have the biggest crowd possible. If he gets 15,000 to 20,000 people on a Thursday night in Minneapolis, that sends a signal," Conant said. Trump's visit has generated local backlash. The city's mayor was criticized for initially suggesting Trump was not welcome. The Minneapolis police union began selling pro-Trump T-shirts after the police chief said off-duty officers could not wear their uniforms to political events. Vice President Mike Pence, who is also making a visit to Minnesota on Thursday, is scheduled to meet with the police union. City and state leaders are holding several news conferences on Thursday to highlight Democratic causes and publicly reject Trump's platform. Local labor leaders are planning a late-afternoon march to protest Trump's visit. "I believe in the people of Minnesota. In the end, I think we will see people voicing their opinions without any incident," said Amy Koch, a Republican strategist in Minnesota who plans on attending the rally. No Republican presidential candidate has won Minnesota since Richard Nixon in 1972. A poll released by Alliance for a Better Minnesota on Wednesday showed 52 per cent of registered voters in the state would vote for the Democratic candidate next year, while 42 per cent would vote for Trump. The survey of 1,175 voters was conducted with the left-leaning Public Policy Polling.

Trump to host first post-impeachment inquiry rally in Democratic stronghold

After a brief surge during his first years in office, and despite his lofty promises, the American manufacturing rebound has begun to crumble under President Donald Trump.

Auto plants and steel mills are shutting down. Companies are announcing layoffs and furloughs. Factory output is in the red.

The year-end outlook is grim, whipping up fears that as the global economy slows, Trump's trade wars with China and Europe -- with tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods -- could push the world's largest economy over the edge and into recession.

Most worrisome for the president, as he prepares to fight for a second term next year, the picture is darkest in regions of the country that gave him his paper-thin margin of victory in 2016, despite losing the popular vote nationwide.

The White House, for its part, is having none of this talk.

Throughout September -- as job creation slowed, key indicators fell, consumer confidence waned and factories spun down -- Trump attacked Democrats and the Federal Reserve, anything but his trade policy, while accusing the news media of "begging" for a recession.

"The PMI manufacturers' index has gone substantially up," Trump said during a September 25 news conference.&nbsp;

"Our country is the strongest it's ever been economically."

Not so. In fact, the most closely watched gauge of American factories' health -- the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index -- had just fallen into the red in August for the first time in three years.&nbsp;

And a week after Trump spoke, it fell to the lowest level since the Great Recession.

Tim Fiore, chair of the ISM manufacturing survey, told AFP the dropoff this year was the steepest in this century.

"It's like a nosedive," he said, warning that recession risks were mounting. "I think if we stay below 50 for a couple more months, it's not going to feel very good."

Pain in Mercer County, PA

As of August, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Michigan had fewer people working in manufacturing than they did at the end of 2018, according to Labor Department data.&nbsp;

Trump's 2016 margin of victory in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan -- crucial battleground states -- was fewer than 78,000 votes out of nearly 14 million cast.

But in an irate television appearance, Trump's senior trade advisor Peter Navarro accused the news media of "singing some song" about a weakening economy.

"This Trump economy is strong as a rock. Manufacturing is strong as a rock," he said in a tirade on CNBC.

He said highlighting Pennsylvania's job losses was merely "cherry-picking the data."

But there are quite a few cherries to pick.

Louisiana's Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards on September 30 blamed Trump's trade wars for the bankruptcy of Bayou Steel, which put nearly 400 people out of work.

In Michigan's Oceana County, where Republican support surged in the 2016 elections, a steel foundry operated by train manufacturer Wabtec announced last month it would close by the end of the year and lay off 61 workers due to "declining business conditions."

Earlier in the summer, Russian-operated NLMK USA steel mill laid off almost 100 employees in bellwether Mercer County, Pennsylvania, blaming Trump's tariffs on the imported steel slabs it processes.&nbsp;

Congressman Mike Kelly, a Trump supporter, pleaded with the White House for help to no avail.

Mercer County gave Trump a major boost in 2016, with a surging Republican vote tally helping put him over the top statewide.

Red areas in the red

Across the nation, the manufacturing slump is hitting Republican counties hardest, according to data from the Brookings Institution. &nbsp;And in battleground states, the picture is even more stark.

In the Wisconsin and Michigan counties that Trump won, manufacturing accounts for about one in every five jobs. In the Democratic areas, it only accounts for about one in 10.

"To the extent that the economy shapes political behaviour -- which it may not at this stage because we're so deep into the tribal stalemate -- this slowing maybe inconvenient" for Trump, said Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings.

Olive McKeithan, Democratic mayor of Farrell, Pennsylvania, home of the NLMK steel mill, told AFP the layoffs were a major blow to her city's voters and tax base.

She blamed Trump and his tariffs.

"Everyone who voted for No. 45, I hope they are happy," she said.

But Matthew McConnell, the Republican chairman of the Mercer County board of commissioners who is himself a former steel worker, said support for Trump was undiminished.

"If you had the election today, you would have even larger support for Trump," he told AFP.

Challenging China's unfair trade practices was a necessity, he added.

"He had no ill will toward NLMK employees but, being a business guy, you sometimes have to make decisions for the betterment of the majority."

After a brief surge during his first years in office, and despite his lofty promises, the American manufacturing rebound has begun to crumble under President Donald Trump.

After a brief surge during his first years in office, and despite his lofty promises, the American manufacturing rebound has begun to crumble under President Donald Trump. Auto plants and steel mills are shutting down. Companies are announcing layoffs and furloughs. Factory output is in the red. The year-end outlook is grim, whipping up fears that as the global economy slows, Trump's trade wars with China and Europe -- with tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of goods -- could push the world's largest economy over the edge and into recession. Most worrisome for the president, as he prepares to fight for a second term next year, the picture is darkest in regions of the country that gave him his paper-thin margin of victory in 2016, despite losing the popular vote nationwide. The White House, for its part, is having none of this talk. Throughout September -- as job creation slowed, key indicators fell, consumer confidence waned and factories spun down -- Trump attacked Democrats and the Federal Reserve, anything but his trade policy, while accusing the news media of "begging" for a recession. "The PMI manufacturers' index has gone substantially up," Trump said during a September 25 news conference. "Our country is the strongest it's ever been economically." Not so. In fact, the most closely watched gauge of American factories' health -- the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index -- had just fallen into the red in August for the first time in three years. And a week after Trump spoke, it fell to the lowest level since the Great Recession. Tim Fiore, chair of the ISM manufacturing survey, told AFP the dropoff this year was the steepest in this century. "It's like a nosedive," he said, warning that recession risks were mounting. "I think if we stay below 50 for a couple more months, it's not going to feel very good." Pain in Mercer County, PA As of August, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Michigan had fewer people working in manufacturing than they did at the end of 2018, according to Labor Department data. Trump's 2016 margin of victory in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan -- crucial battleground states -- was fewer than 78,000 votes out of nearly 14 million cast. But in an irate television appearance, Trump's senior trade advisor Peter Navarro accused the news media of "singing some song" about a weakening economy. "This Trump economy is strong as a rock. Manufacturing is strong as a rock," he said in a tirade on CNBC. He said highlighting Pennsylvania's job losses was merely "cherry-picking the data." But there are quite a few cherries to pick. Louisiana's Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards on September 30 blamed Trump's trade wars for the bankruptcy of Bayou Steel, which put nearly 400 people out of work. In Michigan's Oceana County, where Republican support surged in the 2016 elections, a steel foundry operated by train manufacturer Wabtec announced last month it would close by the end of the year and lay off 61 workers due to "declining business conditions." Earlier in the summer, Russian-operated NLMK USA steel mill laid off almost 100 employees in bellwether Mercer County, Pennsylvania, blaming Trump's tariffs on the imported steel slabs it processes. Congressman Mike Kelly, a Trump supporter, pleaded with the White House for help to no avail. Mercer County gave Trump a major boost in 2016, with a surging Republican vote tally helping put him over the top statewide. Red areas in the red Across the nation, the manufacturing slump is hitting Republican counties hardest, according to data from the Brookings Institution. And in battleground states, the picture is even more stark. In the Wisconsin and Michigan counties that Trump won, manufacturing accounts for about one in every five jobs. In the Democratic areas, it only accounts for about one in 10. "To the extent that the economy shapes political behaviour -- which it may not at this stage because we're so deep into the tribal stalemate -- this slowing maybe inconvenient" for Trump, said Mark Muro, a senior fellow at Brookings. Olive McKeithan, Democratic mayor of Farrell, Pennsylvania, home of the NLMK steel mill, told AFP the layoffs were a major blow to her city's voters and tax base. She blamed Trump and his tariffs. "Everyone who voted for No. 45, I hope they are happy," she said. But Matthew McConnell, the Republican chairman of the Mercer County board of commissioners who is himself a former steel worker, said support for Trump was undiminished. "If you had the election today, you would have even larger support for Trump," he told AFP. Challenging China's unfair trade practices was a necessity, he added. "He had no ill will toward NLMK employees but, being a business guy, you sometimes have to make decisions for the betterment of the majority."

As US factories falter, White House insists economy like 'a rock'

President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-nothing-compromising-in-trump-call-to-ukraine-leader-253325">Donald Trump</a> on Wednesday angrily denounced an impeachment inquiry into his July telephone call with Ukraine's leader as Democratic lawmakers said they would subpoena White House records about the call.

At a joint news conference with Finland's president, a frustrated Trump blasted reporters who asked about the probe, which he called a hoax and a fraud, but said he would cooperate with the inquiry. "I always cooperate," he said.

His voice rising with anger, Trump lashed out at Reuters reporter Jeff Mason, who asked what he had wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to do when Trump brought up the business ties to Ukraine of Hunter Biden, son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.

"It's a whole hoax, and you know who's playing into the hoax? People like you and the fake news media that we have in this country," he retorted. He told the reporter not to be “rude” and repeatedly evaded the question.

Watch: Defiant Trump takes aim at journalist over Ukraine

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/defiant-trump-takes-aim-at-journalist-over-ukraine-253363/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Trump suggested, however, that his objective was corruption in Ukraine, saying the United States gives the country a lot of money, and "I don't like giving money to a country that's that corrupt. ... I don't like being the sucker country."

The Democrats' subpoena request has the potential to become a flashpoint in the showdown between the Republican president and the Democratic-led House of Representatives.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a close ally of Trump, acknowledged earlier in the day during a trip to Italy that he had listened in on the call in which Trump asked Zelenskiy to investigate Biden, a former U.S. vice president and a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in the 2020 presidential election.

The call prompted the House to launch its impeachment inquiry last week. Pompeo's admission came a day after he objected to Democratic efforts as part of the impeachment inquiry to obtain depositions from five current and former State Department officials.

"We're not fooling around here, though. We don't want this to drag on months and months and months, which appears to be the administration's strategy," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, whose panel leads the inquiry, told a news conference alongside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said he intended to subpoena the White House for the Ukraine-related records on Friday, the latest demand for evidence from an administration that has repeatedly resisted such efforts by Democrats.

Trump seemed to make light of the request, telling reporters that Pelosi "hands out subpoenas like they're cookies."

Schiff said Democrats were deeply concerned about the Trump administration's potential interference with witnesses, and that any such efforts by the president, Pompeo or others would be considered obstruction of justice.

The House launched its impeachment inquiry, which threatens Trump's presidency, following a complaint brought by a whistleblower within the US intelligence community over Trump's request to Zelenskiy.

The whistleblower provided an account of his concerns to a House Intelligence Committee aide before bringing his complaint, and some of that information was shared with Schiff, the New York Times reported, citing a spokesman for Schiff and current and former U.S. officials.

Trump said the newspaper's report showed that "Schiff is a fraud" and the president called it a "scandal" that Schiff had advance knowledge of the complaint. "He probably helped write it," Trump said, without offering evidence.

'Hard to imagine'

Trump made his request to Zelenskiy shortly after he had frozen nearly $400 million in aid to Ukraine. Zelenskiy agreed to the request on the call, and the aid was later provided.&nbsp;

Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US ally to meddle in the 2020 election for his political benefit.

"It's hard to imagine a more corrupt course of conduct," Schiff said.

Scrutiny of Pompeo's role in the administration's interactions with Ukraine, including the recall of the U.S. ambassador to Kiev earlier this year, rose after the Wall Street Journal reported that the top US diplomat had listened in on the Trump-Zelenskiy call.

"I was on the phone call," Pompeo told reporters in Rome on Wednesday.

Pompeo sought to portray the call as proper, saying it was in the context of US policymaking in Ukraine, including "taking down the Russia threat," rooting out corruption in government and boosting the economy.

The Democratic chairmen of three House committees have accused Pompeo of intimidating witnesses and said he was considered "a fact witness" in the impeachment inquiry based on his role in Trump's call with Zelenskiy.

Pompeo said State Department employees had been contacted directly by lawmakers or their staff and told not to talk to the State Department's legal counsel. He has said, however, that he would cooperate with Congress.

Democratic-led committees previously subpoenaed Pompeo and Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani, as well as documents.

According to a summary of the July call released by the White House, Trump asked Zelenskiy to investigate Biden and his son Hunter in coordination with U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Giuliani. Hunter Biden had sat on the board of a Ukrainian gas company that had been under investigation by Kiev.

Trump on Wednesday called Biden and his son Hunter "stone-cold crooked." The president has repeatedly accused the pair of wrongdoing without providing any evidence.

Biden shot back in remarks prepared for a speech in Reno, Nevada, on Wednesday night, accusing Trump of "abuse of power."

"Let me make something clear to Trump and his hatchet men and the special interests funding his attacks against me - I'm not going anywhere," Biden said, according to excerpts provided by his campaign.

The prospect that Trump solicited Ukraine's help against his potential challenger next year has infuriated Democrats, many of whom blame the loss of the 2016 presidential election on Russian interference. Moscow has denied interfering in that campaign.

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he saw no evidence of pressure in Trump's July conversation with Zelenskiy and added that there was nothing wrong with the US president asking for an investigation into potential corruption.

US&nbsp;intelligence agencies and Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with a scheme of hacking and propaganda to boost Trump's candidacy and disparage his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton.

Kurt Volker, who resigned last Friday as Trump's special representative for Ukraine, is scheduled to give a deposition to House staff on Thursday. Marie Yovanovitch, who was U.S. ambassador to Ukraine until she was abruptly recalled in May, has agreed to appear on Oct. 11. In his phone call with Zelenskiy, Trump called Yovanovitch "bad news."

Representative Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a letter to the panel's chairman, Eliot Engel, that Schiff lacked jurisdiction to investigate the State Department's conduct regarding Ukraine and demanded "equal representation and participation" for Republicans in questioning Volker.

The impeachment probe could lead to approval of articles of impeachment - or formal charges - against Trump in the House. A trial on whether to remove Trump from office would then be held in the Republican-controlled Senate. Republicans, however, have shown little appetite for ousting him.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday angrily denounced an impeachment inquiry into his July telephone call with Ukraine's leader as Democratic lawmakers said they would subpoena White House records about the call.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday angrily denounced an impeachment inquiry into his July telephone call with Ukraine's leader as Democratic lawmakers said they would subpoena White House records about the call. At a joint news conference with Finland's president, a frustrated Trump blasted reporters who asked about the probe, which he called a hoax and a fraud, but said he would cooperate with the inquiry. "I always cooperate," he said. His voice rising with anger, Trump lashed out at Reuters reporter Jeff Mason, who asked what he had wanted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to do when Trump brought up the business ties to Ukraine of Hunter Biden, son of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. "It's a whole hoax, and you know who's playing into the hoax? People like you and the fake news media that we have in this country," he retorted. He told the reporter not to be “rude” and repeatedly evaded the question. Watch: Defiant Trump takes aim at journalist over Ukraine Trump suggested, however, that his objective was corruption in Ukraine, saying the United States gives the country a lot of money, and "I don't like giving money to a country that's that corrupt. ... I don't like being the sucker country." The Democrats' subpoena request has the potential to become a flashpoint in the showdown between the Republican president and the Democratic-led House of Representatives. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a close ally of Trump, acknowledged earlier in the day during a trip to Italy that he had listened in on the call in which Trump asked Zelenskiy to investigate Biden, a former U.S. vice president and a leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in the 2020 presidential election. The call prompted the House to launch its impeachment inquiry last week. Pompeo's admission came a day after he objected to Democratic efforts as part of the impeachment inquiry to obtain depositions from five current and former State Department officials. "We're not fooling around here, though. We don't want this to drag on months and months and months, which appears to be the administration's strategy," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, whose panel leads the inquiry, told a news conference alongside House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings said he intended to subpoena the White House for the Ukraine-related records on Friday, the latest demand for evidence from an administration that has repeatedly resisted such efforts by Democrats. Trump seemed to make light of the request, telling reporters that Pelosi "hands out subpoenas like they're cookies." Schiff said Democrats were deeply concerned about the Trump administration's potential interference with witnesses, and that any such efforts by the president, Pompeo or others would be considered obstruction of justice. The House launched its impeachment inquiry, which threatens Trump's presidency, following a complaint brought by a whistleblower within the US intelligence community over Trump's request to Zelenskiy. The whistleblower provided an account of his concerns to a House Intelligence Committee aide before bringing his complaint, and some of that information was shared with Schiff, the New York Times reported, citing a spokesman for Schiff and current and former U.S. officials. Trump said the newspaper's report showed that "Schiff is a fraud" and the president called it a "scandal" that Schiff had advance knowledge of the complaint. "He probably helped write it," Trump said, without offering evidence. 'Hard to imagine' Trump made his request to Zelenskiy shortly after he had frozen nearly $400 million in aid to Ukraine. Zelenskiy agreed to the request on the call, and the aid was later provided. Democrats have accused Trump of pressuring a vulnerable US ally to meddle in the 2020 election for his political benefit. "It's hard to imagine a more corrupt course of conduct," Schiff said. Scrutiny of Pompeo's role in the administration's interactions with Ukraine, including the recall of the U.S. ambassador to Kiev earlier this year, rose after the Wall Street Journal reported that the top US diplomat had listened in on the Trump-Zelenskiy call. "I was on the phone call," Pompeo told reporters in Rome on Wednesday. Pompeo sought to portray the call as proper, saying it was in the context of US policymaking in Ukraine, including "taking down the Russia threat," rooting out corruption in government and boosting the economy. The Democratic chairmen of three House committees have accused Pompeo of intimidating witnesses and said he was considered "a fact witness" in the impeachment inquiry based on his role in Trump's call with Zelenskiy. Pompeo said State Department employees had been contacted directly by lawmakers or their staff and told not to talk to the State Department's legal counsel. He has said, however, that he would cooperate with Congress. Democratic-led committees previously subpoenaed Pompeo and Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani, as well as documents. According to a summary of the July call released by the White House, Trump asked Zelenskiy to investigate Biden and his son Hunter in coordination with U.S. Attorney General William Barr and Giuliani. Hunter Biden had sat on the board of a Ukrainian gas company that had been under investigation by Kiev. Trump on Wednesday called Biden and his son Hunter "stone-cold crooked." The president has repeatedly accused the pair of wrongdoing without providing any evidence. Biden shot back in remarks prepared for a speech in Reno, Nevada, on Wednesday night, accusing Trump of "abuse of power." "Let me make something clear to Trump and his hatchet men and the special interests funding his attacks against me - I'm not going anywhere," Biden said, according to excerpts provided by his campaign. The prospect that Trump solicited Ukraine's help against his potential challenger next year has infuriated Democrats, many of whom blame the loss of the 2016 presidential election on Russian interference. Moscow has denied interfering in that campaign. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he saw no evidence of pressure in Trump's July conversation with Zelenskiy and added that there was nothing wrong with the US president asking for an investigation into potential corruption. US intelligence agencies and Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with a scheme of hacking and propaganda to boost Trump's candidacy and disparage his Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. Kurt Volker, who resigned last Friday as Trump's special representative for Ukraine, is scheduled to give a deposition to House staff on Thursday. Marie Yovanovitch, who was U.S. ambassador to Ukraine until she was abruptly recalled in May, has agreed to appear on Oct. 11. In his phone call with Zelenskiy, Trump called Yovanovitch "bad news." Representative Michael McCaul, the top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a letter to the panel's chairman, Eliot Engel, that Schiff lacked jurisdiction to investigate the State Department's conduct regarding Ukraine and demanded "equal representation and participation" for Republicans in questioning Volker. The impeachment probe could lead to approval of articles of impeachment - or formal charges - against Trump in the House. A trial on whether to remove Trump from office would then be held in the Republican-controlled Senate. Republicans, however, have shown little appetite for ousting him.

US President Donald Trump slams impeachment probe as hoax as Democrats seek White House documents

US President Donald Trump railed against the Democratic lawmaker leading the impeachment probe Monday, suggesting he be arrested for treason for depicting him as using mafia-like tactics.

Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, opened a congressional hearing last week by pretending to be the president speaking like a mob boss to pressure Ukraine's leader to probe rival Joe Biden.

The impersonation was intended to dramatize Schiff's contention that Trump's July 25 phone call to Volodymyr Zelensky was a classic mafia-like shakedown -- but has been widely criticized by conservative media.

Trump denounced it on Twitter as a "FAKE &amp; terrible statement," saying Schiff "pretended it to be mine as the most important part of my call to the Ukrainian President, and read it aloud to Congress and the American people.

"It bore NO relationship to what I said on the call. Arrest for Treason?"

US President Donald Trump railed against the Democratic lawmaker leading the impeachment probe Monday, suggesting he be arrested for treason for depicting him as using mafia-like tactics.

US President Donald Trump railed against the Democratic lawmaker leading the impeachment probe Monday, suggesting he be arrested for treason for depicting him as using mafia-like tactics. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, opened a congressional hearing last week by pretending to be the president speaking like a mob boss to pressure Ukraine's leader to probe rival Joe Biden. The impersonation was intended to dramatize Schiff's contention that Trump's July 25 phone call to Volodymyr Zelensky was a classic mafia-like shakedown -- but has been widely criticized by conservative media. Trump denounced it on Twitter as a "FAKE & terrible statement," saying Schiff "pretended it to be mine as the most important part of my call to the Ukrainian President, and read it aloud to Congress and the American people. "It bore NO relationship to what I said on the call. Arrest for Treason?"

Trump suggests 'arrest for treason' of Democrat leading impeachment probe

US President Donald Trump lashes out at Democrats by calling the impeachment enquiry as ''Greatest Scam in the history of American Politics''

''Greatest Scam in the history of American Politics'' says Donald Trump on Impeachment inquiry

President Donald Trump, the target of an impeachment investigation over alleged abuse of power, warned supporters Saturday that "Our country is at stake like never before."

The video message posted on Twitter underscores the pressure on the White House as Democratic lawmakers charge aggressively into their<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-democratic-impeachment-enquiry-a-joke-252097"> investigation over accusations </a>that Trump tried to arm-twist the Ukrainian president into providing dirt on one of his main 2020 election rivals, Joe Biden.

American rights are being threatened by Democrats, Trump said, stating that they "want to take away your guns, they want to take away your health care, they want to take away your vote, they want to take away your freedom."

"We can never let this happen," he said. "Because our country is at stake like never before. It's all very simple. They're trying to stop me because I'm fighting for you -- and I'll never let that happen."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
They are trying to stop ME, because I am fighting for YOU! <a href="https://t.co/xiw4jtjkNl">pic.twitter.com/xiw4jtjkNl</a>
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1178055467987275776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 28, 2019</a></blockquote>
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In subsequent tweets, Trump repeated his charges that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-to-launch-trump-impeachment-inquiry-over-ukraine-controversy-251842">impeachment investigation</a> is a "Witch Hunt," and said Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff, who is leading the impeachment probe, had defamed and libeled him, and should resign from Congress.

Congressional committees carrying out the impeachment inquiry have ordered Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to turn over Ukraine-related documents and conduct interviews starting next week with five State Department officials.

They include former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, whom Trump reportedly forced out earlier this year for resisting his efforts to pressure Kiev to probe Biden.

President Donald Trump, the target of an impeachment investigation over alleged abuse of power, warned supporters Saturday that "Our country is at stake like never before.

President Donald Trump, the target of an impeachment investigation over alleged abuse of power, warned supporters Saturday that "Our country is at stake like never before." The video message posted on Twitter underscores the pressure on the White House as Democratic lawmakers charge aggressively into their investigation over accusations that Trump tried to arm-twist the Ukrainian president into providing dirt on one of his main 2020 election rivals, Joe Biden. American rights are being threatened by Democrats, Trump said, stating that they "want to take away your guns, they want to take away your health care, they want to take away your vote, they want to take away your freedom." "We can never let this happen," he said. "Because our country is at stake like never before. It's all very simple. They're trying to stop me because I'm fighting for you -- and I'll never let that happen." They are trying to stop ME, because I am fighting for YOU! pic.twitter.com/xiw4jtjkNl — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 28, 2019 × In subsequent tweets, Trump repeated his charges that the impeachment investigation is a "Witch Hunt," and said Democratic lawmaker Adam Schiff, who is leading the impeachment probe, had defamed and libeled him, and should resign from Congress. Congressional committees carrying out the impeachment inquiry have ordered Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to turn over Ukraine-related documents and conduct interviews starting next week with five State Department officials. They include former ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, whom Trump reportedly forced out earlier this year for resisting his efforts to pressure Kiev to probe Biden.

Our country is at stake like never before: Trump to supporters

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted Wednesday he had not been "pushed" by Donald Trump during a controversial phone call in which the US president urged an investigation of his political rival.

"We had -- I think (a) good phone call. It was normal. We spoke about many things, and... so I think and you read it that nobody pushed me," Zelensky told reporters, with Trump sitting at his side.

The two met on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly meeting after Democrats launched an impeachment investigation into Trump, alleging he abused his powers as president for personal political ends. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The July 25 call summary -- which is not a verbatim transcript -- shows Trump saying US Attorney General Bill Barr and the president's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani would be in touch about probing the Ukraine-related activities of Biden and his son.

'A disgraceful thing'

In announcing the launch of impeachment proceedings on Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump had betrayed his oath of office in seeking Ukraine's help to find dirt on Biden.

Faced with the possibility of becoming the third US president in history to be impeached, Trump has pushed back hard -- branding the probe the "single greatest witch hunt in American history... a disgraceful thing."&nbsp;

Pelosi had long resisted pressure from the party rank-and-file for impeachment, preferring to focus on next year's election fight.

A Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday said that only 37 per cent of voters support impeaching Trump while 57 per cent oppose, even if more than half disapprove of the US leader's performance.

But on Tuesday, Pelosi abandoned months of resistance, 11 days after news that an anonymous US intelligence official had filed a whistleblower complaint on Trump's alleged double-dealing with Ukraine.

Democrats made clear the White House's release of the call record would not satisfy their investigation into whether the US leader broke the law.

They are demanding the full release of the whistleblower complaint, even as the Justice Department declared that it showed no wrongdoing and said, "no further action was warranted."

The next explosive episode in the rapidly unfolding impeachment drama is set for Thursday when acting director of national intelligence Joseph McGuire, who has refused to release the complaint, testifies on Capitol Hill.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted Wednesday he had not been "pushed" by Donald Trump during a controversial phone call in which the US president urged an investigation of his political rival.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky insisted Wednesday he had not been "pushed" by Donald Trump during a controversial phone call in which the US president urged an investigation of his political rival. "We had -- I think (a) good phone call. It was normal. We spoke about many things, and... so I think and you read it that nobody pushed me," Zelensky told reporters, with Trump sitting at his side. The two met on the sidelines of a UN General Assembly meeting after Democrats launched an impeachment investigation into Trump, alleging he abused his powers as president for personal political ends. The July 25 call summary -- which is not a verbatim transcript -- shows Trump saying US Attorney General Bill Barr and the president's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani would be in touch about probing the Ukraine-related activities of Biden and his son. 'A disgraceful thing' In announcing the launch of impeachment proceedings on Tuesday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Trump had betrayed his oath of office in seeking Ukraine's help to find dirt on Biden. Faced with the possibility of becoming the third US president in history to be impeached, Trump has pushed back hard -- branding the probe the "single greatest witch hunt in American history... a disgraceful thing." Pelosi had long resisted pressure from the party rank-and-file for impeachment, preferring to focus on next year's election fight. A Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday said that only 37 per cent of voters support impeaching Trump while 57 per cent oppose, even if more than half disapprove of the US leader's performance. But on Tuesday, Pelosi abandoned months of resistance, 11 days after news that an anonymous US intelligence official had filed a whistleblower complaint on Trump's alleged double-dealing with Ukraine. Democrats made clear the White House's release of the call record would not satisfy their investigation into whether the US leader broke the law. They are demanding the full release of the whistleblower complaint, even as the Justice Department declared that it showed no wrongdoing and said, "no further action was warranted." The next explosive episode in the rapidly unfolding impeachment drama is set for Thursday when acting director of national intelligence Joseph McGuire, who has refused to release the complaint, testifies on Capitol Hill.

Ukraine president Zelensky calls controversial Donald Trump call 'normal'

The crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates were nearly unanimous in praising House Democrats' decision to begin an impeachment inquiry into Republican President Donald Trump over accusations he sought foreign help to smear a political rival.

Now comes the hard part.

With impeachment set to overshadow the Democratic presidential primary race, how will candidates draw attention to their key policy issues, ranging from universal healthcare to income inequality?

After months of resisting pressure from fellow Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the launch of a formal impeachment effort on Tuesday, accusing Trump of seeking foreign help to damage Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden ahead of the November 2020 election.

Trump had pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 phone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked for a company drilling for gas in Ukraine.

The impeachment inquiry ensures a partisan fight in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail in the coming months.

Kurt Meyer, Democratic party chairman for three rural Iowa counties north of Des Moines, the state's most populous city, said he expects the impeachment proceedings to energize the Democratic base.

"If a highly motivated person drags her mother and her husband and her second cousin twice removed to the polls, then it makes a difference," Meyer said.

But in a sign the probe could energize Trump's base as well, his re-election campaign raised a quarter of a million dollars in just 15 minutes on Tuesday in the immediate aftermath of Pelosi's announcement about the probe.

Trump was quick to portray himself as the victim of partisan Democratic attacks, while his campaign sent repeated fundraising appeals to his supporters on Tuesday pegged to the impeachment launch.

There is also a risk that any substantive policy discussions among the 19 Democrats running for the party's nomination to take on Trump in the 2020 election will be drowned out in the growing battle between allies and foes of Trump, several Democratic strategists and experts said.

"Trump has been the elephant in the room, but the democratic debates so far have been really policy centered. I think impeachment now takes center stage," said Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Doug Heye, a Republican strategist who worked with congressional leaders, said Republican messaging just got simpler, if less positive.

"For Democrats running for president, breaking through on healthcare or the economy just got a lot tougher," he said. "Impeachment will be the dominant topic for a long time."

Subject of Trump's Affection

Biden, who leads polls in the Democratic race to pick a challenger to Trump, said on Tuesday he would back impeachment if the Republican president fails to comply with congressional requests for information on Ukraine and other matters.

Trump has raised unsubstantiated charges that Biden improperly tried to halt a Ukrainian probe of a company with ties to his son, without providing any evidence of wrongdoing by either.

Later on Tuesday as he called into a fundraiser in Baltimore, Maryland, Biden said he "can take these attacks".

“And the reason I am being attacked is that most polls show me beating him by 10 to 15 points. I am not at all surprised I have become the object of his affection and attention," he said.

Biden leads Trump by about 5 percentage points in a hypothetical general election match-up against Trump, according to the Sept. 23-24 Reuters /Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday.

In a sign that Biden's supporters are largely standing by their candidate so far, 20 per cent of Democrats and independents said they would vote for him in statewide nominating contests that begin next year according to the latest poll, up 1 percentage point from a similar poll that ran last week.

But the same poll also showed that Americans overall are less supportive of impeaching Trump than they were months ago, highlighting a risk of the move backfiring on Democrats if they are seen overreaching.

"On one level, this whole issue helps Biden, because it makes the president look afraid of Biden," said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia. "But the president has a great ability to drag people into the mud with him, and you wonder if that might happen to Biden."

Biden's Democratic rivals, including US Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Kamala Harris, are set to benefit if the front-runner falls off. But most have so far refused to be drawn into specific questions about Biden and his family, and are likely to stay that way for now.

"On the one hand they want to see Biden struggle, but it might undermine the party overall in a general election," Kondik said.

Warren, who edged past Sanders for the first time to rank second behind Biden in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll with 14 &nbsp;per cent support, said on Twitter the impeachment inquiry was "an overdue but important step."

"No one is above the law not even the president of the United States," Warren said, without mentioning Biden. "Thank you to everyone who protested, organized, and asked the crucial questions to get us to this moment.

So far, Trump has proven remarkably resilient in the face of repeated scandals and retaining strong support from Republicans.

Democrats should act swiftly to convince voters their actions are necessary and prevent Trump from successfully arguing he is being unfairly prosecuted, said Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist who advised Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Rebecca Cordova, 62, from the suburbs of Austin, Texas, who describes herself as an independent but voted for Trump in 2016, said it would take strong evidence of wrongdoing to dissuade her from voting for him again.

“I think the Democrats are just blowing smoke. They’re just trying to start something up like they did with (Russia)," she said, refering to former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian inteference in the 2016 US presidential election.

"I don’t believe the Russians helped and I don’t believe any of this with the Ukrainians, sorry."

The crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates were nearly unanimous in praising House Democrats' decision to begin an impeachment inquiry into Republican President Donald Trump over accusations he sought foreign help to smear a political rival.

The crowded field of Democratic presidential candidates were nearly unanimous in praising House Democrats' decision to begin an impeachment inquiry into Republican President Donald Trump over accusations he sought foreign help to smear a political rival. Now comes the hard part. With impeachment set to overshadow the Democratic presidential primary race, how will candidates draw attention to their key policy issues, ranging from universal healthcare to income inequality? After months of resisting pressure from fellow Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced the launch of a formal impeachment effort on Tuesday, accusing Trump of seeking foreign help to damage Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden ahead of the November 2020 election. Trump had pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July 25 phone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter, who had worked for a company drilling for gas in Ukraine. The impeachment inquiry ensures a partisan fight in Congress and on the presidential campaign trail in the coming months. Kurt Meyer, Democratic party chairman for three rural Iowa counties north of Des Moines, the state's most populous city, said he expects the impeachment proceedings to energize the Democratic base. "If a highly motivated person drags her mother and her husband and her second cousin twice removed to the polls, then it makes a difference," Meyer said. But in a sign the probe could energize Trump's base as well, his re-election campaign raised a quarter of a million dollars in just 15 minutes on Tuesday in the immediate aftermath of Pelosi's announcement about the probe. Trump was quick to portray himself as the victim of partisan Democratic attacks, while his campaign sent repeated fundraising appeals to his supporters on Tuesday pegged to the impeachment launch. There is also a risk that any substantive policy discussions among the 19 Democrats running for the party's nomination to take on Trump in the 2020 election will be drowned out in the growing battle between allies and foes of Trump, several Democratic strategists and experts said. "Trump has been the elephant in the room, but the democratic debates so far have been really policy centered. I think impeachment now takes center stage," said Erin O’Brien, associate professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Doug Heye, a Republican strategist who worked with congressional leaders, said Republican messaging just got simpler, if less positive. "For Democrats running for president, breaking through on healthcare or the economy just got a lot tougher," he said. "Impeachment will be the dominant topic for a long time." Subject of Trump's Affection Biden, who leads polls in the Democratic race to pick a challenger to Trump, said on Tuesday he would back impeachment if the Republican president fails to comply with congressional requests for information on Ukraine and other matters. Trump has raised unsubstantiated charges that Biden improperly tried to halt a Ukrainian probe of a company with ties to his son, without providing any evidence of wrongdoing by either. Later on Tuesday as he called into a fundraiser in Baltimore, Maryland, Biden said he "can take these attacks". “And the reason I am being attacked is that most polls show me beating him by 10 to 15 points. I am not at all surprised I have become the object of his affection and attention," he said. Biden leads Trump by about 5 percentage points in a hypothetical general election match-up against Trump, according to the Sept. 23-24 Reuters /Ipsos opinion poll released on Tuesday. In a sign that Biden's supporters are largely standing by their candidate so far, 20 per cent of Democrats and independents said they would vote for him in statewide nominating contests that begin next year according to the latest poll, up 1 percentage point from a similar poll that ran last week. But the same poll also showed that Americans overall are less supportive of impeaching Trump than they were months ago, highlighting a risk of the move backfiring on Democrats if they are seen overreaching. "On one level, this whole issue helps Biden, because it makes the president look afraid of Biden," said Kyle Kondik, a political analyst at the University of Virginia. "But the president has a great ability to drag people into the mud with him, and you wonder if that might happen to Biden." Biden's Democratic rivals, including US Senators Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Kamala Harris, are set to benefit if the front-runner falls off. But most have so far refused to be drawn into specific questions about Biden and his family, and are likely to stay that way for now. "On the one hand they want to see Biden struggle, but it might undermine the party overall in a general election," Kondik said. Warren, who edged past Sanders for the first time to rank second behind Biden in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll with 14 per cent support, said on Twitter the impeachment inquiry was "an overdue but important step." "No one is above the law not even the president of the United States," Warren said, without mentioning Biden. "Thank you to everyone who protested, organized, and asked the crucial questions to get us to this moment. So far, Trump has proven remarkably resilient in the face of repeated scandals and retaining strong support from Republicans. Democrats should act swiftly to convince voters their actions are necessary and prevent Trump from successfully arguing he is being unfairly prosecuted, said Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist who advised Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Rebecca Cordova, 62, from the suburbs of Austin, Texas, who describes herself as an independent but voted for Trump in 2016, said it would take strong evidence of wrongdoing to dissuade her from voting for him again. “I think the Democrats are just blowing smoke. They’re just trying to start something up like they did with (Russia)," she said, refering to former special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian inteference in the 2016 US presidential election. "I don’t believe the Russians helped and I don’t believe any of this with the Ukrainians, sorry."

Be careful what you wish for: Impeachment inquiry poses risks for 2020 Democrats

Frontrunner Joe Biden came out swinging in the third Democratic debate for the White House nomination, clashing with his top two rivals over the future of health care in America and dismissing their plans as unrealistic pipe dreams.

Biden, under pressure to appear in command as the candidate to beat in 2020, pushed back hard against senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren during the debate in Houston, Texas a showdown seen as a tough test of the 76-year-old's stamina.

In a high-octane clash with his fellow septuagenarians, the former vice president warned Sanders's plan to finance universal healthcare "gets him halfway there," while Warren has yet to indicate how hers will be paid for.

"I lay out how I can pay for it, how I can get it done, and why it's better," Biden said of his plan, which maintains and builds on the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare.

Warren, a rising star in the race, and Sanders each put up a spirited defense of their proposals.&nbsp;

"Those at the very top, the richest individuals and the biggest corporations, are going to pay more. And middle-class families are going to pay less," Warren said.

Sanders, whose plans advocates for a shift away from private health insurance, assured voters "we will finally make sure that every American has health care as a human right, not a privilege."

The three-way battle over healthcare kicked off a marathon debate, as 10 hopefuls scrambled for breakout moments as they vye for the right to challenge President Donald Trump.

But the candidates stood united on one key factor: ousting Trump from the White House.

"We must and will defeat Trump, the most dangerous president in the history of this country," Sanders said. "But we must do more. We must do more."

At a dinner with Republican legislators on Thursday evening, Trump quickly dropped his message of "respect" toward his opponents, which he'd expressed just three hours earlier.

He called Sanders "Crazy Bernie, he's a crazy guy." He lamented that he'd "hit Pocantonas" Warren "way too early," in reference to his mockery of the senator's controversial claim to have had Native American blood.

And he reserved his longest joke for Biden, or "Sleepy Joe."

"He's fallen asleep, he's no idea what he's doing or saying," Trump said to laughter from his party, before acting out a scene in which he imitated Chinese President Xi Jinping negotiating with Biden, with the Democrat mumbling "where am I?" and Xi telling him "sign here."

Dominant top three

All eyes were on Biden who is battling accusations that he is a gaffe-prone candidate past his prime who could struggle during a gruelling campaign.

Biden maintains a grip on pole position with 26.8 per cent support, despite a noticeable dip in recent weeks, according to a poll average compiled by RealClearPolitics.

Sanders, at 78 the oldest candidate in the field, is narrowly ahead of Warren at 17.3 per cent support, and has largely avoided clashing with his friend and fellow progressive.

A summer of verbal miscues -- and an apparent lack of preparedness for spirited attacks by rivals in the first debate -- raised doubts about Biden's age and mental clarity, concerns he and his team have roundly dismissed.

He enjoys strong support in particular from African-American communities and from working-class whites who appreciate his blue-collar appeal and believe he is best able to beat Trump, a top priority for Democratic voters.

Warren, 70, has electrified town halls and impressed voters with her extensive collection of policy platforms.

Early Thursday she released her latest plan, one that would increase Social Security benefits for all Americans by $200 per month.

While Warren's stock has risen, the campaigns of others such as Senator Kamala Harris and 37-year-old South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg have stalled.

For the second tier, including ex-congressman Beto O'Rourke, senators Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar, and Obama-era housing secretary Julian Castro -- all polling under three per cent -- a breakout moment is critical to stay relevant.

Navigating between the leaders and the strugglers is tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who has made establishing a universal basic income to offset job losses a key part of his campaign, and who grabbed the spotlight Thursday by promising to give a "freedom dividend" of $1,000 per month to 10 American families for a year. 
&nbsp;

Frontrunner Joe Biden came out swinging in the third Democratic debate for the White House nomination, clashing with his top two rivals over the future of health care in America and dismissing their plans as unrealistic pipe dreams.

Frontrunner Joe Biden came out swinging in the third Democratic debate for the White House nomination, clashing with his top two rivals over the future of health care in America and dismissing their plans as unrealistic pipe dreams. Biden, under pressure to appear in command as the candidate to beat in 2020, pushed back hard against senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren during the debate in Houston, Texas a showdown seen as a tough test of the 76-year-old's stamina. In a high-octane clash with his fellow septuagenarians, the former vice president warned Sanders's plan to finance universal healthcare "gets him halfway there," while Warren has yet to indicate how hers will be paid for. "I lay out how I can pay for it, how I can get it done, and why it's better," Biden said of his plan, which maintains and builds on the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare. Warren, a rising star in the race, and Sanders each put up a spirited defense of their proposals. "Those at the very top, the richest individuals and the biggest corporations, are going to pay more. And middle-class families are going to pay less," Warren said. Sanders, whose plans advocates for a shift away from private health insurance, assured voters "we will finally make sure that every American has health care as a human right, not a privilege." The three-way battle over healthcare kicked off a marathon debate, as 10 hopefuls scrambled for breakout moments as they vye for the right to challenge President Donald Trump. But the candidates stood united on one key factor: ousting Trump from the White House. "We must and will defeat Trump, the most dangerous president in the history of this country," Sanders said. "But we must do more. We must do more." At a dinner with Republican legislators on Thursday evening, Trump quickly dropped his message of "respect" toward his opponents, which he'd expressed just three hours earlier. He called Sanders "Crazy Bernie, he's a crazy guy." He lamented that he'd "hit Pocantonas" Warren "way too early," in reference to his mockery of the senator's controversial claim to have had Native American blood. And he reserved his longest joke for Biden, or "Sleepy Joe." "He's fallen asleep, he's no idea what he's doing or saying," Trump said to laughter from his party, before acting out a scene in which he imitated Chinese President Xi Jinping negotiating with Biden, with the Democrat mumbling "where am I?" and Xi telling him "sign here." Dominant top three All eyes were on Biden who is battling accusations that he is a gaffe-prone candidate past his prime who could struggle during a gruelling campaign. Biden maintains a grip on pole position with 26.8 per cent support, despite a noticeable dip in recent weeks, according to a poll average compiled by RealClearPolitics. Sanders, at 78 the oldest candidate in the field, is narrowly ahead of Warren at 17.3 per cent support, and has largely avoided clashing with his friend and fellow progressive. A summer of verbal miscues -- and an apparent lack of preparedness for spirited attacks by rivals in the first debate -- raised doubts about Biden's age and mental clarity, concerns he and his team have roundly dismissed. He enjoys strong support in particular from African-American communities and from working-class whites who appreciate his blue-collar appeal and believe he is best able to beat Trump, a top priority for Democratic voters. Warren, 70, has electrified town halls and impressed voters with her extensive collection of policy platforms. Early Thursday she released her latest plan, one that would increase Social Security benefits for all Americans by $200 per month. While Warren's stock has risen, the campaigns of others such as Senator Kamala Harris and 37-year-old South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg have stalled. For the second tier, including ex-congressman Beto O'Rourke, senators Cory Booker and Amy Klobuchar, and Obama-era housing secretary Julian Castro -- all polling under three per cent -- a breakout moment is critical to stay relevant. Navigating between the leaders and the strugglers is tech entrepreneur Andrew Yang, who has made establishing a universal basic income to offset job losses a key part of his campaign, and who grabbed the spotlight Thursday by promising to give a "freedom dividend" of $1,000 per month to 10 American families for a year.

Joe Biden comes out fighting in Democratic White House debate

Democrats moved Monday to intensify their impeachment investigation of President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/afghanistan-donald-trump-calls-off-peace-talks-secret-summit-with-taliban-over-terror-attacks-248340">Donald Trump</a> as whiffs of new scandal surrounding the White House emerged related to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-2020-us-presidential-election-trump-accused-google-of-very-illegal-acts-241344">Trump's</a> business and his lawyer's involvement in Ukraine.

While the Democrat leadership remains reluctant to go all-in on impeachment, given that the Republican-controlled Senate would vote down any effort to oust Trump, the stepped-up investigation could add further pressure on the embattled president 14 months before the next elections.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler moved to formalize an investigation that had up to now avoided officially declaring the aim to impeach Trump and put him on trial in the Senate.

He laid out new procedures that he said would govern "the committee's investigation to determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment with respect to President Donald J Trump."

He also defined the investigation along four specific lines: allegations that Trump illegally interfered with the Russia election meddling investigation, that he took part in hush payments to alleged former mistresses, that he has used his office to enrich himself, and that he offered pardons to government and campaign officials to protect him. 
"No one is above the law," Nadler said in a statement.

"The unprecedented corruption, coverup, and crimes by the president are under investigation by the committee as we determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment or other Article 1 remedies," he said, referring to the US Constitution's section on legislative powers.

In recent weeks more than half of the 235 Democrats in the House of Representatives have endorsed impeachment, even as senior party officials, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, continue to resist it.

Pelosi has made clear she believes the party needs to focus its energies on defeating Trump and the Republicans in the November 2020 election.

Nadler's new rules, which are expected to be passed by the committee on Thursday, will govern how witnesses will be called and questioned and how Trump's lawyers will be involved.

They are also expected to provide the committee with a broader ability to subpoena witnesses and documents, in the face of resistance by the White House.

"We will not allow Trump's continued obstruction to stop us from delivering the truth to the American people," Nadler said.

Meanwhile the Democratic heads of three other House committees announced an investigation into alleged efforts by Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani to pressure the Ukrainian government for their own political ends, including by withholding US security assistance.

They allege that Trump and Giuliani have pressured Kiev to prosecute Ukrainians who provided evidence against Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort in the Russia meddling investigation.

They also alleged that Kiev was pressured to provide damaging information on the son of former Democratic vice president Joe Biden, who could face Trump in next year's presidential election.

Hunter Biden worked for a Ukrainian gas company beginning in 2014, while his father was vice president.

Democrats moved Monday to intensify their impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump as whiffs of new scandal surrounding the White House emerged related to Trump's business and his lawyer's involvement in Ukraine.

Democrats moved Monday to intensify their impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump as whiffs of new scandal surrounding the White House emerged related to Trump's business and his lawyer's involvement in Ukraine. While the Democrat leadership remains reluctant to go all-in on impeachment, given that the Republican-controlled Senate would vote down any effort to oust Trump, the stepped-up investigation could add further pressure on the embattled president 14 months before the next elections. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler moved to formalize an investigation that had up to now avoided officially declaring the aim to impeach Trump and put him on trial in the Senate. He laid out new procedures that he said would govern "the committee's investigation to determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment with respect to President Donald J Trump." He also defined the investigation along four specific lines: allegations that Trump illegally interfered with the Russia election meddling investigation, that he took part in hush payments to alleged former mistresses, that he has used his office to enrich himself, and that he offered pardons to government and campaign officials to protect him. "No one is above the law," Nadler said in a statement. "The unprecedented corruption, coverup, and crimes by the president are under investigation by the committee as we determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment or other Article 1 remedies," he said, referring to the US Constitution's section on legislative powers. In recent weeks more than half of the 235 Democrats in the House of Representatives have endorsed impeachment, even as senior party officials, especially House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, continue to resist it. Pelosi has made clear she believes the party needs to focus its energies on defeating Trump and the Republicans in the November 2020 election. Nadler's new rules, which are expected to be passed by the committee on Thursday, will govern how witnesses will be called and questioned and how Trump's lawyers will be involved. They are also expected to provide the committee with a broader ability to subpoena witnesses and documents, in the face of resistance by the White House. "We will not allow Trump's continued obstruction to stop us from delivering the truth to the American people," Nadler said. Meanwhile the Democratic heads of three other House committees announced an investigation into alleged efforts by Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani to pressure the Ukrainian government for their own political ends, including by withholding US security assistance. They allege that Trump and Giuliani have pressured Kiev to prosecute Ukrainians who provided evidence against Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort in the Russia meddling investigation. They also alleged that Kiev was pressured to provide damaging information on the son of former Democratic vice president Joe Biden, who could face Trump in next year's presidential election. Hunter Biden worked for a Ukrainian gas company beginning in 2014, while his father was vice president.

US House steps up Donald Trump impeachment probe

As Congress returns from its August recess on Monday, Democratic leaders in Congress are stepping up calls for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, to take action to pass legislation to prevent gun violence.

House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and other senior Democrats said on Sunday they will gather Monday afternoon to urge McConnell to "end his harmful legislative graveyard" and bring a House-passed bill expanding background checks on gun purchases to the Senate floor as soon as possible.

The House Judiciary Committee is also expected to debate additional gun measures this week.

McConnell said he would not bring a gun bill to the floor of the Republican-majority Senate unless it had the support of President Donald Trump, a Republican who has not provided details of measures he might support to address gun violence.

After a cluster of mass shootings took 36 lives in August, Trump said he favoured action, possibly on tackling mental health issues related to the violence or expanded background checks. The White House has yet to outline any specific proposals.

White House officials said the measures might include expediting the death penalty for mass shooters.

Republican Roy Blunt, a member of the Senate Republican leadership, on Sunday urged Trump to say what he wants. "The president needs to step up here and set some guidelines for what he would do," Blunt said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates have been floating their own remedies for mass shootings. One of the candidates, Senator Amy Klobuchar, told CNN on Sunday that she would back an immediate ban on assault weapons.

Previous attempts to pass gun controls after mass shootings, including in the aftermath of the December 2012 murder of 20 children and six staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, have mostly failed in the face of fierce lobbying by the National Rifle Association and other gun groups.

Here are some proposals that could be debated in Congress in the coming weeks and months:

Gun sale background checks

The Democratic-led House of Representatives in February passed legislation to expand background checks on gun buyers. A loophole in federal law allows many sales — perhaps as many as one-fifth — over the internet and at gun shows to go unchecked.

While the bill was touted as being bipartisan, only eight House Republicans backed it, with 188 voting no. This is one measure Democrats are urging McConnell to bring to the floor of the Republican-controlled Senate.

Republican Senator Pat Toomey and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin have been trying to resurrect a somewhat weaker version of the bill, which the Senate defeated in 2013. It exempts from background checks all gun transfers, including sales, between close family members. The House-passed bill only exempts loans and gifts of firearms between such relatives.

Also passed by the House in February and stalled in the Senate is a Democratic bill to extend to 10 days, from the current three business days, the amount of time for a background check if information on an individual is incomplete.

On Aug. 7, Trump said there was strong support for doing something on background checks but he did not embrace a specific proposal.

'RED FLAG’ LEGISLATION

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a Republican, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat on the panel, want to create a federal grant program helping states adopt “red flag” laws. These would allow courts and local law enforcement to remove guns from people deemed a risk to communities.

Under the procedure, for example, family members or neighbours of a person thought to have weapons and be a potential danger could tip off authorities, starting the legal process.

The House Judiciary Committee is expected to consider two "red flag" proposals this week. Also on its agenda is legislation that would bar individuals convicted of misdemeanour hate crimes from owning firearms.

Trump has said he wants to ensure that “mentally unstable, seriously ill people aren’t carrying guns.”

COMBATING ‘LIE AND TRY’

Bipartisan Senate legislation would require that state and local law enforcement be quickly notified by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) when someone prohibited from purchasing a gun attempts to do so.

Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia rely on NICS to conduct their background checks on gun sales, while the rest do it themselves.

Backers of the bill say “lie and try” incidents can be a warning sign of fresh criminal behaviour by individuals. As with most gun-related bills, there is no certainty that it will make it through Congress.

ATTACKING VIOLENT EXTREMISM

The Department of Homeland Security’s “Countering Violent Extremism Grants” program has withered under the Trump administration.

The $10 million federal program was aimed at helping state and local government agencies and nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, work to stop “extremist” groups from engaging in violence, including mass shootings by followers. Shortly after coming to power in 2017, the Trump administration proposed eliminating the program and since then the grants have withered.

An El Paso, Texas, shooting in August has sparked some calls in and out of Congress for funding of the DHS office.

IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS

Republicans and the gun industry have argued that gun violence is rooted in psychological illness and that federal resources should be oriented toward treatment as a way of preventing mass shootings.

“Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun,” Trump said in a speech to the nation, blaming the violence on “mentally ill monsters.”

In the past, congressional Republicans have called for beefing up federal funding of research and treatment of mental illness as a response to gun violence.

Their opponents cite studies showing that few mass shootings are tied to mental illness and that focusing on it is a diversion from tighter gun control laws.

BANNING SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS

For years, gun control advocates have urged the prohibition of semi-automatic assault rifles that fire rapidly and can carry large magazines of ammunition. They were modelled on guns designed for military use.

Republicans, some Democrats and the gun lobby have fought off such attempts as a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment providing the right to bear arms.

On Aug. 7, Trump told reporters there is “no political appetite” for an assault weapons ban.

A group of House and Senate Democrats is urging passage of legislation they introduced months ago to ban high-capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, saying these make assault weapons especially lethal. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to consider such legislation this week.

As Congress returns from its August recess on Monday, Democratic leaders in Congress are stepping up calls for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, to take action to pass legislation to prevent gun violence.

As Congress returns from its August recess on Monday, Democratic leaders in Congress are stepping up calls for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, to take action to pass legislation to prevent gun violence. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and other senior Democrats said on Sunday they will gather Monday afternoon to urge McConnell to "end his harmful legislative graveyard" and bring a House-passed bill expanding background checks on gun purchases to the Senate floor as soon as possible. The House Judiciary Committee is also expected to debate additional gun measures this week. McConnell said he would not bring a gun bill to the floor of the Republican-majority Senate unless it had the support of President Donald Trump, a Republican who has not provided details of measures he might support to address gun violence. After a cluster of mass shootings took 36 lives in August, Trump said he favoured action, possibly on tackling mental health issues related to the violence or expanded background checks. The White House has yet to outline any specific proposals. White House officials said the measures might include expediting the death penalty for mass shooters. Republican Roy Blunt, a member of the Senate Republican leadership, on Sunday urged Trump to say what he wants. "The president needs to step up here and set some guidelines for what he would do," Blunt said on NBC's "Meet the Press." Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidates have been floating their own remedies for mass shootings. One of the candidates, Senator Amy Klobuchar, told CNN on Sunday that she would back an immediate ban on assault weapons. Previous attempts to pass gun controls after mass shootings, including in the aftermath of the December 2012 murder of 20 children and six staff members at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, have mostly failed in the face of fierce lobbying by the National Rifle Association and other gun groups. Here are some proposals that could be debated in Congress in the coming weeks and months: Gun sale background checks The Democratic-led House of Representatives in February passed legislation to expand background checks on gun buyers. A loophole in federal law allows many sales — perhaps as many as one-fifth — over the internet and at gun shows to go unchecked. While the bill was touted as being bipartisan, only eight House Republicans backed it, with 188 voting no. This is one measure Democrats are urging McConnell to bring to the floor of the Republican-controlled Senate. Republican Senator Pat Toomey and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin have been trying to resurrect a somewhat weaker version of the bill, which the Senate defeated in 2013. It exempts from background checks all gun transfers, including sales, between close family members. The House-passed bill only exempts loans and gifts of firearms between such relatives. Also passed by the House in February and stalled in the Senate is a Democratic bill to extend to 10 days, from the current three business days, the amount of time for a background check if information on an individual is incomplete. On Aug. 7, Trump said there was strong support for doing something on background checks but he did not embrace a specific proposal. 'RED FLAG’ LEGISLATION Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a Republican, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat on the panel, want to create a federal grant program helping states adopt “red flag” laws. These would allow courts and local law enforcement to remove guns from people deemed a risk to communities. Under the procedure, for example, family members or neighbours of a person thought to have weapons and be a potential danger could tip off authorities, starting the legal process. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to consider two "red flag" proposals this week. Also on its agenda is legislation that would bar individuals convicted of misdemeanour hate crimes from owning firearms. Trump has said he wants to ensure that “mentally unstable, seriously ill people aren’t carrying guns.” COMBATING ‘LIE AND TRY’ Bipartisan Senate legislation would require that state and local law enforcement be quickly notified by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) when someone prohibited from purchasing a gun attempts to do so. Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia rely on NICS to conduct their background checks on gun sales, while the rest do it themselves. Backers of the bill say “lie and try” incidents can be a warning sign of fresh criminal behaviour by individuals. As with most gun-related bills, there is no certainty that it will make it through Congress. ATTACKING VIOLENT EXTREMISM The Department of Homeland Security’s “Countering Violent Extremism Grants” program has withered under the Trump administration. The $10 million federal program was aimed at helping state and local government agencies and nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, work to stop “extremist” groups from engaging in violence, including mass shootings by followers. Shortly after coming to power in 2017, the Trump administration proposed eliminating the program and since then the grants have withered. An El Paso, Texas, shooting in August has sparked some calls in and out of Congress for funding of the DHS office. IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMS Republicans and the gun industry have argued that gun violence is rooted in psychological illness and that federal resources should be oriented toward treatment as a way of preventing mass shootings. “Mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun,” Trump said in a speech to the nation, blaming the violence on “mentally ill monsters.” In the past, congressional Republicans have called for beefing up federal funding of research and treatment of mental illness as a response to gun violence. Their opponents cite studies showing that few mass shootings are tied to mental illness and that focusing on it is a diversion from tighter gun control laws. BANNING SEMI-AUTOMATIC WEAPONS For years, gun control advocates have urged the prohibition of semi-automatic assault rifles that fire rapidly and can carry large magazines of ammunition. They were modelled on guns designed for military use. Republicans, some Democrats and the gun lobby have fought off such attempts as a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment providing the right to bear arms. On Aug. 7, Trump told reporters there is “no political appetite” for an assault weapons ban. A group of House and Senate Democrats is urging passage of legislation they introduced months ago to ban high-capacity magazines holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition, saying these make assault weapons especially lethal. The House Judiciary Committee is expected to consider such legislation this week.

Democrats step up calls for gun legislation as US Congress returns

A US judge refused on Thursday to fast-track a congressional lawsuit seeking to force disclosure of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-york-clears-way-for-release-of-donald-trumps-state-tax-returns-234267">President Donald Trump's federal tax returns</a>, saying it was a complicated and important matter that should not be rushed.

US District Judge Trevor McFadden in Washington said in a written order that under US law, there was "only a narrow set of cases that must skip to the front of the line," and that the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee had not shown its lawsuit was one of them.

McFadden said that while he was not prejudging the case, Trump's defences "seem unlikely to be so trivial as to justify a rush to the merits of the case."

In an August 20 filing, the Democratic-led House Ways and Means panel said that "time is of the essence" in resolving the case it brought last month seeking to compel the Treasury Department to hand over years of the Republican president’s individual and business federal tax returns.

In the filing, lawyers for the committee said the current Congress would end on January 3, 2021, and that a prompt resolution of issues in the case was needed to give the committee enough time to investigate Trump's tax returns and pass any legislation in response.

Justice Department attorneys, in coordination with Trump's lawyers, had proposed a staged approach to hearing arguments in the case that drew objections from the House panel's legal team.

The committee filed the lawsuit after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin defied congressional subpoenas seeking the returns, despite a federal law that says the department “shall furnish” such records on request.

The lawsuit began what is widely expected to be a lengthy legal battle likely to end in the US Supreme Court.

The Justice Department said in an advisory legal opinion in June that the committee lacked a "legitimate legislative purpose" in seeking Trump's tax returns, and that Mnuchin, therefore, did not violate the law by refusing to provide them.

One of Trump's lawyers, Jay Sekulow, called the committee's efforts "presidential harassment" last month.

Before Trump, modern US presidential candidates customarily disclosed their tax returns during their campaigns.

Ways and Means are one of half a dozen House committees conducting investigations involving Trump and his administration.

The White House is refusing to cooperate with most of them, setting up several legal battles unfolding in the courts.

A US judge refused on Thursday to fast-track a congressional lawsuit seeking to force disclosure of President Donald Trump's federal tax returns, saying it was a complicated and important matter that should not be rushed.

A US judge refused on Thursday to fast-track a congressional lawsuit seeking to force disclosure of President Donald Trump's federal tax returns, saying it was a complicated and important matter that should not be rushed. US District Judge Trevor McFadden in Washington said in a written order that under US law, there was "only a narrow set of cases that must skip to the front of the line," and that the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee had not shown its lawsuit was one of them. McFadden said that while he was not prejudging the case, Trump's defences "seem unlikely to be so trivial as to justify a rush to the merits of the case." In an August 20 filing, the Democratic-led House Ways and Means panel said that "time is of the essence" in resolving the case it brought last month seeking to compel the Treasury Department to hand over years of the Republican president’s individual and business federal tax returns. In the filing, lawyers for the committee said the current Congress would end on January 3, 2021, and that a prompt resolution of issues in the case was needed to give the committee enough time to investigate Trump's tax returns and pass any legislation in response. Justice Department attorneys, in coordination with Trump's lawyers, had proposed a staged approach to hearing arguments in the case that drew objections from the House panel's legal team. The committee filed the lawsuit after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin defied congressional subpoenas seeking the returns, despite a federal law that says the department “shall furnish” such records on request. The lawsuit began what is widely expected to be a lengthy legal battle likely to end in the US Supreme Court. The Justice Department said in an advisory legal opinion in June that the committee lacked a "legitimate legislative purpose" in seeking Trump's tax returns, and that Mnuchin, therefore, did not violate the law by refusing to provide them. One of Trump's lawyers, Jay Sekulow, called the committee's efforts "presidential harassment" last month. Before Trump, modern US presidential candidates customarily disclosed their tax returns during their campaigns. Ways and Means are one of half a dozen House committees conducting investigations involving Trump and his administration. The White House is refusing to cooperate with most of them, setting up several legal battles unfolding in the courts.

US House Democrats lose bid to fast-track Trump tax return lawsuit

US President Donald Trump's administration is considering unveiling, as early as September, his healthcare plan as part of his presidential re election campaign strategy, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.

US President Donald Trump's administration is considering unveiling, as early as September, his healthcare plan as part of his presidential re election campaign strategy, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday. The plan would lay out an alternative to former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act, which has been challenged by Republicans in court, and could include coverage for people with pre existing conditions and a variety of insurance options, the Wall Street Journal said, citing unnamed sources. Trump has not signed off on the tentative plan, the newspaper said, describing ongoing debate about the plan and the timing for the roll out. Polling shows that healthcare is a top concern for voters leading up to the election. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the timing. Democrats vying to be their party's candidate for the November 2020 presidential election have focused on healthcare, debating how far to go to transform the U.S. healthcare system. Some candidates have suggested abolishing private insurance in favour of a single government run plan, sometimes referred to as “Medicare for All,” while others favour more modest reforms. On Tuesday, Trump is slated to give a speech at The Villages in Florida a large retirement community where he will address his administration's efforts to secure and improve Medicare. While he is there, Trump is expected to sign an executive order related to Medicare, a White House official said separately, declining to comment on specific details. Reuters has previously reported that Trump was considering an executive order to cut prices on branded prescription drugs sold to Medicare and other government programs.

Trump administration considers September unveiling of healthcare plan: Report

A majority of Democrats in the US House of Representatives now favour launching impeachment proceedings against Republican President Donald&nbsp;Trump, after a California lawmaker on Friday became the 118th Democrat to call for the process to begin.

"In the past few years, our nation has seen and heard things from this president that have no place in our democracy," Representative Salud Carbajal said in a statement that accused Trump&nbsp;of "criminal" behaviour.&nbsp;

"I believe it is time to open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald&nbsp;Trump," Carbajal said.

The Democrats have a majority of 235 members in the House of Representatives. Support for an impeachment inquiry has jumped by more than two dozen Democrats since former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified on July 24 about his probe of&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;and Russian interference in the 2016 election.

But the total of 118 is still far short of the 218 House votes needed to approve an impeachment resolution, and opinion polls continue to show voters sharply divided over the&nbsp;issue. The House is currently on a summer recess and will not return until September 9.

Having a majority of her own caucus favour impeachment could put new pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who opposes impeachment as a politically risky move unless investigators find powerful evidence of misconduct by&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;that can unify public opinion.

In a statement issued Friday, Pelosi gave no sign she was about to change her cautious approach. Instead, she outlined in considerable detail her strategy of Democrats continuing to investigate the president, while also moving in court to get access to more evidence.

"Democrats in the Congress continue to legislate, investigate and litigate," Pelosi declared. "The president will be held accountable."

Democrats opposing impeachment say the best way to remove&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;is by defeating him in 2020, when he is up for re-election. Some Democrats worry that too strong a focus on impeachment could eclipse other issues like healthcare and threaten the re-election of Democrats who pried seats away from Republicans last year in regions where many voters oppose impeachment.

Trump&nbsp;has denied any wrongdoing and says he was vindicated by the Mueller report, but the special counsel made clear in his testimony to Congress that that was not the case.

In his report, Mueller described in detail the extensive contact&nbsp;Trump's team had with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, and how&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;tried to impede Mueller's investigation.

While he stopped short of concluding&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;had committed a crime or that his aides had conspired with Moscow, Mueller did not clear him and indicated it was up to Congress to decide the next steps.

Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee effectively rebranded their six-month-old oversight investigation of&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;as an impeachment probe last week, when they asked a federal judge for access to Mueller's grand jury evidence to determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment against&nbsp;Trump.

Despite the mounting impeachment calls, there are no outward signs of a revolt among Democratic lawmakers over Pelosi's attitude, perhaps in part because she has said that lawmakers are free to “espouse their own position, and to criticise me.”

Democrats appear generally happy with her performance as speaker, especially her ability to stand up to&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;day after day.

Pelosi has rallied to the defence of lawmakers&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;has attacked in recent weeks, and sometimes she has returned&nbsp;Trump's fire with fire.&nbsp;

Defending her native city of Baltimore against&nbsp;Trump's criticisms that it was a "rodent-infested mess," Pelosi said Thursday that the president's own son-in-law was a "slumlord" there.

A majority of Democrats in the US House of Representatives now favour launching impeachment proceedings against Republican President Donald Trump, after a California lawmaker on Friday became the 118th Democrat to call for the process to begin.

A majority of Democrats in the US House of Representatives now favour launching impeachment proceedings against Republican President Donald Trump, after a California lawmaker on Friday became the 118th Democrat to call for the process to begin. "In the past few years, our nation has seen and heard things from this president that have no place in our democracy," Representative Salud Carbajal said in a statement that accused Trump of "criminal" behaviour. "I believe it is time to open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump," Carbajal said. The Democrats have a majority of 235 members in the House of Representatives. Support for an impeachment inquiry has jumped by more than two dozen Democrats since former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified on July 24 about his probe of Trump and Russian interference in the 2016 election. But the total of 118 is still far short of the 218 House votes needed to approve an impeachment resolution, and opinion polls continue to show voters sharply divided over the issue. The House is currently on a summer recess and will not return until September 9. Having a majority of her own caucus favour impeachment could put new pressure on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who opposes impeachment as a politically risky move unless investigators find powerful evidence of misconduct by Trump that can unify public opinion. In a statement issued Friday, Pelosi gave no sign she was about to change her cautious approach. Instead, she outlined in considerable detail her strategy of Democrats continuing to investigate the president, while also moving in court to get access to more evidence. "Democrats in the Congress continue to legislate, investigate and litigate," Pelosi declared. "The president will be held accountable." Democrats opposing impeachment say the best way to remove Trump is by defeating him in 2020, when he is up for re-election. Some Democrats worry that too strong a focus on impeachment could eclipse other issues like healthcare and threaten the re-election of Democrats who pried seats away from Republicans last year in regions where many voters oppose impeachment. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and says he was vindicated by the Mueller report, but the special counsel made clear in his testimony to Congress that that was not the case. In his report, Mueller described in detail the extensive contact Trump's team had with Russia during the 2016 election campaign, and how Trump tried to impede Mueller's investigation. While he stopped short of concluding Trump had committed a crime or that his aides had conspired with Moscow, Mueller did not clear him and indicated it was up to Congress to decide the next steps. Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee effectively rebranded their six-month-old oversight investigation of Trump as an impeachment probe last week, when they asked a federal judge for access to Mueller's grand jury evidence to determine whether to recommend articles of impeachment against Trump. Despite the mounting impeachment calls, there are no outward signs of a revolt among Democratic lawmakers over Pelosi's attitude, perhaps in part because she has said that lawmakers are free to “espouse their own position, and to criticise me.” Democrats appear generally happy with her performance as speaker, especially her ability to stand up to Trump day after day. Pelosi has rallied to the defence of lawmakers Trump has attacked in recent weeks, and sometimes she has returned Trump's fire with fire. Defending her native city of Baltimore against Trump's criticisms that it was a "rodent-infested mess," Pelosi said Thursday that the president's own son-in-law was a "slumlord" there.

Majority of US House Democrats favour starting impeachment proceedings

Democratic presidential contenders attacked Republican President Donald Trump as a demagogue who is ripping apart the country and promised to restore unity during the opening minutes of a debate on Wednesday.

On the second of back-to-back nights of Democratic debates, front-runner <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-and-harris-go-on-the-attack-in-us-democratic-debate-239808">Joe Biden was flanked at centre stage by rivals Kamala Harris</a> and Cory Booker, US senators who are the most prominent black contenders in a Democratic nominating contest in which race has played a prominent role.

Biden cited that diversity on stage in his opening statement.

"Mr. President, this is America, and we are strong and great because of this diversity, Mr. President, not in spite of it," he said to Trump.

"Let`s get something straight, we love it, we’re not leaving it, we’re here to stay and we’re certainly not leaving it here to you," said Biden, who was vice president under America`s first black president, Barack Obama.

Seven other candidates, including former US Housing Secretary Julian Castro, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined them on stage in Detroit in search of a breakout moment that will generate new momentum for their campaigns.

The crowded Democratic field of about two dozen candidates has been vying for attention and financial support in the race to pick a challenger to Trump in the November 2020 election.

"Tonight, we have to get to the heart and soul of who we are as Democrats," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio in his opening statement. "There are good people on this stage but there are real differences."

Biden did not figure prominently in the first night of the debate on Tuesday, which featured a clash between progressives Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and their more moderate rivals on issues such as universal healthcare and immigration.

But he was in the spotlight on Wednesday, after engaging for weeks in an escalating fight with Harris and Booker for the support of black voters, a vital constituency in the Democratic nominating battle.

Biden admitted he was taken by surprise last month when Harris criticized him for opposing federally mandated busing for school integration in the 1970s and for working with segregationists while serving in the US Senate decades ago.

The sharp attack gave Harris a bump in the polls, and Biden`s feeble response led to a dip in his standing. He has recovered in some recent polls and still maintains a firm grip on first place, helped by strong support from black voters.&nbsp;

During the candidate introductions on Wednesday, Biden told Harris to "go easy on me, kid." His comment was picked up by a microphone.

The debates come about six months before Iowa holds the first nominating contest, and the two nights in Detroit could be the last chance for many of the lower-tier contenders to make an appearance on the national debate stage.

The Democratic National Committee will double its fundraising and polling requirements to qualify for the next debates in September and October, leaving out more candidates and raising questions about their ability to continue their campaigns.

Democratic presidential contenders attacked Republican President Donald Trump as a demagogue who is ripping apart the country and promised to restore unity during the opening minutes of a debate on Wednesday.

Democratic presidential contenders attacked Republican President Donald Trump as a demagogue who is ripping apart the country and promised to restore unity during the opening minutes of a debate on Wednesday. On the second of back-to-back nights of Democratic debates, front-runner Joe Biden was flanked at centre stage by rivals Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, US senators who are the most prominent black contenders in a Democratic nominating contest in which race has played a prominent role. Biden cited that diversity on stage in his opening statement. "Mr. President, this is America, and we are strong and great because of this diversity, Mr. President, not in spite of it," he said to Trump. "Let`s get something straight, we love it, we’re not leaving it, we’re here to stay and we’re certainly not leaving it here to you," said Biden, who was vice president under America`s first black president, Barack Obama. Seven other candidates, including former US Housing Secretary Julian Castro, Washington Governor Jay Inslee and US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, joined them on stage in Detroit in search of a breakout moment that will generate new momentum for their campaigns. The crowded Democratic field of about two dozen candidates has been vying for attention and financial support in the race to pick a challenger to Trump in the November 2020 election. "Tonight, we have to get to the heart and soul of who we are as Democrats," said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio in his opening statement. "There are good people on this stage but there are real differences." Biden did not figure prominently in the first night of the debate on Tuesday, which featured a clash between progressives Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren and their more moderate rivals on issues such as universal healthcare and immigration. But he was in the spotlight on Wednesday, after engaging for weeks in an escalating fight with Harris and Booker for the support of black voters, a vital constituency in the Democratic nominating battle. Biden admitted he was taken by surprise last month when Harris criticized him for opposing federally mandated busing for school integration in the 1970s and for working with segregationists while serving in the US Senate decades ago. The sharp attack gave Harris a bump in the polls, and Biden`s feeble response led to a dip in his standing. He has recovered in some recent polls and still maintains a firm grip on first place, helped by strong support from black voters. During the candidate introductions on Wednesday, Biden told Harris to "go easy on me, kid." His comment was picked up by a microphone. The debates come about six months before Iowa holds the first nominating contest, and the two nights in Detroit could be the last chance for many of the lower-tier contenders to make an appearance on the national debate stage. The Democratic National Committee will double its fundraising and polling requirements to qualify for the next debates in September and October, leaving out more candidates and raising questions about their ability to continue their campaigns.

US Democratic candidates attack Trump as Democratic presidential debate opens

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders offered an unabashed defence of their progressive policies during a Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday, as their more moderate rivals aimed their proposals as unrealistic and politically untenable.

The debate frequently pitted the two US senators against the rest of the 10 candidates on stage, with healthcare and immigration policy highlighting the divisions between the two camps.

On the first night of back-to-back debates, Democrats were united in stressing the urgency of defeating Republican <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/outrage-as-donald-trump-brands-mostly-black-baltimore-infested-mess-238913">President Donald Trump</a> in the November 2020 election. But they delivered bruising critiques of their party rivals` positions as detailed policy disputes dominated the nearly three-hour event.

Trump has been eager to paint the entire Democratic field as socialists, seeking to make any eventual nominee untenable to voters by arguing Democrats want to raise taxes, open the US borders and take away private healthcare.&nbsp;

The dispute between the moderate and liberal wings of the Democratic Party highlighted the central question of the nominating contest: Which candidate in the field of more than two dozen would be best positioned to beat Trump next year.

Montana Governor Steve Bullock, emerging as a forceful voice in his first presidential debate, criticized fellow candidates for being too liberal in the opening round of debates last month in Miami.

"Watching that last debate, folks seemed more concerned about scoring points or outdoing each other with wish-list economics than making sure Americans know we hear their voices and will help their lives," Bullock said. 
Progressives argued their policies would excite voters and allow them to draw a distinct contrast to Trump.&nbsp;

Taking a jab at former <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-clash-on-healthcare-in-feisty-first-us-presidential-debate-230721">US Representative John Delaney</a>, who often played the role of liberal foil during the debate, Warren said: "I don’t understand why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for president of the United States to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for."&nbsp;

As the front-runners in the polls among the candidates debating on Tuesday, Sanders and Warren often found themselves defending the policy positions they share.&nbsp;

"I get a little bit tired of Democrats afraid of big ideas. Republicans are not afraid of big ideas," Sanders said.

The two are seeking to gain ground against former Vice President Joe Biden, who currently leads in opinion polls among Democratic contenders.

Healthcare, Immigration

The early part of the debate centred on a dispute about the future of the US healthcare system, and whether Democrats should embrace Medicare for All proposals that would have the government take over the health insurance industry.&nbsp;

The divisions over how best to provide Americans access to affordable healthcare is one of the early defining issues in the Democratic race for the 2020 presidential nomination to take on Trump.

Some contenders argued the proposal pushed by the progressives would take private insurance away from people who currently prefer their coverage and force a tax increase on the middle class.

"Why do we have to be the party of taking something away from people?" said Delaney, who has been critical of Medicare for All. 
&nbsp; 
He argued that Democrats should not back proposals that would eliminate private insurance.&nbsp;

"They are running on telling half the country that your health insurance is illegal," Delaney said, pointing to Warren and Sanders. Warren interjected to defend the proposal.&nbsp;

"We`re not trying to take healthcare away from anyone. That`s what Republicans are trying to do."

Sanders, who has introduced a Medicare for All bill in the US Senate, said: "Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. I believe that I will fight for that."

The candidates also differed on immigration policy - disagreeing on whether illegal border crossings should be decriminalized.

"You don`t have to decriminalize everything," Bullock said. "What you have to do is to have a president in there with the judgment and the decency to treat someone that comes to the border like one of our own."

Warren disagreed, saying: "We need to expand legal immigration, we need to create a path for citizenship not just for dreamers but for grandmas and for people who have been working here in the farms and for students who have overstayed their visas."

"You are playing into Donald Trump`s hands," Bullock said.&nbsp;

Lower-tier candidates were aiming to produce the kind of post-debate surge that US Senator Kamala Harris enjoyed after a strong performance in the first debate after confronting Biden on the issue of race.&nbsp;

The two nights in Detroit could be the last chance for many contenders to debate on the national stage, as the Democratic National Committee will double its fundraising and polling requirements to qualify for participation in the next debates in September and October.

Ten more candidates will face off on Wednesday night, including Biden and Harris.&nbsp;

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders offered an unabashed defence of their progressive policies during a Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday, as their more moderate rivals aimed their proposals as unrealistic and politically untenable.

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders offered an unabashed defence of their progressive policies during a Democratic presidential debate on Tuesday, as their more moderate rivals aimed their proposals as unrealistic and politically untenable. The debate frequently pitted the two US senators against the rest of the 10 candidates on stage, with healthcare and immigration policy highlighting the divisions between the two camps. On the first night of back-to-back debates, Democrats were united in stressing the urgency of defeating Republican President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election. But they delivered bruising critiques of their party rivals` positions as detailed policy disputes dominated the nearly three-hour event. Trump has been eager to paint the entire Democratic field as socialists, seeking to make any eventual nominee untenable to voters by arguing Democrats want to raise taxes, open the US borders and take away private healthcare. The dispute between the moderate and liberal wings of the Democratic Party highlighted the central question of the nominating contest: Which candidate in the field of more than two dozen would be best positioned to beat Trump next year. Montana Governor Steve Bullock, emerging as a forceful voice in his first presidential debate, criticized fellow candidates for being too liberal in the opening round of debates last month in Miami. "Watching that last debate, folks seemed more concerned about scoring points or outdoing each other with wish-list economics than making sure Americans know we hear their voices and will help their lives," Bullock said. Progressives argued their policies would excite voters and allow them to draw a distinct contrast to Trump. Taking a jab at former US Representative John Delaney, who often played the role of liberal foil during the debate, Warren said: "I don’t understand why anybody goes to all the trouble of running for president of the United States to talk about what we really can’t do and shouldn’t fight for." As the front-runners in the polls among the candidates debating on Tuesday, Sanders and Warren often found themselves defending the policy positions they share. "I get a little bit tired of Democrats afraid of big ideas. Republicans are not afraid of big ideas," Sanders said. The two are seeking to gain ground against former Vice President Joe Biden, who currently leads in opinion polls among Democratic contenders. Healthcare, Immigration The early part of the debate centred on a dispute about the future of the US healthcare system, and whether Democrats should embrace Medicare for All proposals that would have the government take over the health insurance industry. The divisions over how best to provide Americans access to affordable healthcare is one of the early defining issues in the Democratic race for the 2020 presidential nomination to take on Trump. Some contenders argued the proposal pushed by the progressives would take private insurance away from people who currently prefer their coverage and force a tax increase on the middle class. "Why do we have to be the party of taking something away from people?" said Delaney, who has been critical of Medicare for All. He argued that Democrats should not back proposals that would eliminate private insurance. "They are running on telling half the country that your health insurance is illegal," Delaney said, pointing to Warren and Sanders. Warren interjected to defend the proposal. "We`re not trying to take healthcare away from anyone. That`s what Republicans are trying to do." Sanders, who has introduced a Medicare for All bill in the US Senate, said: "Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege. I believe that I will fight for that." The candidates also differed on immigration policy - disagreeing on whether illegal border crossings should be decriminalized. "You don`t have to decriminalize everything," Bullock said. "What you have to do is to have a president in there with the judgment and the decency to treat someone that comes to the border like one of our own." Warren disagreed, saying: "We need to expand legal immigration, we need to create a path for citizenship not just for dreamers but for grandmas and for people who have been working here in the farms and for students who have overstayed their visas." "You are playing into Donald Trump`s hands," Bullock said. Lower-tier candidates were aiming to produce the kind of post-debate surge that US Senator Kamala Harris enjoyed after a strong performance in the first debate after confronting Biden on the issue of race. The two nights in Detroit could be the last chance for many contenders to debate on the national stage, as the Democratic National Committee will double its fundraising and polling requirements to qualify for participation in the next debates in September and October. Ten more candidates will face off on Wednesday night, including Biden and Harris.

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders defend progressive policies in US Democratic debate

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democratic-presidential-candidate-kamala-harris-releases-15-years-of-tax-returns-210325">US Senator Kamala Harris </a>on Monday released a "Medicare for All" proposal ahead of a second debate for Democratic presidential candidates, when their differing approaches to healthcare insurance policy are expected to feature prominently.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kamala-harris-americas-only-indian-american-senator-bolsters-democrats-midterm-prospects-eyes-2020-ticket-175453">Harris</a>` plan would allow Americans to buy into the Medicare government health insurance programme, establishing a 10-year phase-in period during which newly born children would be automatically enrolled and healthcare providers can transition.

The plan would allow private health insurers to offer Medicare plans if they meet requirements on costs and benefits.

"Essentially, we would allow private insurance to offer a plan in the Medicare system, but they will be subject to strict requirements to ensure it lowers costs and expands services. If they want to play by our rules, they can be in the system. If not, they have to get out," Harris wrote in a post on the online publishing platform Medium.&nbsp;

The campaigns of two rivals, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former vice president Joe Biden, quickly criticised the Harris proposal.

The divisions over how best to provide Americans access to affordable healthcare is one of the early defining issues in the Democratic Party nominating contest for the 2020 election to take on Republican President Donald Trump. The second debate for 20 candidates is on Tuesday and Wednesday in Detroit.

Harris, a 54-year-old senator from California, has struggled to clarify how she would craft a "Medicare for All" plan. At times she has wavered as to whether such a plan would preserve a role for private health insurers.

At the first debate in June, Harris raised her hand when the candidates were asked whether they would abolish private health insurance in favour of a government-run plan. She later said she had misunderstood the question.

Harris, in explaining her "Medicare for All" proposal, was deliberate in differentiating it from a Medicare for All bill in the US Senate offered by Sanders. Harris has co-sponsored the legislation.

While the Sanders legislation would phase in a "Medicare for All" plan over four years, Harris would extend that phase to 10 years. Unlike the Sanders proposal, it preserves a role for private insurers.

The Sanders bill proposes several options for financing the Medicare expansion, including a 7.5% income-based tax paid by employers, a 4% income-based premium, exempting the first $29,000 in income for a family of four, and eliminating some tax deductions.

"Call it anything you want, but you can`t call this plan Medicare for All. Folding to the interests of the health insurance industry is both bad policy and bad politics," Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir said in a statement.

Harris` proposal would raise to $100,000 the threshold after which families would pay a related tax, and establish a tax on Wall Street trading.

"To pay for this specific change, I would tax Wall Street stock trades at 0.2%, bond trades at 0.1%, and derivative transactions at 0.002%. Think of it like this: that`s a $2 fee on a $1,000 trade by investors and big banks," Harris wrote on Medium.

Harris and Sanders will not share a debate stage this week. Sanders will appear on Tuesday and Harris on Wednesday. Biden, the current front-runner in opinion polls, will share the stage with Harris and seems likely to challenge her plan.

"Senator Kamala Harris just released a health care plan that both backtracks on her long-promised – but then-hedged – support of Bernie Sanders` Medicare for All legislation while at the same time committing to still unraveling the hard-won Affordable Care Act that the Trump Administration is trying to undo," Biden spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield said in a statement.

But Kathleen Sebelius, who was chief of the US Department of Health and Human Services under Democratic President Barack Obama, said in a statement that Harris` plan would be a "sensible expansion" of the Medicare system that would build on the Affordable Care Act, Obama`s signature healthcare law.

"To get all Americans covered by health insurance, where cost is not a barrier, we need innovative ideas like this," Sebelius said.

US Senator Kamala Harris on Monday released a "Medicare for All" proposal ahead of a second debate for Democratic presidential candidates, when their differing approaches to healthcare insurance policy are expected to feature prominently.

US Senator Kamala Harris on Monday released a "Medicare for All" proposal ahead of a second debate for Democratic presidential candidates, when their differing approaches to healthcare insurance policy are expected to feature prominently. Harris` plan would allow Americans to buy into the Medicare government health insurance programme, establishing a 10-year phase-in period during which newly born children would be automatically enrolled and healthcare providers can transition. The plan would allow private health insurers to offer Medicare plans if they meet requirements on costs and benefits. "Essentially, we would allow private insurance to offer a plan in the Medicare system, but they will be subject to strict requirements to ensure it lowers costs and expands services. If they want to play by our rules, they can be in the system. If not, they have to get out," Harris wrote in a post on the online publishing platform Medium. The campaigns of two rivals, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and former vice president Joe Biden, quickly criticised the Harris proposal. The divisions over how best to provide Americans access to affordable healthcare is one of the early defining issues in the Democratic Party nominating contest for the 2020 election to take on Republican President Donald Trump. The second debate for 20 candidates is on Tuesday and Wednesday in Detroit. Harris, a 54-year-old senator from California, has struggled to clarify how she would craft a "Medicare for All" plan. At times she has wavered as to whether such a plan would preserve a role for private health insurers. At the first debate in June, Harris raised her hand when the candidates were asked whether they would abolish private health insurance in favour of a government-run plan. She later said she had misunderstood the question. Harris, in explaining her "Medicare for All" proposal, was deliberate in differentiating it from a Medicare for All bill in the US Senate offered by Sanders. Harris has co-sponsored the legislation. While the Sanders legislation would phase in a "Medicare for All" plan over four years, Harris would extend that phase to 10 years. Unlike the Sanders proposal, it preserves a role for private insurers. The Sanders bill proposes several options for financing the Medicare expansion, including a 7.5% income-based tax paid by employers, a 4% income-based premium, exempting the first $29,000 in income for a family of four, and eliminating some tax deductions. "Call it anything you want, but you can`t call this plan Medicare for All. Folding to the interests of the health insurance industry is both bad policy and bad politics," Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir said in a statement. Harris` proposal would raise to $100,000 the threshold after which families would pay a related tax, and establish a tax on Wall Street trading. "To pay for this specific change, I would tax Wall Street stock trades at 0.2%, bond trades at 0.1%, and derivative transactions at 0.002%. Think of it like this: that`s a $2 fee on a $1,000 trade by investors and big banks," Harris wrote on Medium. Harris and Sanders will not share a debate stage this week. Sanders will appear on Tuesday and Harris on Wednesday. Biden, the current front-runner in opinion polls, will share the stage with Harris and seems likely to challenge her plan. "Senator Kamala Harris just released a health care plan that both backtracks on her long-promised – but then-hedged – support of Bernie Sanders` Medicare for All legislation while at the same time committing to still unraveling the hard-won Affordable Care Act that the Trump Administration is trying to undo," Biden spokeswoman Kate Bedingfield said in a statement. But Kathleen Sebelius, who was chief of the US Department of Health and Human Services under Democratic President Barack Obama, said in a statement that Harris` plan would be a "sensible expansion" of the Medicare system that would build on the Affordable Care Act, Obama`s signature healthcare law. "To get all Americans covered by health insurance, where cost is not a barrier, we need innovative ideas like this," Sebelius said.

Kamala Harris releases healthcare policy plan days before Democratic debate

US&nbsp;House Speaker Nancy&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;said she and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had no hatchet to bury on Friday, playing down tensions after a meeting between the powerful speaker and freshman lawmaker who in recent months has seized the Democratic Party spotlight.

In clashes with her own party leaders as well as the White House over border aid and other issues, Ocasio-Cortez and a handful of other left-wing Democratic progressives have become a target for President Donald Trump and his Republicans heading into the 2020 US elections.

The rise of "the squad," as Ocasio-Cortez's small group of four minority congresswomen is known, has sometimes appeared to strain&nbsp;Pelosi's patience as she works to keep House Democrats unified and to restrain demands from many lawmakers to start impeachment proceedings against Trump.

In a news conference on Friday,&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;minimized divisions with Ocasio-Cortez and the other three squad members - Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley.

Asked if she and Ocasio-Cortez had buried the hatchet,&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;told reporters, "I don't think there ever was any hatchet."

"These, some personality issues and the rest, they are minor," she said.

"We sat down today. We had a good meeting. And the congresswoman is a very gracious member of Congress, so we had a very positive conversation about our districts and how we represent them, our country."

Pelosi&nbsp;also said that differences of opinion in the Democratic Party should be respected.

"We are not lockstep, rubber-stamp representation of anything," the speaker said, recalling past party brawls over issues such as the Iraq war.

Later Friday, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters the meeting with&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;had been positive and productive.

"I'm looking forward to us continuing our work," she said as she left a House committee room, several news outlets reported.

The Capitol Hill meeting with&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;came at the request of the 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez as Congress departed Washington for a six-week break with an uncertain outlook for Democrats' legislative agenda and their multiple investigations of Trump.

The speaker, who is 79, declined to list her policy differences with Ocasio-Cortez, but others did on Twitter. They "hold different positions on Medicare for All, free college and cancelling student debt, taking corporate donations, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and border issues, impeachment," wrote Waleed Shahid, communications director for the Justice Democrats, a left-wing group that helped launch Ocasio-Cortez's political career last year.

Initiating an impeachment proceeding against Trump remains high on the priority list for Democrats such as Ocasio-Cortez while&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;has worked to rein in impeachment demands.

At least 90 House of Representatives Democrats as of early this week had said they support starting impeachment investigations against Trump.

Earlier this month&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;appeared dismissive of the influence of Ocasio-Cortez and the squad in an interview with the New York Times. Ocasio-Cortez responded by telling the Washington Post that she thought&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;had been "disrespectful."

Trump then attacked the minority lawmakers in tweets that the House of Representatives, under&nbsp;Pelosi’s leadership, afterwards voted to condemn as racist.

While Trump’s attack was seen by some as an attempt to divide Democrats, it gave&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;a chance to come to the squad’s defence and reset her relationship with the lawmakers as the 2020 congressional and presidential elections approach.

Sarah Matthews, the Trump campaign's deputy press secretary, on Friday poked fun at the meeting of&nbsp;Pelosi&nbsp;and Ocasio-Cortez, saying, "So nice for the leader of the Democratic party to take time out of her busy schedule to meet with Nancy&nbsp;Pelosi."

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had no hatchet to bury on Friday, playing down tensions after a meeting between the powerful speaker and freshman lawmaker who in recent months has seized the Democratic Party spotlight.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had no hatchet to bury on Friday, playing down tensions after a meeting between the powerful speaker and freshman lawmaker who in recent months has seized the Democratic Party spotlight. In clashes with her own party leaders as well as the White House over border aid and other issues, Ocasio-Cortez and a handful of other left-wing Democratic progressives have become a target for President Donald Trump and his Republicans heading into the 2020 US elections. The rise of "the squad," as Ocasio-Cortez's small group of four minority congresswomen is known, has sometimes appeared to strain Pelosi's patience as she works to keep House Democrats unified and to restrain demands from many lawmakers to start impeachment proceedings against Trump. In a news conference on Friday, Pelosi minimized divisions with Ocasio-Cortez and the other three squad members - Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley. Asked if she and Ocasio-Cortez had buried the hatchet, Pelosi told reporters, "I don't think there ever was any hatchet." "These, some personality issues and the rest, they are minor," she said. "We sat down today. We had a good meeting. And the congresswoman is a very gracious member of Congress, so we had a very positive conversation about our districts and how we represent them, our country." Pelosi also said that differences of opinion in the Democratic Party should be respected. "We are not lockstep, rubber-stamp representation of anything," the speaker said, recalling past party brawls over issues such as the Iraq war. Later Friday, Ocasio-Cortez told reporters the meeting with Pelosi had been positive and productive. "I'm looking forward to us continuing our work," she said as she left a House committee room, several news outlets reported. The Capitol Hill meeting with Pelosi came at the request of the 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez as Congress departed Washington for a six-week break with an uncertain outlook for Democrats' legislative agenda and their multiple investigations of Trump. The speaker, who is 79, declined to list her policy differences with Ocasio-Cortez, but others did on Twitter. They "hold different positions on Medicare for All, free college and cancelling student debt, taking corporate donations, ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and border issues, impeachment," wrote Waleed Shahid, communications director for the Justice Democrats, a left-wing group that helped launch Ocasio-Cortez's political career last year. Initiating an impeachment proceeding against Trump remains high on the priority list for Democrats such as Ocasio-Cortez while Pelosi has worked to rein in impeachment demands. At least 90 House of Representatives Democrats as of early this week had said they support starting impeachment investigations against Trump. Earlier this month Pelosi appeared dismissive of the influence of Ocasio-Cortez and the squad in an interview with the New York Times. Ocasio-Cortez responded by telling the Washington Post that she thought Pelosi had been "disrespectful." Trump then attacked the minority lawmakers in tweets that the House of Representatives, under Pelosi’s leadership, afterwards voted to condemn as racist. While Trump’s attack was seen by some as an attempt to divide Democrats, it gave Pelosi a chance to come to the squad’s defence and reset her relationship with the lawmakers as the 2020 congressional and presidential elections approach. Sarah Matthews, the Trump campaign's deputy press secretary, on Friday poked fun at the meeting of Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez, saying, "So nice for the leader of the Democratic party to take time out of her busy schedule to meet with Nancy Pelosi."

US House Speaker Pelosi all smiles after meeting with Ocasio-Cortez

Former US Special Counsel <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-attacks-robert-mueller-ahead-of-testimony-on-russia-probe-237817">Robert Mueller testifies to Congress </a>on Wednesday at a pair of televised hearings that carry high stakes for President Donald Trump and Democrats who are split between impeaching him or moving on to the 2020 election.

Mueller, whose inquiry detailed extensive contacts between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia at a time when Moscow was interfering in the 2016 election with hacking and propaganda, is set to appear beginning at 8:30 a.m. (1230 GMT) in separate hearings before the House of Representatives Judiciary and Intelligence committees.

Democrats, who control the House, hope his testimony will rally public support behind their own ongoing investigations of the Republican president and his administration, even as they struggle with whether to launch the impeachment process set out in the US Constitution for removing a president from office for "high crimes and misdemeanours."

Mueller is not expected to deliver any new bombshells, according to Democratic aides, but rather stick to the contents of his 448-page investigation report about the 22-month-long probe of Russian election meddling. Mueller plans to deliver an opening statement before taking questions.

Democrats hope the 74-year-old former FBI director will give the American public a compelling account of Russia's sweeping interference, the Trump campaign's readiness to accept help from Moscow and Trump's efforts to impede the Russia probe that Mueller investigated as potential obstruction of justice.

Trump, running for re-election in 2020, is hoping to move past the entire Russia issue.

"Seeing is believing in America. That report was voluminous. But most Americans didn't read it. So they'll see Mueller lay out the case," said Representative Eric Swalwell, who sits on both the Judiciary and Intelligence panels.

Mueller's appearance could also be a turning point for Democrats on the question of impeachment.

Many liberal Democrats are pushing for an impeachment inquiry against Trump, whose recent incendiary rhetoric about four congresswomen from racial minorities also has ignited a political firestorm. Eighty-nine House Democrats, about 38 per cent of them, now want an impeachment inquiry against Trump, according to a Reuters survey.

That is well short of the 218 votes needed to adopt articles of impeachment in the House, which would trigger a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump. But the number backing impeachment could swell if Mueller's testimony proves to be compelling.

"We hope Mueller's testimony will be a watershed," said Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Judiciary panel member.

The impeachment question has divided Democrats, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposing such a move as politically risky for moderate Democrats on whose future the House Democratic majority depends. Some Democrats prefer to remove Trump from office the ordinary way: defeating him in next year's election.

Mueller, who had expressed reluctance to testify, agreed only after being subpoenaed. Mueller, a former federal prosecutor and US Marine Corps officer, is also known for favouring one-word answers at hearings and could prove too taciturn to satisfy Democrats' hopes of a forceful narrative.

"Let us listen, let us see where the facts will take us," Pelosi said of the hearings. "We'll see what happens after that."

'Going to be disappointed'

Republicans in Congress are predicting chagrin for the Democrats.

"I think they're going to be disappointed, just as they were when the Mueller report came out," said Republican Representative Tom Cole.

Mueller's report said the investigation found insufficient evidence to prove that Trump and his campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Russia. The report also did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump committed the crime of obstruction of justice but pointedly did not exonerate him. Attorney General William Barr, a Trump appointee, subsequently cleared the president of an obstruction of justice.

"It is so important for him to say that the investigation did not exonerate the president," said Representative Val Demings, another Democrat who sits on both panels.

Republicans are expected to raise questions with Mueller about the integrity of the origins of the Russia probe in the FBI during Democrat Barack Obama's administration and the political leanings of the special counsel's staff members. Trump has sought to portray the probe as an attempted coup.

The Justice Department on Monday sent a letter telling Mueller to limit his testimony to merely discussing the public report, a directive that the Judiciary Committee chairman rejected as out of line.

But even if Mueller's testimony proves disappointing enough to deflate impeachment chances, Democrats expect their continuing investigations to produce revelations that could damage Trump's re-election prospects.

The heart of the Democratic strategy is to focus Mueller's testimony on several examples of potential obstruction by Trump, including his repeated efforts to get former White House Counsel Don McGahn to remove Mueller and then deny that he had been directed to do so.

Lawmakers will also emphasize attempts by Trump to his fired former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to redirect the Russia probe away from his 2016 campaign, and possible witness tampering in public statements seen to discourage his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen from cooperating with federal investigations.

Democrats have said the report includes shocking evidence of misconduct that would result in criminal charges against any other American. The Justice Department has a longstanding policy against bringing criminal charges against a sitting president.

Former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies to Congress on Wednesday at a pair of televised hearings that carry high stakes for President Donald Trump and Democrats who are split between impeaching him or moving on to the 2020 election.

Former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller testifies to Congress on Wednesday at a pair of televised hearings that carry high stakes for President Donald Trump and Democrats who are split between impeaching him or moving on to the 2020 election. Mueller, whose inquiry detailed extensive contacts between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia at a time when Moscow was interfering in the 2016 election with hacking and propaganda, is set to appear beginning at 8:30 a.m. (1230 GMT) in separate hearings before the House of Representatives Judiciary and Intelligence committees. Democrats, who control the House, hope his testimony will rally public support behind their own ongoing investigations of the Republican president and his administration, even as they struggle with whether to launch the impeachment process set out in the US Constitution for removing a president from office for "high crimes and misdemeanours." Mueller is not expected to deliver any new bombshells, according to Democratic aides, but rather stick to the contents of his 448-page investigation report about the 22-month-long probe of Russian election meddling. Mueller plans to deliver an opening statement before taking questions. Democrats hope the 74-year-old former FBI director will give the American public a compelling account of Russia's sweeping interference, the Trump campaign's readiness to accept help from Moscow and Trump's efforts to impede the Russia probe that Mueller investigated as potential obstruction of justice. Trump, running for re-election in 2020, is hoping to move past the entire Russia issue. "Seeing is believing in America. That report was voluminous. But most Americans didn't read it. So they'll see Mueller lay out the case," said Representative Eric Swalwell, who sits on both the Judiciary and Intelligence panels. Mueller's appearance could also be a turning point for Democrats on the question of impeachment. Many liberal Democrats are pushing for an impeachment inquiry against Trump, whose recent incendiary rhetoric about four congresswomen from racial minorities also has ignited a political firestorm. Eighty-nine House Democrats, about 38 per cent of them, now want an impeachment inquiry against Trump, according to a Reuters survey. That is well short of the 218 votes needed to adopt articles of impeachment in the House, which would trigger a trial in the Senate on whether to remove Trump. But the number backing impeachment could swell if Mueller's testimony proves to be compelling. "We hope Mueller's testimony will be a watershed," said Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, a Judiciary panel member. The impeachment question has divided Democrats, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi opposing such a move as politically risky for moderate Democrats on whose future the House Democratic majority depends. Some Democrats prefer to remove Trump from office the ordinary way: defeating him in next year's election. Mueller, who had expressed reluctance to testify, agreed only after being subpoenaed. Mueller, a former federal prosecutor and US Marine Corps officer, is also known for favouring one-word answers at hearings and could prove too taciturn to satisfy Democrats' hopes of a forceful narrative. "Let us listen, let us see where the facts will take us," Pelosi said of the hearings. "We'll see what happens after that." 'Going to be disappointed' Republicans in Congress are predicting chagrin for the Democrats. "I think they're going to be disappointed, just as they were when the Mueller report came out," said Republican Representative Tom Cole. Mueller's report said the investigation found insufficient evidence to prove that Trump and his campaign engaged in a criminal conspiracy with Russia. The report also did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump committed the crime of obstruction of justice but pointedly did not exonerate him. Attorney General William Barr, a Trump appointee, subsequently cleared the president of an obstruction of justice. "It is so important for him to say that the investigation did not exonerate the president," said Representative Val Demings, another Democrat who sits on both panels. Republicans are expected to raise questions with Mueller about the integrity of the origins of the Russia probe in the FBI during Democrat Barack Obama's administration and the political leanings of the special counsel's staff members. Trump has sought to portray the probe as an attempted coup. The Justice Department on Monday sent a letter telling Mueller to limit his testimony to merely discussing the public report, a directive that the Judiciary Committee chairman rejected as out of line. But even if Mueller's testimony proves disappointing enough to deflate impeachment chances, Democrats expect their continuing investigations to produce revelations that could damage Trump's re-election prospects. The heart of the Democratic strategy is to focus Mueller's testimony on several examples of potential obstruction by Trump, including his repeated efforts to get former White House Counsel Don McGahn to remove Mueller and then deny that he had been directed to do so. Lawmakers will also emphasize attempts by Trump to his fired former Attorney General Jeff Sessions to redirect the Russia probe away from his 2016 campaign, and possible witness tampering in public statements seen to discourage his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen from cooperating with federal investigations. Democrats have said the report includes shocking evidence of misconduct that would result in criminal charges against any other American. The Justice Department has a longstanding policy against bringing criminal charges against a sitting president.

Tight-lipped Robert Mueller to testify at hearings with high stakes for Trump, Democrats 

Nineteen per cent of US Twitter users follow <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-of-companies-leaving-china-that-is-why-they-want-make-a-deal-trump-236190">President Donald Trump</a> on the social platform, and a majority of those people approve of his job performance, a survey showed Monday.

The Pew Research Center report suggests Trump's @realDonaldTrump account -- with more than 60 million followers worldwide -- has succeeded in developing an audience largely favourable to his comments, which often generate controversy.

The report is based on a survey of 2,388 US adults who use Twitter and gave Pew permission to review their personal public-facing accounts, between December 2018 and July 2019.

Roughly three in 10 Republican adult Twitter users follow Trump, compared with 13 per cent of Democrats, Pew said.

Among users who follow Trump, 54 per cent approved of his job performance as of late 2018, compared with 24 per cent of users who don't follow the president.

Despite the large following, Trump's direct reach on Twitter is still limited, according to Pew: only 22 per cent of all US adults use the service, its surveys found.

And Trump's reach on Twitter remains below that of former president Barack Obama, who connects with 26 per cent of the platform's users, Pew researchers found.

The news comes with Trump drawing fire for a series of tweets interpreted as attacking four progressive Democratic congresswomen of colour -- calling on them to "go back" to their own countries, even though all are US citizens.

Trump's comments were branded "racist" and "xenophobic" by Democratic presidential candidates and senior lawmakers.

Nineteen per cent of US Twitter users follow President Donald Trump on the social platform, and a majority of those people approve of his job performance, a survey showed Monday.

Nineteen per cent of US Twitter users follow President Donald Trump on the social platform, and a majority of those people approve of his job performance, a survey showed Monday. The Pew Research Center report suggests Trump's @realDonaldTrump account -- with more than 60 million followers worldwide -- has succeeded in developing an audience largely favourable to his comments, which often generate controversy. The report is based on a survey of 2,388 US adults who use Twitter and gave Pew permission to review their personal public-facing accounts, between December 2018 and July 2019. Roughly three in 10 Republican adult Twitter users follow Trump, compared with 13 per cent of Democrats, Pew said. Among users who follow Trump, 54 per cent approved of his job performance as of late 2018, compared with 24 per cent of users who don't follow the president. Despite the large following, Trump's direct reach on Twitter is still limited, according to Pew: only 22 per cent of all US adults use the service, its surveys found. And Trump's reach on Twitter remains below that of former president Barack Obama, who connects with 26 per cent of the platform's users, Pew researchers found. The news comes with Trump drawing fire for a series of tweets interpreted as attacking four progressive Democratic congresswomen of colour -- calling on them to "go back" to their own countries, even though all are US citizens. Trump's comments were branded "racist" and "xenophobic" by Democratic presidential candidates and senior lawmakers.

One in five US Twitter users follows Donald Trump: Survey

The United States President Donald Trump doubled down his comments in which he told <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-tells-democratic-congresswomen-to-go-back-to-fix-countries-they-came-from-235979">"progressive"&nbsp;Democratic congresswomen to "go back"</a> where they came from.&nbsp;

He also said that they&nbsp;"hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion," indicating he may have been referring to Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who have&nbsp;recently&nbsp;been embroiled in controversies related to the Jewish state.

"So sad to see the Democrats sticking up for people who speak so badly of our Country and who, in addition, hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion. Whenever confronted, they call their adversaries, including Nancy Pelosi, 'RACIST'," &nbsp;Trump said on Twitter.

"Their disgusting language and the many terrible things they say about the United States must not be allowed to go unchallenged," Trump added in another tweet.

Trump also said that he looks forward to seeing Democrats "at the ballot box" in 2020.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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So sad to see the Democrats sticking up for people who speak so badly of our Country and who, in addition, hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion. Whenever confronted, they call their adversaries, including Nancy Pelosi, “RACIST.” Their disgusting language.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1150556162393300992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Donald Trump on Sunday sparked a firestorm on social media after in a series of tweets he told "progressive" Congresswomen to go back to their own countries and "help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places."

While he did not mention names, Trump appeared to be referring to first-year Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan - a group known as "the squad" that has been very critical of Trump.

Trump's tweets received outrage from seniors leaders of Democrats including House of Representative Nancy Pelosi. She called Trump's tweet "Xenophobic".

"When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to 'Make America Great Again' has always been about making America white again," she said on micro-blogging site.

"Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power," Pelosi added.&nbsp;

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When <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to “Make America Great Again” has always been about making America white again. 
 
Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. <a href="https://t.co/ODqqHneyES">https://t.co/ODqqHneyES</a>
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi/status/1150408691713265665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Tlaib, who was born in Detroit, is the first American of Palestinian descent elected to Congress, while Omar, who fled war-torn Somalia as a child and came to the United States as a refugee, is the first black Muslim woman in Congress.

Ocasio-Cortez, who was born in New York, is of Puerto Rican ancestry, and Pressley, who was born in Cincinnati, is the first African American elected to Congress from Massachusetts.

Meanwhile, no senior Republican lawmakers have reacted on Trump's comments.

The United States President Donald Trump doubled down his comments in which he told "progressive" Democratic congresswomen to "go back" where they came from. He also said that they "hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion," indicating he may have been referring to Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who have recently been embroiled in controversies related to the Jewish state.

The United States President Donald Trump doubled down his comments in which he told "progressive" Democratic congresswomen to "go back" where they came from. He also said that they "hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion," indicating he may have been referring to Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, who have recently been embroiled in controversies related to the Jewish state. "So sad to see the Democrats sticking up for people who speak so badly of our Country and who, in addition, hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion. Whenever confronted, they call their adversaries, including Nancy Pelosi, 'RACIST'," Trump said on Twitter. "Their disgusting language and the many terrible things they say about the United States must not be allowed to go unchallenged," Trump added in another tweet. Trump also said that he looks forward to seeing Democrats "at the ballot box" in 2020. So sad to see the Democrats sticking up for people who speak so badly of our Country and who, in addition, hate Israel with a true and unbridled passion. Whenever confronted, they call their adversaries, including Nancy Pelosi, “RACIST.” Their disgusting language..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 15, 2019 × Donald Trump on Sunday sparked a firestorm on social media after in a series of tweets he told "progressive" Congresswomen to go back to their own countries and "help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places." While he did not mention names, Trump appeared to be referring to first-year Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan - a group known as "the squad" that has been very critical of Trump. Trump's tweets received outrage from seniors leaders of Democrats including House of Representative Nancy Pelosi. She called Trump's tweet "Xenophobic". "When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to 'Make America Great Again' has always been about making America white again," she said on micro-blogging site. "Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power," Pelosi added. When @realDonaldTrump tells four American Congresswomen to go back to their countries, he reaffirms his plan to “Make America Great Again” has always been about making America white again. Our diversity is our strength and our unity is our power. https://t.co/ODqqHneyES — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) July 14, 2019 × Tlaib, who was born in Detroit, is the first American of Palestinian descent elected to Congress, while Omar, who fled war-torn Somalia as a child and came to the United States as a refugee, is the first black Muslim woman in Congress. Ocasio-Cortez, who was born in New York, is of Puerto Rican ancestry, and Pressley, who was born in Cincinnati, is the first African American elected to Congress from Massachusetts. Meanwhile, no senior Republican lawmakers have reacted on Trump's comments.

Sad to see Democrats sticking up for Israel haters, says Donald Trump after tweet backlash

US President Donald Trump backed down Thursday from a push to force a controversial question on citizenship onto the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/worried-about-undercount-states-and-cities-spend-promote-2020-census-168774">2020 census</a> following a backlash by civil rights campaigners.

Critics said the administration wanted to add the question to suppress participation by immigrant communities in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/lawmaker-aims-to-get-citizenship-question-removed-from-us-census-181537">once-a-decade survey</a> that helps officials determine where to allocate federal resources.&nbsp;

"We are pursuing a new option to ensure a complete and timely count of the non-citizen population," the president told a news conference at the White House.

Two weeks ago, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-blocks-trumps-census-citizenship-question-for-now-230965">Supreme Court seemingly ended a legal and political battle</a> over the issue. It concluded that the Trump administration's stated reasons for including the question were "contrived," and blocked the move.

Stung by the conservative-majority high court's 5-4 decision, Trump raised the possibility of forcing the issue with an executive order or even postponing the census.

The stakes are immense,&nbsp;the census helps determine the disbursement of $675 billion in federal subsidies and the number of seats in the US House of Representatives allocated to each state.

A question on citizenship, which was dropped more than 60 years ago, could stop between 1.6 and 6.5 million immigrants from participating or answering truthfully, according to census officials.

Immigrants living in the country illegally would especially be reticent, out of fear that they would be identified for deportation.

As he announced the U-turn, Trump said he would sign an executive order requiring federal agencies to provide the Commerce Department with immigration information from their existing databases.

"It is essential that we have a clear breakdown of the number of citizens and non-citizens that make up the US population. Imperative," he said.

Rights groups and Democrats hailed Trump's climb-down.

"President @realDonaldTrump's census defeat is a significant victory for democracy and fair representation. Every person must be counted, and no one should be intimidated by the president and his capricious behaviour," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Twitter.&nbsp;

"His retreat on adding the misguided citizen question to the census was long overdue."

The American Civil Liberties Union added that it will continue to monitor the Trump administration's efforts to count immigrants.

"When the details of Trump's new plan to compile citizenship data outside of the census come out -- and his plans for using that data -- we will scrutinise them closely and assess their legality."

US President Donald Trump backed down Thursday from a push to force a controversial question on citizenship onto the 2020 census following a backlash by civil rights campaigners.

US President Donald Trump backed down Thursday from a push to force a controversial question on citizenship onto the 2020 census following a backlash by civil rights campaigners. Critics said the administration wanted to add the question to suppress participation by immigrant communities in the once-a-decade survey that helps officials determine where to allocate federal resources. "We are pursuing a new option to ensure a complete and timely count of the non-citizen population," the president told a news conference at the White House. Two weeks ago, the Supreme Court seemingly ended a legal and political battle over the issue. It concluded that the Trump administration's stated reasons for including the question were "contrived," and blocked the move. Stung by the conservative-majority high court's 5-4 decision, Trump raised the possibility of forcing the issue with an executive order or even postponing the census. The stakes are immense, the census helps determine the disbursement of $675 billion in federal subsidies and the number of seats in the US House of Representatives allocated to each state. A question on citizenship, which was dropped more than 60 years ago, could stop between 1.6 and 6.5 million immigrants from participating or answering truthfully, according to census officials. Immigrants living in the country illegally would especially be reticent, out of fear that they would be identified for deportation. As he announced the U-turn, Trump said he would sign an executive order requiring federal agencies to provide the Commerce Department with immigration information from their existing databases. "It is essential that we have a clear breakdown of the number of citizens and non-citizens that make up the US population. Imperative," he said. Rights groups and Democrats hailed Trump's climb-down. "President @realDonaldTrump's census defeat is a significant victory for democracy and fair representation. Every person must be counted, and no one should be intimidated by the president and his capricious behaviour," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Twitter. "His retreat on adding the misguided citizen question to the census was long overdue." The American Civil Liberties Union added that it will continue to monitor the Trump administration's efforts to count immigrants. "When the details of Trump's new plan to compile citizenship data outside of the census come out -- and his plans for using that data -- we will scrutinise them closely and assess their legality."

Donald Trump backs down on including citizenship question in 2020 census

Ever since India gained Independence in 1947, its relationship with the United States of America has been reserved, at best. Today, with the beginnings of the presidential election campaign underway in the United States, over 20 Democratic candidates are vying for a nomination bid. Some of the powerhouses include Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.

However, despite some of these candidates specifically announcing collaboration with Indians (like Booker), President Trump is by far the best American President as far as India is concerned. Even though he is jabbing India on trade and has implemented a stringent immigration policy, Trump's strong stances greatly benefit India in several key areas, and at a time when our country is developing rather rapidly. Let's take a look.

China

No Democratic candidate or nominee will take Trump's hard-line attitude on China and terrorism. Trump's views on both work to India's advantage over the next five years.

Trump's 'trade-teasing' with India has hurt the Indian economy, no doubt, but when you put it into perspective, it's not that big of a deal. Modi knows this. Take a look at this perspective. The trade deficit that the US has with India is approximately one-twelfth of what the US has with China. Therefore, Beijing is on a very high red-alert on Trump's trade moves as compared to India. This explains Modi's calm and collected attitude to Trump's trade teasing. Moreover, President Trump has openly criticised China multiple times as a currency manipulator. He has even called China America's "foe". India can take advantage of this stance, especially as a preferred defence partner.

Terrorism

Speaking of defence, President Trump has publicly stated that Pakistan is a breeding ground for terrorists. He has made stringent policies on Muslims in the United States (at airport security, for example) and has a hard stance on terrorism. If elected, a Democrat will undoubtedly ease their stance on Pakistan. However, India most greatly benefits from Trump's rigid stance, especially after the Balakot strikes.

The US and India's shared disdain for Pakistan-based terrorists along with strong foreign policy focus on counter-terrorism will strengthen military ties and could also eventually work to ease out trade tensions should they increase.

Additionally, at the recent G20 Summit, Modi expressed his concern on losing 11 per cent of India's oil needs from Iran due to the US sanctions compliance. The two countries agreed that strong bilateral ties must exist between them to ensure regional and global peace in this region. India could use this to its advantage, especially to get back its energy needs.

Economy

Economically, Trump's unsurprising, hard-right Republican stance is the most beneficial to India's quickly growing GDP. Unlike the Democrats, Trump jumps on energy, manufacturing, oil &amp; gas, FDI, renewable energy and corporation development. All of these facets are areas where India is looking to expand. In addition, America is one of India's biggest investors when it comes to foreign direct investment. At the G20 meeting, Trump said that some "very big trade deals... in terms of developing 5G technology would be announced in the future with India". This will very much benefit India as we are the second largest global market for 5G and will determine how the global trend will sway.

Likewise, the 'Make in India' programme was also appreciated and welcomed by Trump. On multiple occasions, Modi and Trump also recognised space, trade, energy and security to collaborate on. Trump left the meeting stating that relations with India have "never been better".

He's absolutely right.

Immigration 
&nbsp; 
Despite Trump making this difficult, he is still better than a Democrat. Whereas Democratic candidates like Booker, Harris, Sanders and Warren will likely ease the process for Indians who want H1-B visas, they have not articulated how they will do this. This makes it doubtful that they will be able to reverse the process quickly.

President Trump has stated that Indian talent is amazing. Throughout his presidency, he has actively aimed at attracting Indian youth and entrepreneurs; this gives young Indians a loophole of sorts through American immigration roadblocks. Over the next five years, PM Modi will be able to leverage young Indian talent as Trump will increasingly seek it. Why? Over the past few years, a significant number of American multi-national companies have moved their Asian bases from China to India. And that mandates the need for local, skilled Indian talent to fill jobs. This means more employment generated in India and a potential increase in the already occurring reverse brain-gain to India. A win-win for India.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Ever since India gained Independence in 1947, its relationship with the United States of America has been reserved, at best. Today, with the beginnings of the presidential election campaign underway in the United States, over 20 Democratic candidates are vying for a nomination bid.

Ever since India gained Independence in 1947, its relationship with the United States of America has been reserved, at best. Today, with the beginnings of the presidential election campaign underway in the United States, over 20 Democratic candidates are vying for a nomination bid. Some of the powerhouses include Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. However, despite some of these candidates specifically announcing collaboration with Indians (like Booker), President Trump is by far the best American President as far as India is concerned. Even though he is jabbing India on trade and has implemented a stringent immigration policy, Trump's strong stances greatly benefit India in several key areas, and at a time when our country is developing rather rapidly. Let's take a look. China No Democratic candidate or nominee will take Trump's hard-line attitude on China and terrorism. Trump's views on both work to India's advantage over the next five years. Trump's 'trade-teasing' with India has hurt the Indian economy, no doubt, but when you put it into perspective, it's not that big of a deal. Modi knows this. Take a look at this perspective. The trade deficit that the US has with India is approximately one-twelfth of what the US has with China. Therefore, Beijing is on a very high red-alert on Trump's trade moves as compared to India. This explains Modi's calm and collected attitude to Trump's trade teasing. Moreover, President Trump has openly criticised China multiple times as a currency manipulator. He has even called China America's "foe". India can take advantage of this stance, especially as a preferred defence partner. Terrorism Speaking of defence, President Trump has publicly stated that Pakistan is a breeding ground for terrorists. He has made stringent policies on Muslims in the United States (at airport security, for example) and has a hard stance on terrorism. If elected, a Democrat will undoubtedly ease their stance on Pakistan. However, India most greatly benefits from Trump's rigid stance, especially after the Balakot strikes. The US and India's shared disdain for Pakistan-based terrorists along with strong foreign policy focus on counter-terrorism will strengthen military ties and could also eventually work to ease out trade tensions should they increase. Additionally, at the recent G20 Summit, Modi expressed his concern on losing 11 per cent of India's oil needs from Iran due to the US sanctions compliance. The two countries agreed that strong bilateral ties must exist between them to ensure regional and global peace in this region. India could use this to its advantage, especially to get back its energy needs. Economy Economically, Trump's unsurprising, hard-right Republican stance is the most beneficial to India's quickly growing GDP. Unlike the Democrats, Trump jumps on energy, manufacturing, oil & gas, FDI, renewable energy and corporation development. All of these facets are areas where India is looking to expand. In addition, America is one of India's biggest investors when it comes to foreign direct investment. At the G20 meeting, Trump said that some "very big trade deals... in terms of developing 5G technology would be announced in the future with India". This will very much benefit India as we are the second largest global market for 5G and will determine how the global trend will sway. Likewise, the 'Make in India' programme was also appreciated and welcomed by Trump. On multiple occasions, Modi and Trump also recognised space, trade, energy and security to collaborate on. Trump left the meeting stating that relations with India have "never been better". He's absolutely right. Immigration Despite Trump making this difficult, he is still better than a Democrat. Whereas Democratic candidates like Booker, Harris, Sanders and Warren will likely ease the process for Indians who want H1-B visas, they have not articulated how they will do this. This makes it doubtful that they will be able to reverse the process quickly. President Trump has stated that Indian talent is amazing. Throughout his presidency, he has actively aimed at attracting Indian youth and entrepreneurs; this gives young Indians a loophole of sorts through American immigration roadblocks. Over the next five years, PM Modi will be able to leverage young Indian talent as Trump will increasingly seek it. Why? Over the past few years, a significant number of American multi-national companies have moved their Asian bases from China to India. And that mandates the need for local, skilled Indian talent to fill jobs. This means more employment generated in India and a potential increase in the already occurring reverse brain-gain to India. A win-win for India. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Trump's strong stances greatly benefit India. Here's how

The US Senate on Thursday passed a $750-billion defence policy bill with provisions that target China on issues from technology transfers to the sale of synthetic opioids, pushing to counter growing Chinese influence around the world.

The 973-page National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, passed by an 86-8 vote.

However, in an unusual procedural move, the Senate will have a separate vote on Friday on an amendment that would ban Republican President Donald Trump from attacking Iran without first obtaining congressional approval.

Despite growing tensions with Iran, the amendment is not expected to get the 60 votes needed to pass the Republican-controlled Senate.

Among other provisions, the Senate NDAA requires detailed reporting from the Department of Defense to prevent transfers of sensitive technology to China or Russia, as well as reports on access to the Arctic. It also requires tighter screening of scholars seeking visas to the United States.

The Senate`s passage of the NDAA comes as Trump prepares for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit. Many hope the meeting will help end a months-long trade war between the world`s top two economies.

In Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang expressed anger at the bill, saying the government had already made a protest to the United States about it.

"Once the bill becomes law, it will harm Sino-US relations, and interfere with, and damage, cooperation in some important areas," Geng said.

China urges the United States to objectively view its development and not allow any of the "negative China-related" content to become law, he added.

The NDAA is still several steps from becoming law. The Senate version must be reconciled with a version expected to come up for a vote next month in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. That compromise version, expected later this year, must pass both the Senate and House, and be signed into law by Trump.

The Senate NDAA also includes an amendment to bar federal funds from going to Chinese state-owned companies such as CRRC, the world`s largest maker of passenger trains.

CRRC said in a statement that US lawmakers should "pause and review the facts regarding cybersecurity and competitive pricing in the passenger railcar market before making any decisions that will invariably and significantly impact US transit agencies` ability to modernize their fleets."

One of the few pieces of major legislation passed every year, the NDAA becomes a vehicle for a broad range of policy measures, as well as determining everything from military pay levels to which ships or aircraft will be modernized, purchased or discontinued.

The Senate NDAA also contains an amendment to strengthen sanctions against North Korea, imposing secondary sanctions on financial institutions that do business with Pyongyang in violation of existing sanctions.

The US Senate on Thursday passed a $750-billion defence policy bill with provisions that target China on issues from technology transfers to the sale of synthetic opioids, pushing to counter growing Chinese influence around the world.

The US Senate on Thursday passed a $750-billion defence policy bill with provisions that target China on issues from technology transfers to the sale of synthetic opioids, pushing to counter growing Chinese influence around the world. The 973-page National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, passed by an 86-8 vote. However, in an unusual procedural move, the Senate will have a separate vote on Friday on an amendment that would ban Republican President Donald Trump from attacking Iran without first obtaining congressional approval. Despite growing tensions with Iran, the amendment is not expected to get the 60 votes needed to pass the Republican-controlled Senate. Among other provisions, the Senate NDAA requires detailed reporting from the Department of Defense to prevent transfers of sensitive technology to China or Russia, as well as reports on access to the Arctic. It also requires tighter screening of scholars seeking visas to the United States. The Senate`s passage of the NDAA comes as Trump prepares for a high-stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit. Many hope the meeting will help end a months-long trade war between the world`s top two economies. In Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang expressed anger at the bill, saying the government had already made a protest to the United States about it. "Once the bill becomes law, it will harm Sino-US relations, and interfere with, and damage, cooperation in some important areas," Geng said. China urges the United States to objectively view its development and not allow any of the "negative China-related" content to become law, he added. The NDAA is still several steps from becoming law. The Senate version must be reconciled with a version expected to come up for a vote next month in the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives. That compromise version, expected later this year, must pass both the Senate and House, and be signed into law by Trump. The Senate NDAA also includes an amendment to bar federal funds from going to Chinese state-owned companies such as CRRC, the world`s largest maker of passenger trains. CRRC said in a statement that US lawmakers should "pause and review the facts regarding cybersecurity and competitive pricing in the passenger railcar market before making any decisions that will invariably and significantly impact US transit agencies` ability to modernize their fleets." One of the few pieces of major legislation passed every year, the NDAA becomes a vehicle for a broad range of policy measures, as well as determining everything from military pay levels to which ships or aircraft will be modernized, purchased or discontinued. The Senate NDAA also contains an amendment to strengthen sanctions against North Korea, imposing secondary sanctions on financial institutions that do business with Pyongyang in violation of existing sanctions.

US Senate backs massive defence bill, targets China, sets Iran vote

The US House and Senate will try to resolve their conflicting versions of an emergency funding bill on Thursday to address worsening humanitarian conditions for migrant children and families on the US-Mexico border.&nbsp;

The Republican-controlled Senate passed by an overwhelming <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-passes-border-aid-bill-trump-vows-veto-230591">84-8 vote a $4.6 billion spending bill</a> on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The Democratic-led House of Representatives on Tuesday night tied more strings to its approval of the money, setting standards for health and nutrition of migrants in custody after reports they lacked necessities such as soap and diapers.

A <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/images-of-drowned-salvadoran-migrant-and-2-year-old-child-stir-outrage-230639">photo of drowned migrants</a>, and reports of horrendous conditions for detained children have spurred efforts to craft compromise legislation to send to US President Donald Trump before Congress recesses this week for the US Independence Day holiday.

Whether Trump will sign a deal is uncertain as he continues to push for spending on the kind of border security some Democratic adversaries blame for migrant deaths.&nbsp;

Trump has made cracking down on immigration a centerpiece of his administration but officials are saying they will run out of money for border agencies soon. Border crossings hit the highest level in over a decade in May, straining resources and creating chaotic scenes at overcrowded border patrol facilities.&nbsp;

The need for funding has become more urgent as attorneys last week called attention to more than 300 children detained in squalid conditions at a border patrol facility in Clint, Texas. Trump has made building wall along the southern border a key goal of his administration but government officials say they need money to keep migrant housing facilities open past month end.

Border crossings hit their highest monthly level since 2006 in May, with over 60 per cent of migrants either children or families, mostly from Central America.&nbsp;

Lawyers and human rights workers said they found sick and hungry children when they visited a border patrol facility in Clint, Texas earlier this month.

"Many had been detained for weeks, one even up to a month in really horrific conditions," said Clara Long, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.&nbsp;

The conditions of unaccompanied children crossing the border has become a key issue in the 2020 presidential race. During Wednesday night`s debate, many of the Democratic candidates called for an overhaul of US immigration laws and about 12 of them are set to visit a Florida facility this week.

A photo of a Salvadoran father and his toddler daughter who drowned attempting to cross the Rio Grande added urgency on both sides of the aisle to reach a funding deal.

Trump criticised the House bill on Wednesday, telling Fox Business Network he wanted more money for "protection" from the drug traffickers and other criminals he says are taking advantage of the family surge to slip into the country.&nbsp;

The US House and Senate will try to resolve their conflicting versions of an emergency funding bill on Thursday to address worsening humanitarian conditions for migrant children and families on the US-Mexico border.

The US House and Senate will try to resolve their conflicting versions of an emergency funding bill on Thursday to address worsening humanitarian conditions for migrant children and families on the US-Mexico border. The Republican-controlled Senate passed by an overwhelming 84-8 vote a $4.6 billion spending bill on Wednesday. The Democratic-led House of Representatives on Tuesday night tied more strings to its approval of the money, setting standards for health and nutrition of migrants in custody after reports they lacked necessities such as soap and diapers. A photo of drowned migrants, and reports of horrendous conditions for detained children have spurred efforts to craft compromise legislation to send to US President Donald Trump before Congress recesses this week for the US Independence Day holiday. Whether Trump will sign a deal is uncertain as he continues to push for spending on the kind of border security some Democratic adversaries blame for migrant deaths. Trump has made cracking down on immigration a centerpiece of his administration but officials are saying they will run out of money for border agencies soon. Border crossings hit the highest level in over a decade in May, straining resources and creating chaotic scenes at overcrowded border patrol facilities. The need for funding has become more urgent as attorneys last week called attention to more than 300 children detained in squalid conditions at a border patrol facility in Clint, Texas. Trump has made building wall along the southern border a key goal of his administration but government officials say they need money to keep migrant housing facilities open past month end. Border crossings hit their highest monthly level since 2006 in May, with over 60 per cent of migrants either children or families, mostly from Central America. Lawyers and human rights workers said they found sick and hungry children when they visited a border patrol facility in Clint, Texas earlier this month. "Many had been detained for weeks, one even up to a month in really horrific conditions," said Clara Long, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. The conditions of unaccompanied children crossing the border has become a key issue in the 2020 presidential race. During Wednesday night`s debate, many of the Democratic candidates called for an overhaul of US immigration laws and about 12 of them are set to visit a Florida facility this week. A photo of a Salvadoran father and his toddler daughter who drowned attempting to cross the Rio Grande added urgency on both sides of the aisle to reach a funding deal. Trump criticised the House bill on Wednesday, telling Fox Business Network he wanted more money for "protection" from the drug traffickers and other criminals he says are taking advantage of the family surge to slip into the country.

US Congress clashes over border funding as migrants kept in squalor

The first Democratic presidential debate is in the books, and 10 of the 20 candidates who qualified for the proceedings have had their say - in one-minute chunks.

US Elections 2020: First Democratic debate kicks off

President Donald Trump`s conflict with US House Democrats over their many investigations of him, his family and businesses is beginning to move from Capitol Hill into the US courts, where some key cases are already developing.

Trump and most of his fellow Republicans dismiss the Democrats` inquiries as grandstanding or political harassment.

The Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, say the investigations are needed to hold to account a president who scorns respect for the law and governing norms.

In most of the disputes, Trump and his advisers run the legal risk of contempt of Congress citations and court enforcement actions that could result in fines.

Here are some of the conflicts between Congress and Trump that are being litigated or could end up in court.&nbsp;

Mazars accounting firm

In a win for House Democrats, a federal judge on May 20 said Mazars LLP, Trump`s long-time accounting firm, should hand over Trump`s financial records to congressional investigators.&nbsp;

Lawyers for Trump asserted that a subpoena seeking the records was unlawful because Congress was improperly taking on a law enforcement role.&nbsp;

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said they needed the documents to examine whether Trump faces conflicts of interest or broke the law by not disentangling himself from his businesses as previous presidents have done.

Trump called the judge`s decision "crazy" and appealed. An appeals court will hold an oral argument on July 12.

Deutsche Bank, Capital One

Another judge ruled against Trump in a similar case involving banks that Trump did business with - Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial.

Two House committees sent subpoenas to the banks and, as in the Mazars case, Trump sued to try to block them, arguing that the committees were reaching beyond their legislative role.

US District Judge Edgardo Ramos in New York said Congress has the legal authority to demand the records, clearing the way for the banks to comply with the subpoenas.&nbsp;

The Deutsche Bank subpoena seeks accounts, transactions and investments linked to Trump, his three oldest children, their immediate family and several Trump Organization entities, as well as records of ties they might have to foreign entities.

Deutsche Bank has long been a principal lender for Trump`s real estate business. A 2017 disclosure form showed that Trump had at least $130 million of liabilities to the bank.

The Capital One subpoena seeks records related to the Trump Organization`s hotel business, which some Democrats have argued raises potential conflicts of interest.&nbsp;

An appeals court will hold oral arguments in August.&nbsp;

Tax returns

Unlike past presidents in recent decades, Trump refuses to make public his tax returns, raising questions about what is in them. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has defied a subpoena from the House tax committee seeking six years of Trump`s past individual and business tax returns.

Committee Chairman Richard Neal said on May 23 that he plans to take the Trump administration to court to enforce the subpoena, but he has not followed through.&nbsp;

Trump`s Justice Department said in a June 14 legal opinion that Mnuchin did not violate the law by refusing to turn over the tax returns. A judge could opt to ignore that Justice Department memo in the event of a legal battle.&nbsp;

Mueller report

Attorney General William Barr released a redacted version on April 18 of a report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller on his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 US election in Trump`s favor and Trump`s attempt to impede that probe.&nbsp;

The redactions left unanswered some key questions about Mueller`s probe. Seeking answers, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler has subpoenaed the unredacted report and the evidence that Mueller relied on.

The White House has asserted the seldom-used principle of executive privilege to keep the full Mueller report under wraps.

On June 10, Nadler cut a deal with Barr to allow committee members to view some of the materials they want, avoiding a court showdown. But Nadler said he would not rule out suing Barr if the Justice Department does not continue to cooperate.&nbsp;

A similar May 22 agreement gave the House Intelligence Committee access to counterintelligence materials underlying Mueller`s report.&nbsp;

House Democrats have also discussed a possible subpoena directing Mueller to testify about his report.&nbsp;

Emoluments

In 2017, a group of congressional Democrats sued Trump in Washington for allegedly accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments through his businesses, a violation of the anti-corruption Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution.

In April, a federal judge denied a request by Trump to dismiss that case.&nbsp; 
A similar case, filed by the Democratic attorneys general of the District of Columbia and Maryland, is making its way through the courts. An appeals court heard oral arguments in March over whether that case should have been allowed to proceed.&nbsp;

The Justice Department argues Democrats are reading the Emoluments Clauses too broadly and that there is nothing new or illegal about a president engaging in commercial transactions.&nbsp;

Ex-White House counsel McGhan

Nadler has said he may begin legal proceedings to force former White House counsel Don McGahn to cooperate with the Judiciary Committee`s probe into whether Trump obstructed justice. McGahn failed to show up to testify at a May 21 hearing, having been told by the White House not to produce documents in response to a committee subpoena.

McGahn was the most-cited witness in Mueller`s report, recounting Trump`s efforts to interfere with the investigation.

The House approved a measure on June 11 that authorized Nadler to take legal action to enforce the subpoena to McGahn.

Census and Citizenship

Trump on June 12 asserted executive privilege to keep under wraps documents related to his administration’s push to add a citizenship question to the census, defying a subpoena from the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee.

That same day, the committee voted to recommend the full House find Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt for their refusal to produce the documents. It was unclear if the committee would sue to enforce the contempt finding.

President Donald Trump`s conflict with US House Democrats over their many investigations of him, his family and businesses is beginning to move from Capitol Hill into the US courts, where some key cases are already developing.

President Donald Trump`s conflict with US House Democrats over their many investigations of him, his family and businesses is beginning to move from Capitol Hill into the US courts, where some key cases are already developing. Trump and most of his fellow Republicans dismiss the Democrats` inquiries as grandstanding or political harassment. The Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, say the investigations are needed to hold to account a president who scorns respect for the law and governing norms. In most of the disputes, Trump and his advisers run the legal risk of contempt of Congress citations and court enforcement actions that could result in fines. Here are some of the conflicts between Congress and Trump that are being litigated or could end up in court. Mazars accounting firm In a win for House Democrats, a federal judge on May 20 said Mazars LLP, Trump`s long-time accounting firm, should hand over Trump`s financial records to congressional investigators. Lawyers for Trump asserted that a subpoena seeking the records was unlawful because Congress was improperly taking on a law enforcement role. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee said they needed the documents to examine whether Trump faces conflicts of interest or broke the law by not disentangling himself from his businesses as previous presidents have done. Trump called the judge`s decision "crazy" and appealed. An appeals court will hold an oral argument on July 12. Deutsche Bank, Capital One Another judge ruled against Trump in a similar case involving banks that Trump did business with - Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial. Two House committees sent subpoenas to the banks and, as in the Mazars case, Trump sued to try to block them, arguing that the committees were reaching beyond their legislative role. US District Judge Edgardo Ramos in New York said Congress has the legal authority to demand the records, clearing the way for the banks to comply with the subpoenas. The Deutsche Bank subpoena seeks accounts, transactions and investments linked to Trump, his three oldest children, their immediate family and several Trump Organization entities, as well as records of ties they might have to foreign entities. Deutsche Bank has long been a principal lender for Trump`s real estate business. A 2017 disclosure form showed that Trump had at least $130 million of liabilities to the bank. The Capital One subpoena seeks records related to the Trump Organization`s hotel business, which some Democrats have argued raises potential conflicts of interest. An appeals court will hold oral arguments in August. Tax returns Unlike past presidents in recent decades, Trump refuses to make public his tax returns, raising questions about what is in them. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has defied a subpoena from the House tax committee seeking six years of Trump`s past individual and business tax returns. Committee Chairman Richard Neal said on May 23 that he plans to take the Trump administration to court to enforce the subpoena, but he has not followed through. Trump`s Justice Department said in a June 14 legal opinion that Mnuchin did not violate the law by refusing to turn over the tax returns. A judge could opt to ignore that Justice Department memo in the event of a legal battle. Mueller report Attorney General William Barr released a redacted version on April 18 of a report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller on his investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 US election in Trump`s favor and Trump`s attempt to impede that probe. The redactions left unanswered some key questions about Mueller`s probe. Seeking answers, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler has subpoenaed the unredacted report and the evidence that Mueller relied on. The White House has asserted the seldom-used principle of executive privilege to keep the full Mueller report under wraps. On June 10, Nadler cut a deal with Barr to allow committee members to view some of the materials they want, avoiding a court showdown. But Nadler said he would not rule out suing Barr if the Justice Department does not continue to cooperate. A similar May 22 agreement gave the House Intelligence Committee access to counterintelligence materials underlying Mueller`s report. House Democrats have also discussed a possible subpoena directing Mueller to testify about his report. Emoluments In 2017, a group of congressional Democrats sued Trump in Washington for allegedly accepting gifts or payments from foreign governments through his businesses, a violation of the anti-corruption Emoluments Clauses of the Constitution. In April, a federal judge denied a request by Trump to dismiss that case. A similar case, filed by the Democratic attorneys general of the District of Columbia and Maryland, is making its way through the courts. An appeals court heard oral arguments in March over whether that case should have been allowed to proceed. The Justice Department argues Democrats are reading the Emoluments Clauses too broadly and that there is nothing new or illegal about a president engaging in commercial transactions. Ex-White House counsel McGhan Nadler has said he may begin legal proceedings to force former White House counsel Don McGahn to cooperate with the Judiciary Committee`s probe into whether Trump obstructed justice. McGahn failed to show up to testify at a May 21 hearing, having been told by the White House not to produce documents in response to a committee subpoena. McGahn was the most-cited witness in Mueller`s report, recounting Trump`s efforts to interfere with the investigation. The House approved a measure on June 11 that authorized Nadler to take legal action to enforce the subpoena to McGahn. Census and Citizenship Trump on June 12 asserted executive privilege to keep under wraps documents related to his administration’s push to add a citizenship question to the census, defying a subpoena from the Democratic-led House Oversight Committee. That same day, the committee voted to recommend the full House find Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt for their refusal to produce the documents. It was unclear if the committee would sue to enforce the contempt finding.

Factbox: Clash between Trump, US House Democrats shifts into courts

President Donald Trump on Friday sought to clarify his comments that he <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nothing-wrong-with-accepting-dirt-from-foreign-governments-on-opponents-trump-226696">would accept dirt on election rivals from a foreign power</a>, now saying he would "absolutely" report such an encounter to US authorities.

Singed by a political firestorm over his controversial remarks when he said he would only "maybe" call the Federal Bureau of Investigation if he believed there was wrongdoing, the president took to Fox News to nuance his explanation.

"Of course you give it to the FBI, or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that," Trump said.

But he maintained his controversial position revealed in a Wednesday ABC News interview that he would look at or listen to the information.

"Of course, you have to look at it, because if you don't look at it you're not going to know if it's bad," Trump said.

"Now, if I thought anything was incorrect or badly stated... I'd report it to law enforcement, absolutely."

Trump faced severe criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike after his initial remarks.

The furore follows years of debate over the Trump team's contacts with officials and operatives from Russia, which US intelligence agencies determined interfered in the 2016 presidential election.

An exhaustive 22-month special counsel investigation concluded that Trump's campaign had numerous contacts with Russians but the pattern did not amount to proof of a conspiracy with Moscow.

Despite that, Democrats say Trump's behaviour was suspicious enough to warrant further investigation in congressional committees. A loud minority of lawmakers is even pushing for impeachment.

The White House and Republicans argued that Trump was being unfairly singled out when the Democrats had been the ones to make use of a now-infamous dossier compiled by a foreigner, former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, in 2016.

Trump told Fox he did not believe any foreign power would present him with "bad" dirt on his rivals "because they know how much I love this country."

And he stressed that as president he is in a different position than other Americans because of his constant interaction with world leaders like Queen Elizabeth II and French President Emmanuel Macron.

"We have many, many conversations," Trump said. "I'm just thinking, gee, if they say 'We don't like your opponent,' am I supposed to put the president of France, am I supposed to report him to the FBI?"

President Donald Trump on Friday sought to clarify his comments that he would accept dirt on election rivals from a foreign power, now saying he would "absolutely" report such an encounter to US authorities.

President Donald Trump on Friday sought to clarify his comments that he would accept dirt on election rivals from a foreign power, now saying he would "absolutely" report such an encounter to US authorities. Singed by a political firestorm over his controversial remarks when he said he would only "maybe" call the Federal Bureau of Investigation if he believed there was wrongdoing, the president took to Fox News to nuance his explanation. "Of course you give it to the FBI, or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that," Trump said. But he maintained his controversial position revealed in a Wednesday ABC News interview that he would look at or listen to the information. "Of course, you have to look at it, because if you don't look at it you're not going to know if it's bad," Trump said. "Now, if I thought anything was incorrect or badly stated... I'd report it to law enforcement, absolutely." Trump faced severe criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike after his initial remarks. The furore follows years of debate over the Trump team's contacts with officials and operatives from Russia, which US intelligence agencies determined interfered in the 2016 presidential election. An exhaustive 22-month special counsel investigation concluded that Trump's campaign had numerous contacts with Russians but the pattern did not amount to proof of a conspiracy with Moscow. Despite that, Democrats say Trump's behaviour was suspicious enough to warrant further investigation in congressional committees. A loud minority of lawmakers is even pushing for impeachment. The White House and Republicans argued that Trump was being unfairly singled out when the Democrats had been the ones to make use of a now-infamous dossier compiled by a foreigner, former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele, in 2016. Trump told Fox he did not believe any foreign power would present him with "bad" dirt on his rivals "because they know how much I love this country." And he stressed that as president he is in a different position than other Americans because of his constant interaction with world leaders like Queen Elizabeth II and French President Emmanuel Macron. "We have many, many conversations," Trump said. "I'm just thinking, gee, if they say 'We don't like your opponent,' am I supposed to put the president of France, am I supposed to report him to the FBI?"

Donald Trump clarifies would report foreign dirt on rivals to FBI

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