An enraged US President Donald Trump said he was being subjected to an "attempted coup" and a witch trial as Democrats set a historic impeachment vote for Wednesday.

An enraged US President Donald Trump said he was being subjected to an "attempted coup" and a witch trial as Democrats set a historic impeachment vote for Wednesday. In an extraordinarily angry six-page letter, Trump on Tuesday told Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the Democratic-led House of Representatives, that "history will judge you harshly." Referring to a famous miscarriage of justice and religious extremism in the 17th-century United States, resulting in 20 executions, Trump said he'd been given less rights than "those accused in the Salem Witch Trials." The letter came just minutes before Pelosi announced that the House would vote Wednesday to make Trump only the third US leader ever impeached and placed on trial in the Senate. "Tomorrow the House of Representatives will exercise one of the most solemn powers granted to us by the Constitution as we vote to approve two articles of impeachment against the president of the United States," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to Democratic colleagues on Tuesday. "During this very prayerful moment in our nation's history, we must honor our oath to support and defend our constitution from all enemies, foreign and domestic," she added. Frustration and fury Trump is accused of attempting to force Ukraine into what would have been a damaging announcement of an unfounded probe into a main 2020 reelection rival, Joe Biden. He is also accused of obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate with the impeachment investigation, barring staff from testifying and holding back documentary evidence. The two articles of impeachment are certain to pass in the House, where Democrats hold a firm majority. That will send the case to the Senate, where a trial of Trump is expected to open in January, and his acquittal is equally expected, given the Republicans' control there. Even with that likely outcome, Trump virtually exploded in an extraordinary outpouring of frustration and fury in the letter to Pelosi defending his record and attacking Democrats. The letter, on White House paper and ending with his characteristic oversized signature in thick black pen, accused the veteran Democratic politician of "breaking your allegiance to the Constitution" and "declaring open war on American Democracy." It repeated his claim that the entire case against him is a "hoax" and a "colossal injustice." It said Democrats were being driven in impeachment "by your most deranged and radical representatives of the far left." Democrats do the numbers In a comment in Congress likely to further enrage Trump, Pelosi dismissed the missive as "really sick." With the exception of just two, her party's 235 members in Congress appeared poised to stand united in voting through the formal impeachment charges Wednesday. While some members from relatively conservative districts face the possibility of being voted out of office next year for their stance, they stood together under Pelosi's political wrangling. "My military service taught me to put our country -- not politics -- first, and my time as a federal prosecutor taught me about the importance of the rule of law and of justice," declared Mikie Sherrill, a first-term representative from a Trump-leaning district in New Jersey. "I will be voting in favor of the articles of impeachment." "I know some people will be angry at my decision, but I was elected to do what is right, not politically safe," said Anthony Brindisi, another first-term Democrat, from a conservative New York constituency. Tensions in Congress Tensions boiled over in Congress meanwhile over impeachment. At a hearing in the House Rules Committee, which sets out the procedures for votes, senior Republican Doug Collins accused Democrats of trying to rush through the impeachment. "There will be a day of reckoning," Collins warned. "Whatever you may gain will be short-lived." And the top two senators butted heads over what form the trial will take. Democrats are insisting on calling White House officials as witnesses, but Republicans appear to want to put the entire scandal to rest. Senior Democrat Chuck Schumer wants Trump's chief of staff, former national security advisor and two others to testify. But Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who can largely set the rules, rejected this and dismissed any idea that the trial wasn't a purely political exercise. "I think we're going to get almost an entirely partisan impeachment," he said. "This is a political process. There is nothing judicial about it. I'm not impartial about this at all."

Impeachment inquiry: Trump pens blistering letter to Nancy Pelosi, accuses Democrats of  'attempted coup

As Democrats set to vote on impeaching the US president, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-on-track-to-become-third-us-president-to-be-impeached-268809">Trump in a tweet</a> said he has done nothing wrong, while adding that it was "terrible thing".

"Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the radical Left, do nothing Democrats, and I did nothing wrong! A terrible thing. Read the transcripts," Trump said, adding,"This should never happen to another President again."

Trump had earlier told US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in a letter that "history will judge you harshly." The US president accussed Pelosi of "declaring open war on American Democracy."

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/demonstrators-take-to-the-streets-in-new-york-to-rally-for-trump-impeachment-268920/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

President Trump is only the third US leader to ever be impeached. The US president is accussed of forcing Ukraine into a probe into a main 2020 re-election rival, Joe Biden. The US president is also accused of obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate with the impeachment investigation.

The two articles of impeachment will be voted by the Democrats today. It will then be presented to the Senate in January while the Democrats hold a majority in the House of Representatives, the Republicans are in majority in the Senate.

Richard Nixon had quit office before being impeached in 1974. In 1999, 45 Democratic Senators had stayed united against the 55 Republicans to block a two-thirds vote for conviction against Clinton.

As Democrats set to vote on impeaching the US president, Trump in a tweet said he has done nothing wrong, while adding that it was "terrible thing". "Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the radical Left, do nothing Democrats, and I did nothing wrong!

As Democrats set to vote on impeaching the US president, Trump in a tweet said he has done nothing wrong, while adding that it was "terrible thing". "Can you believe that I will be impeached today by the radical Left, do nothing Democrats, and I did nothing wrong! A terrible thing. Read the transcripts," Trump said, adding,"This should never happen to another President again." Trump had earlier told US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi in a letter that "history will judge you harshly." The US president accussed Pelosi of "declaring open war on American Democracy." Watch Video: President Trump is only the third US leader to ever be impeached. The US president is accussed of forcing Ukraine into a probe into a main 2020 re-election rival, Joe Biden. The US president is also accused of obstructing Congress by refusing to cooperate with the impeachment investigation. The two articles of impeachment will be voted by the Democrats today. It will then be presented to the Senate in January while the Democrats hold a majority in the House of Representatives, the Republicans are in majority in the Senate. Richard Nixon had quit office before being impeached in 1974. In 1999, 45 Democratic Senators had stayed united against the 55 Republicans to block a two-thirds vote for conviction against Clinton.

I did nothing wrong, says Trump ahead of impeachment vote in US House

Nancy Pelosi has said that the US President Donald Trump has abused his power as President. Watch this video to know more.

Pelosi: Trump has abused his power as President

Nancy Pelosi asks House to write articles of Impeachment .

Today Tonight: House moving forward with Impeachment

US&nbsp;House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said she has instructed the House Judiciary panel to draft articles of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-lawyer-giuliani-back-in-ukraine-as-impeachment-probe-escalates-266286">impeachment against President Donald Trump</a>.

"The president's actions have seriously violated the constitution," Pelosi told reporters.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a statement early Thursday on the status of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, one day after the House Judiciary Committee began weighing potential charges against the Republican president.

The Democratic-led panel on Wednesday heard from four legal experts as US lawmakers considered whether Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival rose to the level of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-willing-to-compromise-us-security-impeachment-hearing-chair-266274">impeachable offenses</a>.

The hearing came after the House Intelligence panel this week submitted findings from its inquiry into Trump's push for Kiev to launch an investigation related to former US Vice President Joe Biden, a top contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. He also wanted Ukraine to look into the discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 election.

Democrats have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a US ally facing Russian aggression - to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to announce the investigation.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing.

The House may vote by year's end on formal impeachment charges known as articles of impeachment, but Democrats, who control the chamber, say no decision has been made at this point on the specific charges.

Those charges could include abuse of power, bribery, obstruction of Congress and obstruction of justice.

Judiciary panel Democrats on Wednesday also said they may look beyond Trump's relations with Ukraine to include Trump's earlier alleged efforts to impede former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into his 2016 campaign's relations with Russia, but they stopped short of saying that could trigger a separate charge.

If the House votes to impeach Trump, the Republican-led Senate would hold a trial to decide whether to remove the president from office.

Trump's fellow Republicans in both the House and the Senate have stood by the president.

"If it does come to us, I think it will be along party lines," Republican Senator Rand Paul told Fox News in an interview on Thursday, adding that the "frivolous and partisan" effort could harm vulnerable Democrats in the November election.

&nbsp;

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said she has instructed the House Judiciary panel to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. "The president's actions have seriously violated the constitution," Pelosi told reporters.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said she has instructed the House Judiciary panel to draft articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. "The president's actions have seriously violated the constitution," Pelosi told reporters. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a statement early Thursday on the status of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, one day after the House Judiciary Committee began weighing potential charges against the Republican president. The Democratic-led panel on Wednesday heard from four legal experts as US lawmakers considered whether Trump's efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival rose to the level of impeachable offenses. The hearing came after the House Intelligence panel this week submitted findings from its inquiry into Trump's push for Kiev to launch an investigation related to former US Vice President Joe Biden, a top contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. He also wanted Ukraine to look into the discredited theory that Ukraine, not Russia, meddled in the 2016 election. Democrats have accused Trump of abusing his power by withholding $391 million in security aid to Ukraine - a US ally facing Russian aggression - to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to announce the investigation. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. The House may vote by year's end on formal impeachment charges known as articles of impeachment, but Democrats, who control the chamber, say no decision has been made at this point on the specific charges. Those charges could include abuse of power, bribery, obstruction of Congress and obstruction of justice. Judiciary panel Democrats on Wednesday also said they may look beyond Trump's relations with Ukraine to include Trump's earlier alleged efforts to impede former US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into his 2016 campaign's relations with Russia, but they stopped short of saying that could trigger a separate charge. If the House votes to impeach Trump, the Republican-led Senate would hold a trial to decide whether to remove the president from office. Trump's fellow Republicans in both the House and the Senate have stood by the president. "If it does come to us, I think it will be along party lines," Republican Senator Rand Paul told Fox News in an interview on Thursday, adding that the "frivolous and partisan" effort could harm vulnerable Democrats in the November election.

Trump abused power, US House to draft impeachment charges against him: Nancy Pelosi

A US congressional panel on Friday gave President Donald Trump one week to say whether his legal counsel intends to introduce evidence and call witnesses in upcoming impeachment proceedings that could lead to formal charges of misconduct within a few weeks.

The Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee, which is due to begin weighing possible articles of impeachment against Trump next week, sent a two-page letter to the president setting a deadline of 5 pm EDT (2200 GMT) on December&nbsp;6 for the president's counsel to specify intended actions under the committee's impeachment procedures.

The procedures set out rules by which the president can call witnesses, introduce evidence and make presentations.

Panel Democratic Chairman Jerrold Nadler set the same deadline for Republican lawmakers on the committee to notify him about intended witnesses and evidence and scheduled a December 9 meeting to consider the matter.

The Judiciary panel is expected to hold a series of impeachment proceedings, including an initial hearing on Wednesday at which legal experts are due to testify about the constitutional grounds for impeachment. The committee invited Trump to participate in the hearing and gave him until 6 pm EST (2300 GMT) on Sunday to say whether he or his legal team would attend.

The impeachment probe is looking into whether Trump abused his power to pressure Ukraine to launch investigations of political rival Joe Biden and a discredited conspiracy theory promoted by Trump that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US presidential election.

After weeks of closed-door witness depositions and televised hearings, three investigating panels led by the House Intelligence Committee are due to release a formal report soon after lawmakers return to Congress on Tuesday from a Thanksgiving recess. The report will outline evidence gathered by lawmakers on the panel, along with those on the Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees.

After Wednesday, the Judiciary panel, which could recommend a full House impeachment vote before Christmas, is expected to hold a hearing to examine the evidence report and further proceedings to consider formal articles of impeachment.

House Democrats aim to resolve the question of Trump's impeachment by Christmas. If the House impeaches him, the Republican-controlled Senate would hold a trial to determine whether he should be convicted and removed from office.

Political analysts say the ultimate verdict will come in next year's US elections for president and Congress, and candidates from both parties have used the impeachment issue to ramp up their campaigns.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who launched the impeachment inquiry on Sept. 24, on Friday asked supporters in an email from her campaign committee to condemn Trump's actions.

"President Trump used taxpayer money to bribe foreign countries to influence the 2020 elections for his own political gain," she said in the email which asked recipients to register their disapproval on her campaign website.

A US congressional panel on Friday gave President Donald Trump one week to say whether his legal counsel intends to introduce evidence and call witnesses in upcoming impeachment proceedings that could lead to formal charges of misconduct within a few weeks.

A US congressional panel on Friday gave President Donald Trump one week to say whether his legal counsel intends to introduce evidence and call witnesses in upcoming impeachment proceedings that could lead to formal charges of misconduct within a few weeks. The Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee, which is due to begin weighing possible articles of impeachment against Trump next week, sent a two-page letter to the president setting a deadline of 5 pm EDT (2200 GMT) on December 6 for the president's counsel to specify intended actions under the committee's impeachment procedures. The procedures set out rules by which the president can call witnesses, introduce evidence and make presentations. Panel Democratic Chairman Jerrold Nadler set the same deadline for Republican lawmakers on the committee to notify him about intended witnesses and evidence and scheduled a December 9 meeting to consider the matter. The Judiciary panel is expected to hold a series of impeachment proceedings, including an initial hearing on Wednesday at which legal experts are due to testify about the constitutional grounds for impeachment. The committee invited Trump to participate in the hearing and gave him until 6 pm EST (2300 GMT) on Sunday to say whether he or his legal team would attend. The impeachment probe is looking into whether Trump abused his power to pressure Ukraine to launch investigations of political rival Joe Biden and a discredited conspiracy theory promoted by Trump that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US presidential election. After weeks of closed-door witness depositions and televised hearings, three investigating panels led by the House Intelligence Committee are due to release a formal report soon after lawmakers return to Congress on Tuesday from a Thanksgiving recess. The report will outline evidence gathered by lawmakers on the panel, along with those on the Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees. After Wednesday, the Judiciary panel, which could recommend a full House impeachment vote before Christmas, is expected to hold a hearing to examine the evidence report and further proceedings to consider formal articles of impeachment. House Democrats aim to resolve the question of Trump's impeachment by Christmas. If the House impeaches him, the Republican-controlled Senate would hold a trial to determine whether he should be convicted and removed from office. Political analysts say the ultimate verdict will come in next year's US elections for president and Congress, and candidates from both parties have used the impeachment issue to ramp up their campaigns. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who launched the impeachment inquiry on Sept. 24, on Friday asked supporters in an email from her campaign committee to condemn Trump's actions. "President Trump used taxpayer money to bribe foreign countries to influence the 2020 elections for his own political gain," she said in the email which asked recipients to register their disapproval on her campaign website.

US panel sets deadline for Trump to decide participation in impeachment hearings

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pelosi-says-trump-has-admitted-to-bribery-as-impeachment-probe-intensifies-262171">US&nbsp;House Speaker Nancy Pelosi</a> said on Thursday there was clear evidence <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-behaviour-worse-than-nixon-head-of-impeachment-probe-263752">President Donald Trump</a> had used his office for personal gain and undermined national security, but that no final impeachment decision had been made as House Democrats continued their impeachment inquiry into the Republican president.

Pelosi, speaking at her weekly press conference, reiterated that it was up to the House Intelligence Committee to determine how to proceed with the investigation as lawmakers continued to gather facts and hear from witnesses.

"The evidence is clear ... that the president has used his office for his own personal gain and in doing so undermined the national security," she told reporters. "He has violated his oath of office."

The Democrat-led House Intelligence Committee on Thursday was conducting its fifth and final scheduled day of public hearings in the impeachment inquiry centered on Trump's request in a July 25 phone call that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy conduct probes of Trump's political rivals.

The inquiry is also examining whether Trump's withholding of $391 million in security aid to Ukraine was meant to pressure Zelenskiy to undertake the investigations. 
Trump has denied wrongdoing.

The inquiry could lead the House to approve formal charges against Trump, known as articles of impeachment.

The Republican-controlled Senate would then hold a trial on whether to remove him from office, although few Republican senators have been critical of Trump so far.

Asked by a reporter whether the House was now ready to advance articles of impeachment against Trump, Pelosi said, "We haven't made any decision."

The nation's leading Democrat also left open the possibility of additional hearings by the House Intelligence Committee or the interviewing of additional witnesses.

"We are not finished yet. The day is not over and you never know what testimony of one person may lead to the need for testimony of another," Pelosi said.

She again issued an invitation to Trump to come forward, saying, "if you have any information that is exculpatory ... because it seems as if the facts are uncontested to what happened. Now if you have contrary, if you have reason to convince people that something was different, under oath, please let us know."&nbsp;

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday there was clear evidence President Donald Trump had used his office for personal gain and undermined national security, but that no final impeachment decision had been made as House Democrats continued their impeachment inquiry into the Republican president.

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday there was clear evidence President Donald Trump had used his office for personal gain and undermined national security, but that no final impeachment decision had been made as House Democrats continued their impeachment inquiry into the Republican president. Pelosi, speaking at her weekly press conference, reiterated that it was up to the House Intelligence Committee to determine how to proceed with the investigation as lawmakers continued to gather facts and hear from witnesses. "The evidence is clear ... that the president has used his office for his own personal gain and in doing so undermined the national security," she told reporters. "He has violated his oath of office." The Democrat-led House Intelligence Committee on Thursday was conducting its fifth and final scheduled day of public hearings in the impeachment inquiry centered on Trump's request in a July 25 phone call that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy conduct probes of Trump's political rivals. The inquiry is also examining whether Trump's withholding of $391 million in security aid to Ukraine was meant to pressure Zelenskiy to undertake the investigations. Trump has denied wrongdoing. The inquiry could lead the House to approve formal charges against Trump, known as articles of impeachment. The Republican-controlled Senate would then hold a trial on whether to remove him from office, although few Republican senators have been critical of Trump so far. Asked by a reporter whether the House was now ready to advance articles of impeachment against Trump, Pelosi said, "We haven't made any decision." The nation's leading Democrat also left open the possibility of additional hearings by the House Intelligence Committee or the interviewing of additional witnesses. "We are not finished yet. The day is not over and you never know what testimony of one person may lead to the need for testimony of another," Pelosi said. She again issued an invitation to Trump to come forward, saying, "if you have any information that is exculpatory ... because it seems as if the facts are uncontested to what happened. Now if you have contrary, if you have reason to convince people that something was different, under oath, please let us know."

Pelosi says evidence is clear, Trump used office for personal gain

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that President Donald Trump already has admitted to actions that amount to bribery in the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-impeachment-hearings-focus-on-ukraine-pressure-campaign-in-first-day-261996">Ukraine scandal </a>at the heart of a Democratic-led impeachment inquiry.

"The bribe is to grant or withhold military assistance in return for a public statement of a fake investigation into the elections. That's bribery," Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, said at a news conference.

"What the president has admitted to and says it's perfect, I say it's perfectly wrong. It's bribery.

Democrats are looking into whether Trump abused his power by withholding $391 million in US security aid to Ukraine as leverage to pressure Kiev to conduct an investigation that would benefit him politically. The money, approved by the US Congress to help a US ally combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country, was later provided to Ukraine.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing.

Pelosi made her comments a day after the Democratic-controlled House held its first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry she announced in September. Another central figure - former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch - is due to testify on Friday.

If the House approves articles of impeachment - formal charges - against Trump, the Senate would then hold a trial on whether to convict him of the charges and remove him from office. Republicans control the Senate and have shown little support for Trump's removal.

The focus of the impeachment inquiry is a July 25 phone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden and the former vice president's son Hunter, who had served as a board member for a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma. Trump also asked Zelenskiy to investigate a debunked conspiracy theory embraced by some Trump allies that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US election.

Pelosi compared Trump's actions to former President Richard Nixon's actions in the Watergate corruption scandal that led him in 1974 to become the only US president to resign.

She said that Trump's actions to enlist a foreign power to help him in a US election and the obstruction of information about that - she called it a cover-up - "makes what Nixon did look almost small."

Two career US diplomats, William Taylor and George Kent, testified on Wednesday in the first televised hearing of the inquiry that threatens Trump's presidency as he seeks re-election in November 2020.

Taylor, the acting ambassador to Ukraine, offered an account that linked the Republican president more directly to the pressure campaign on Ukraine.

The public hearings follow weeks of closed-door interviews with current and former US officials about Trump's dealings with Ukraine.

'False claims'

The House Intelligence Committee on Friday is due to hear in a public session from Yovanovitch, who Trump abruptly removed from her post as US ambassador to Ukraine in May.

Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani at the time was working to convince Ukraine to carry out the investigations.

Yovanovitch, who has worked for both Republican and Democratic administrations, told lawmakers behind closed doors on October 11 that Trump ousted her based on "unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives" after she came under attack by Giuliani. She also denied allegations by Trump allies that she was disloyal to him and said she did not know what Giuliani's motivations were for attacking her.

Yovanovitch said Giuliani's associates "may well have believed that their personal financial ambitions were stymied by our anti-corruption policy in Ukraine."

Trump called Yovanovitch "bad news" in the phone call to Zelenskiy, according to a White House summary.

Three more public hearings are scheduled for next week.

On Wednesday, Taylor offered a new disclosure that indicated Trump's keen interest in the investigations in Ukraine, saying a member of his staff overheard a July 26 phone call at a restaurant in which Trump asked about the probes he had asked Zelenskiy to conduct.

After the call between Trump and Gordon Sondland, a former political donor appointed as the US envoy to the European Union, the staff member asked Sondland what Trump thought about Ukraine, Taylor said.

"Ambassador Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which Giuliani was pressing for," Taylor testified.

Trump told reporters after the hearing that he knew "nothing" about the call with Sondland.

"It's the first time I heard it," he said.

The staffer cited by Taylor is David Holmes, a Taylor aide who has been subpoenaed to testify in the inquiry on Friday behind closed doors, said a person familiar with the issue.

Republican lawmakers called Taylor's account hearsay.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Thursday that Sondland did not explicitly link the security aid to an investigation into the Bidens, Interfax Ukraine reported.

"Ambassador Sondland did not tell us, and certainly did not tell me, about a connection between the assistance and the investigations. You should ask him," Prystaiko said. 
&nbsp;

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that President Donald Trump already has admitted to actions that amount to bribery in the Ukraine scandal at the heart of a Democratic-led impeachment inquiry.

US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that President Donald Trump already has admitted to actions that amount to bribery in the Ukraine scandal at the heart of a Democratic-led impeachment inquiry. "The bribe is to grant or withhold military assistance in return for a public statement of a fake investigation into the elections. That's bribery," Pelosi, the top Democrat in Congress, said at a news conference. "What the president has admitted to and says it's perfect, I say it's perfectly wrong. It's bribery. Democrats are looking into whether Trump abused his power by withholding $391 million in US security aid to Ukraine as leverage to pressure Kiev to conduct an investigation that would benefit him politically. The money, approved by the US Congress to help a US ally combat Russia-backed separatists in the eastern part of the country, was later provided to Ukraine. Trump has denied any wrongdoing. Pelosi made her comments a day after the Democratic-controlled House held its first public hearing in the impeachment inquiry she announced in September. Another central figure - former US ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch - is due to testify on Friday. If the House approves articles of impeachment - formal charges - against Trump, the Senate would then hold a trial on whether to convict him of the charges and remove him from office. Republicans control the Senate and have shown little support for Trump's removal. The focus of the impeachment inquiry is a July 25 phone call in which Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden and the former vice president's son Hunter, who had served as a board member for a Ukrainian energy company called Burisma. Trump also asked Zelenskiy to investigate a debunked conspiracy theory embraced by some Trump allies that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US election. Pelosi compared Trump's actions to former President Richard Nixon's actions in the Watergate corruption scandal that led him in 1974 to become the only US president to resign. She said that Trump's actions to enlist a foreign power to help him in a US election and the obstruction of information about that - she called it a cover-up - "makes what Nixon did look almost small." Two career US diplomats, William Taylor and George Kent, testified on Wednesday in the first televised hearing of the inquiry that threatens Trump's presidency as he seeks re-election in November 2020. Taylor, the acting ambassador to Ukraine, offered an account that linked the Republican president more directly to the pressure campaign on Ukraine. The public hearings follow weeks of closed-door interviews with current and former US officials about Trump's dealings with Ukraine. 'False claims' The House Intelligence Committee on Friday is due to hear in a public session from Yovanovitch, who Trump abruptly removed from her post as US ambassador to Ukraine in May. Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani at the time was working to convince Ukraine to carry out the investigations. Yovanovitch, who has worked for both Republican and Democratic administrations, told lawmakers behind closed doors on October 11 that Trump ousted her based on "unfounded and false claims by people with clearly questionable motives" after she came under attack by Giuliani. She also denied allegations by Trump allies that she was disloyal to him and said she did not know what Giuliani's motivations were for attacking her. Yovanovitch said Giuliani's associates "may well have believed that their personal financial ambitions were stymied by our anti-corruption policy in Ukraine." Trump called Yovanovitch "bad news" in the phone call to Zelenskiy, according to a White House summary. Three more public hearings are scheduled for next week. On Wednesday, Taylor offered a new disclosure that indicated Trump's keen interest in the investigations in Ukraine, saying a member of his staff overheard a July 26 phone call at a restaurant in which Trump asked about the probes he had asked Zelenskiy to conduct. After the call between Trump and Gordon Sondland, a former political donor appointed as the US envoy to the European Union, the staff member asked Sondland what Trump thought about Ukraine, Taylor said. "Ambassador Sondland responded that President Trump cares more about the investigations of Biden, which Giuliani was pressing for," Taylor testified. Trump told reporters after the hearing that he knew "nothing" about the call with Sondland. "It's the first time I heard it," he said. The staffer cited by Taylor is David Holmes, a Taylor aide who has been subpoenaed to testify in the inquiry on Friday behind closed doors, said a person familiar with the issue. Republican lawmakers called Taylor's account hearsay. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Thursday that Sondland did not explicitly link the security aid to an investigation into the Bidens, Interfax Ukraine reported. "Ambassador Sondland did not tell us, and certainly did not tell me, about a connection between the assistance and the investigations. You should ask him," Prystaiko said.

Pelosi says Trump has admitted to bribery as impeachment probe intensifies

Immigrants known as "Dreamers" and senior Democrats rallied behind the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme on Tuesday as the US&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-supreme-court-to-examine-dreamers-program-that-trump-wants-axed-261490">Supreme Court considered</a> whether to let President Donald Trump end it.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse on a grey and chilly morning to show their support for the "Dreamers," immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally or overstayed a visa as children.

DACA, launched in 2012 by Democratic former President Barack Obama, provides roughly 661,000 such immigrants with deportation protection and work permits. Trump, a Republican known for his hardline immigration policies, announced plans in September 2017 to phase out DACA, but was blocked by lower courts.

Demonstrator Anel Medina, a 28-year-old DACA enrollee and oncology nurse at Penn Medicine in the Philadelphia area, said the programme changed her life. She was born in Mexico City, and her mother brought her to the United States at age 5. She was a college student and living without legal status when DACA was created in 2012.

"I was able to get a job ... finish nursing school," she said. "It was the moment I was waiting for."

Democratic congressional leaders criticized Trump and Republicans for failing to pass legislation to protect "Dreamers." The Democratic-led House passed a bill in June that would give legal status to an estimated 2.7 million people, but the Republican-controlled Senate has not taken up the measure.

"The president's relentless scapegoating of immigrants is the most un-American thing I can think of," Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, said during a news conference with roughly two dozen DACA recipients in the US&nbsp;Capitol.

Trump tweeted in the morning that he would strike a deal with Democrats to allow DACA recipients to stay if the Supreme Court rules against the programme, but also said many programme enrollees are "very tough, hardened criminals." The DACA programme bars applicants with serious criminal convictions.

Demonstrators at the protest outside the courthouse carried signs that read "home is here" and "defend DACA." Several hoisted depictions of monarch butterflies, which migrate from parts of the United States to Mexico and have become a symbol of the "Dreamers" movement.

No DACA opponents were evident outside the Supreme Court, but Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favours lower levels of immigration, argued that Trump's termination was lawful.

"President Obama's initial action was undertaken informally, and so the policy can be undone in precisely the same manner," Stein said in a statement.

Arisaid Gonzalez Porras and her brother Sergio, both DACA recipients and undergraduate students at Georgetown University, said the court should affirm the programme's legality, but that a permanent fix is needed.

"When the programme was rescinded it made a lot of us realise that DACA is just a Band Aid," she said.

Sammie Chai, a 19-year-old freshman at American University whose parents came to the United States from Malaysia, said she attended the demonstration in solidarity with "Dreamers" and other immigrants in the face of Trump's hardline policies.

"He exemplifies xenophobia," she said of Trump. "Everyone showing up here today, we're just showing that we will not stand for that."

Immigrants known as "Dreamers" and senior Democrats rallied behind the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme on Tuesday as the US Supreme Court considered whether to let President Donald Trump end it.

Immigrants known as "Dreamers" and senior Democrats rallied behind the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme on Tuesday as the US Supreme Court considered whether to let President Donald Trump end it. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse on a grey and chilly morning to show their support for the "Dreamers," immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally or overstayed a visa as children. DACA, launched in 2012 by Democratic former President Barack Obama, provides roughly 661,000 such immigrants with deportation protection and work permits. Trump, a Republican known for his hardline immigration policies, announced plans in September 2017 to phase out DACA, but was blocked by lower courts. Demonstrator Anel Medina, a 28-year-old DACA enrollee and oncology nurse at Penn Medicine in the Philadelphia area, said the programme changed her life. She was born in Mexico City, and her mother brought her to the United States at age 5. She was a college student and living without legal status when DACA was created in 2012. "I was able to get a job ... finish nursing school," she said. "It was the moment I was waiting for." Democratic congressional leaders criticized Trump and Republicans for failing to pass legislation to protect "Dreamers." The Democratic-led House passed a bill in June that would give legal status to an estimated 2.7 million people, but the Republican-controlled Senate has not taken up the measure. "The president's relentless scapegoating of immigrants is the most un-American thing I can think of," Chuck Schumer, the top Senate Democrat, said during a news conference with roughly two dozen DACA recipients in the US Capitol. Trump tweeted in the morning that he would strike a deal with Democrats to allow DACA recipients to stay if the Supreme Court rules against the programme, but also said many programme enrollees are "very tough, hardened criminals." The DACA programme bars applicants with serious criminal convictions. Demonstrators at the protest outside the courthouse carried signs that read "home is here" and "defend DACA." Several hoisted depictions of monarch butterflies, which migrate from parts of the United States to Mexico and have become a symbol of the "Dreamers" movement. No DACA opponents were evident outside the Supreme Court, but Dan Stein, president of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favours lower levels of immigration, argued that Trump's termination was lawful. "President Obama's initial action was undertaken informally, and so the policy can be undone in precisely the same manner," Stein said in a statement. Arisaid Gonzalez Porras and her brother Sergio, both DACA recipients and undergraduate students at Georgetown University, said the court should affirm the programme's legality, but that a permanent fix is needed. "When the programme was rescinded it made a lot of us realise that DACA is just a Band Aid," she said. Sammie Chai, a 19-year-old freshman at American University whose parents came to the United States from Malaysia, said she attended the demonstration in solidarity with "Dreamers" and other immigrants in the face of Trump's hardline policies. "He exemplifies xenophobia," she said of Trump. "Everyone showing up here today, we're just showing that we will not stand for that."

'Dreamers,' Democrats rally behind DACA as US top court mulls programme's fate

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/committee-releases-first-transcripts-in-trump-impeachment-inquiry-259964">Witness transcripts</a> in the impeachment probe into Donald Trump were made public for the first time Monday, with the former US ambassador to Kyiv telling investigators she felt threatened by the president in his call to Ukraine's leader.

Democrats are entering an open phase of a congressional probe into potential abuse of power by Trump that has divided Washington as Republicans seek to defend him and his opponents pursue his removal from office.

The release of Marie Yovanovitch's deposition came as the White House hardened its opposition to the inquiry, with Trump's top national security lawyer defying a subpoena to testify early Monday.

The probe is examining how Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden, including by withholding $391 million in military aid that had been approved by Congress to help the US ally defend itself against Russian aggression.

Yovanovitch, who had urged Ukraine to do more to fight corruption, testified last month that she was ousted in May over "false claims" spread by questionable actors allied to Trump.

According to her deposition, she was alarmed by the deepening involvement of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in Ukrainian affairs, and in particular his efforts to get Kiev to investigate Biden.

She said she was "shocked" when she read the summary of Trump's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-to-launch-trump-impeachment-inquiry-over-ukraine-controversy-251842">July 25 call</a> with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which Trump said the ambassador was "going to go through some things."

"I was very concerned. I still am," Yovanovitch says.

"Did you feel threatened?" an investigator asks Yovanovitch in the transcript.

"Yes," she replies.

"I really don't know her," Trump told reporters of Yovanovitch on Monday, adding that he was "sure she's a very fine woman."

In fact, Yovanovitch came up repeatedly in Trump's phone call with Zelensky, with the US president describing her as "bad news," according to a White House summary of the conversation.

The release is the first of what House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff said would be several key depositions.

He also released testimony from Michael McKinley, a former senior advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who resigned in September after concluding that the department was not defending top diplomats.

He said he asked Pompeo three times to defend Yovanovitch, eventually telling him that "this situation isn't acceptable." But the secretary was essentially non-responsive.

In his 37 years as a diplomat he had "never seen" efforts to use the State Department and its missions "to procure negative political information for domestic purposes," McKinley told investigators.

The depositions demonstrate "the contamination of US foreign policy by an irregular back channel that sought to advance the president's personal and political interests, and the serious concerns that this activity elicited across our government," Schiff and the chairs of two other panels leading the investigation said in a statement.

Schiff said testimony would be released Tuesday from two more key witnesses, then-special representative on Ukraine Kurt Volker and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland.

They were in text message chains in which diplomats expressed misgivings about the prospective quid pro quo of political investigations for military aid.

Prior to the release of the first transcripts, Trump sought to attack their credibility by suggesting, without evidence, that Schiff would "change the words that were said to suit the Dems' purposes."

Meanwhile John Eisenberg, Trump's deputy counsel for national security affairs, defied a congressional subpoena, a sign of renewed White House stonewalling.

Eisenberg is reported to have been on the July 25 call. But Trump said Monday there was "no reason" for witnesses to answer questions by investigators.

"This is just another Democrat Hoax that I have had to live with from the day I got elected," the president said.

Robert Blair, an assistant to the president and senior advisor to the acting chief of staff, also refused to testify.

Trump senior associate counsel Michael Ellis and White House budget office associate director for energy Brian McCormack were due for depositions too.

But Schiff said the White House instructed them not to appear, a clear signal that "their testimony would be further incriminating of the president."

Witness transcripts in the impeachment probe into Donald Trump were made public for the first time Monday, with the former US ambassador to Kyiv telling investigators she felt threatened by the president in his call to Ukraine's leader.

Witness transcripts in the impeachment probe into Donald Trump were made public for the first time Monday, with the former US ambassador to Kyiv telling investigators she felt threatened by the president in his call to Ukraine's leader. Democrats are entering an open phase of a congressional probe into potential abuse of power by Trump that has divided Washington as Republicans seek to defend him and his opponents pursue his removal from office. The release of Marie Yovanovitch's deposition came as the White House hardened its opposition to the inquiry, with Trump's top national security lawyer defying a subpoena to testify early Monday. The probe is examining how Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden, including by withholding $391 million in military aid that had been approved by Congress to help the US ally defend itself against Russian aggression. Yovanovitch, who had urged Ukraine to do more to fight corruption, testified last month that she was ousted in May over "false claims" spread by questionable actors allied to Trump. According to her deposition, she was alarmed by the deepening involvement of Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in Ukrainian affairs, and in particular his efforts to get Kiev to investigate Biden. She said she was "shocked" when she read the summary of Trump's July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which Trump said the ambassador was "going to go through some things." "I was very concerned. I still am," Yovanovitch says. "Did you feel threatened?" an investigator asks Yovanovitch in the transcript. "Yes," she replies. "I really don't know her," Trump told reporters of Yovanovitch on Monday, adding that he was "sure she's a very fine woman." In fact, Yovanovitch came up repeatedly in Trump's phone call with Zelensky, with the US president describing her as "bad news," according to a White House summary of the conversation. The release is the first of what House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff said would be several key depositions. He also released testimony from Michael McKinley, a former senior advisor to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who resigned in September after concluding that the department was not defending top diplomats. He said he asked Pompeo three times to defend Yovanovitch, eventually telling him that "this situation isn't acceptable." But the secretary was essentially non-responsive. In his 37 years as a diplomat he had "never seen" efforts to use the State Department and its missions "to procure negative political information for domestic purposes," McKinley told investigators. The depositions demonstrate "the contamination of US foreign policy by an irregular back channel that sought to advance the president's personal and political interests, and the serious concerns that this activity elicited across our government," Schiff and the chairs of two other panels leading the investigation said in a statement. Schiff said testimony would be released Tuesday from two more key witnesses, then-special representative on Ukraine Kurt Volker and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. They were in text message chains in which diplomats expressed misgivings about the prospective quid pro quo of political investigations for military aid. Prior to the release of the first transcripts, Trump sought to attack their credibility by suggesting, without evidence, that Schiff would "change the words that were said to suit the Dems' purposes." Meanwhile John Eisenberg, Trump's deputy counsel for national security affairs, defied a congressional subpoena, a sign of renewed White House stonewalling. Eisenberg is reported to have been on the July 25 call. But Trump said Monday there was "no reason" for witnesses to answer questions by investigators. "This is just another Democrat Hoax that I have had to live with from the day I got elected," the president said. Robert Blair, an assistant to the president and senior advisor to the acting chief of staff, also refused to testify. Trump senior associate counsel Michael Ellis and White House budget office associate director for energy Brian McCormack were due for depositions too. But Schiff said the White House instructed them not to appear, a clear signal that "their testimony would be further incriminating of the president."

First impeachment transcripts go public as White House stonewalls

A senior White House official testified on Tuesday he was so alarmed by hearing US&nbsp;President Donald Trump ask Ukraine's president to investigate a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, that he reported the matter to a White House lawyer.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman became the first current White House staff member to testify in the Democratic-led House of Representatives inquiry into whether to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-begins-trump-impeachment-inquiry-over-call-to-ukraine-leader-251866">impeach the Republican</a> president.

The Ukraine specialist gave a closed-door deposition for more than 10 hours as Democrats unveiled legislation calling for public hearings and a public report in the impeachment inquiry to blunt Republican criticism the probe has been conducted with too much secrecy.

While the Democrats met Republican demands for a full House vote on impeachment inquiry procedures, holding <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/democrats-to-vote-on-thursday-on-how-to-make-trump-impeachment-probe-public-258587">public hearings</a> and releasing transcripts taken in secret, senior Republicans rejected the legislation before it was even introduced.

Appearing on Capitol Hill in his military dress uniform, Vindman, a Ukraine-born US&nbsp;citizen and decorated Iraq war combat veteran, became the first person to testify who listened in on the July 25 call at the heart of the Ukraine scandal.

The inquiry has focused on Trump's request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky&nbsp;on the call that he investigate Biden, a former vice president, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company.

Trump also asked Zelenskiy to investigate a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US&nbsp;election.

Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by Congress to help Ukraine fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky&nbsp;agreed to Trump's requests. The aid was later provided.

"I was concerned by the call," Vindman said in his prepared opening statement to the three House committees conducting the inquiry. "I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US&nbsp;citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the US&nbsp;government's support of Ukraine."

"I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine US&nbsp;national security," Vindman added.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Ukraine and has called the impeachment probe politically motivated.

Vindman's testimony was some of the most damaging to date for Trump, who faces the possibility of impeachment as he prepares to run for re-election. Biden is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to face him.

Federal law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election.

Vindman, appearing after receiving a subpoena from lawmakers despite the Trump administration policy of not cooperating with the impeachment inquiry, recounted listening in on the call in the White House Situation Room with colleagues from the National Security Council and Vice President Mike Pence's office.

After the call, Vindman said he reported his concerns to the National Security Council's lead counsel.

Vindman said earlier in July he had also reported concerns about previous pressure by the administration on Ukraine to carry out politically motivated investigations to the lawyer.

Vindman called into question the truthfulness of earlier testimony by another administration official, US&nbsp;Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland.

At a July 10 meeting in Washington, Vindman said Sondland, a former Trump donor, told visiting Ukrainian officials they needed to "deliver specific investigations in order to secure a meeting with the president." At that point, Vindman said, then-national security adviser John Bolton cut the meeting short.

According to Vindman's opening statement, Sondland told other US&nbsp;officials in a debriefing after the meeting that it was important that the Ukrainian investigations center on the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma.

"I stated to Ambassador&nbsp;Sondland that his statements were inappropriate, that the request to investigate Biden and his son had nothing to do with national security," Vindman said.

Sondland gave a different account of the July 10 events in his own testimony, saying that "if Ambassador Bolton, Dr. Hill or others harboured any misgivings about the propriety of what we were doing, they never shared those misgivings with me, then or later."

Before his testimony, some Trump allies, including Fox News host Laura Ingraham, sought to attack Vindman's integrity and questioned his loyalty to the United States.

Biden, however, described Vindman as a hero, calling attacks on the Army officer's character and loyalty "despicable."

"He's a hell of a patriot," Biden told MSNBC.

After Vindman's testimony, the Democratic Intelligence Committee chairman, Representative Adam Schiff, said he was "appalled" by the critical comments. "He deserves better than that scandalous attack," Schiff told reporters.

Seeking to blunt Republican criticism that the inquiry does not give Trump due process, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laid out legislation that could be voted on this week setting up a two-stage process for the inquiry.

In the first, the House Intelligence Committee would continue its probe, including via public hearings, with the right to make public transcripts of depositions taken in private.

The intelligence panel would then send a public report on its findings to the House Judiciary Committee, which would conduct its own proceedings and report on "such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper."

A lawyer for Trump would be allowed to participate in proceedings in the Judiciary Committee, which eventually could vote on formal charges against the Republican president. House passage of articles of impeachment would trigger a trial in the Republican-led Senate on whether to remove Trump from office.

At a news conference before the measure was unveiled, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said the entire process remained a "sham."

Referring to closed meetings and depositions held by the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs panels over the past few weeks, McCarthy said: "You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Due process starts at the beginning."

The White House adopted a similar stance.

"The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats’ impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorization by a House vote," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said.

Impeachment is much different from a judicial process, however, and is not governed by the same rules. The US&nbsp;Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations.

A senior White House official testified on Tuesday he was so alarmed by hearing US President Donald Trump ask Ukraine's president to investigate a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, that he reported the matter to a White House lawyer.

A senior White House official testified on Tuesday he was so alarmed by hearing US President Donald Trump ask Ukraine's president to investigate a political rival, Democrat Joe Biden, that he reported the matter to a White House lawyer. Army Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman became the first current White House staff member to testify in the Democratic-led House of Representatives inquiry into whether to impeach the Republican president. The Ukraine specialist gave a closed-door deposition for more than 10 hours as Democrats unveiled legislation calling for public hearings and a public report in the impeachment inquiry to blunt Republican criticism the probe has been conducted with too much secrecy. While the Democrats met Republican demands for a full House vote on impeachment inquiry procedures, holding public hearings and releasing transcripts taken in secret, senior Republicans rejected the legislation before it was even introduced. Appearing on Capitol Hill in his military dress uniform, Vindman, a Ukraine-born US citizen and decorated Iraq war combat veteran, became the first person to testify who listened in on the July 25 call at the heart of the Ukraine scandal. The inquiry has focused on Trump's request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the call that he investigate Biden, a former vice president, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company. Trump also asked Zelenskiy to investigate a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 US election. Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by Congress to help Ukraine fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky agreed to Trump's requests. The aid was later provided. "I was concerned by the call," Vindman said in his prepared opening statement to the three House committees conducting the inquiry. "I did not think it was proper to demand that a foreign government investigate a US citizen, and I was worried about the implications for the US government's support of Ukraine." "I realized that if Ukraine pursued an investigation into the Bidens and Burisma, it would likely be interpreted as a partisan play which would undoubtedly result in Ukraine losing the bipartisan support it has thus far maintained. This would all undermine US national security," Vindman added. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Ukraine and has called the impeachment probe politically motivated. Vindman's testimony was some of the most damaging to date for Trump, who faces the possibility of impeachment as he prepares to run for re-election. Biden is a leading contender for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination to face him. Federal law prohibits candidates from accepting foreign help in an election. Vindman, appearing after receiving a subpoena from lawmakers despite the Trump administration policy of not cooperating with the impeachment inquiry, recounted listening in on the call in the White House Situation Room with colleagues from the National Security Council and Vice President Mike Pence's office. After the call, Vindman said he reported his concerns to the National Security Council's lead counsel. Vindman said earlier in July he had also reported concerns about previous pressure by the administration on Ukraine to carry out politically motivated investigations to the lawyer. Vindman called into question the truthfulness of earlier testimony by another administration official, US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. At a July 10 meeting in Washington, Vindman said Sondland, a former Trump donor, told visiting Ukrainian officials they needed to "deliver specific investigations in order to secure a meeting with the president." At that point, Vindman said, then-national security adviser John Bolton cut the meeting short. According to Vindman's opening statement, Sondland told other US officials in a debriefing after the meeting that it was important that the Ukrainian investigations center on the 2016 election, the Bidens and Burisma. "I stated to Ambassador Sondland that his statements were inappropriate, that the request to investigate Biden and his son had nothing to do with national security," Vindman said. Sondland gave a different account of the July 10 events in his own testimony, saying that "if Ambassador Bolton, Dr. Hill or others harboured any misgivings about the propriety of what we were doing, they never shared those misgivings with me, then or later." Before his testimony, some Trump allies, including Fox News host Laura Ingraham, sought to attack Vindman's integrity and questioned his loyalty to the United States. Biden, however, described Vindman as a hero, calling attacks on the Army officer's character and loyalty "despicable." "He's a hell of a patriot," Biden told MSNBC. After Vindman's testimony, the Democratic Intelligence Committee chairman, Representative Adam Schiff, said he was "appalled" by the critical comments. "He deserves better than that scandalous attack," Schiff told reporters. Seeking to blunt Republican criticism that the inquiry does not give Trump due process, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi laid out legislation that could be voted on this week setting up a two-stage process for the inquiry. In the first, the House Intelligence Committee would continue its probe, including via public hearings, with the right to make public transcripts of depositions taken in private. The intelligence panel would then send a public report on its findings to the House Judiciary Committee, which would conduct its own proceedings and report on "such resolutions, articles of impeachment, or other recommendations as it deems proper." A lawyer for Trump would be allowed to participate in proceedings in the Judiciary Committee, which eventually could vote on formal charges against the Republican president. House passage of articles of impeachment would trigger a trial in the Republican-led Senate on whether to remove Trump from office. At a news conference before the measure was unveiled, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said the entire process remained a "sham." Referring to closed meetings and depositions held by the House Intelligence, Oversight and Foreign Affairs panels over the past few weeks, McCarthy said: "You can’t put the genie back in the bottle. Due process starts at the beginning." The White House adopted a similar stance. "The resolution put forward by Speaker Pelosi confirms that House Democrats’ impeachment has been an illegitimate sham from the start as it lacked any proper authorization by a House vote," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said. Impeachment is much different from a judicial process, however, and is not governed by the same rules. The US Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations.

White House official Vindman raises US national security concern over Trump's call to Zelensky

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-lawmakers-hear-from-corroborating-witness-in-trump-impeachment-probe-258323">impeachment investigation</a> of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe.

Trump and his fellow Republicans have for weeks branded the work of committees probing Trump's overtures to Ukraine as illegitimate, arguing the full Democratic-led House of Representatives had failed to authorise their investigations in a public vote.

Meeting behind closed doors, the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees have been looking into the possibility that Trump violated federal law by seeking foreign help for his November 2020 re-election efforts.

House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern said on Monday: "I will be introducing a resolution to ensure transparency and provide a clear path forward."

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a statement the legislation would establish a format for open hearings.The US&nbsp;Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations.

Several administration officials, including a former deputy national security adviser on Monday, have failed to testify to House committees engaged in the probe.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her fellow House Democrats the House will vote this week - on Thursday, according to a senior Democratic aide - on a resolution that spells out how future public hearings will be held.

Pelosi promised to provide legal protections for Trump.

A source familiar with the probe said the public hearings will be held by the Intelligence Committee and that the transcripts from closed depositions with witnesses will be made public. A senior House Democratic aide said the hearings could begin within the next month.

The measure will set the stage for House investigating committees to forward evidence they have collected to the House Judiciary Committee, which would then decide whether to advance articles of impeachment against Trump.

Even if the House impeaches Trump, he would face a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which for the moment seems unlikely to convict the president and force his ouster.

Impeachment requires a simple majority in the 435-member House but conviction demands the support of a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate.

Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to ousted national security adviser John Bolton, failed to appear earlier on Monday before the three House panels conducting the Ukraine phase of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, lawmakers said.

Other panels are probing separate issues, including Trump's finances and abuses of White House security clearances.

Kupperman put off testifying while asking a court to rule on whether he should comply with a congressional subpoena or honour the Trump administration's order not to testify, his lawyers said last week.

Democrats in turn said they would not let further legal manoeuvrings delay their work.

At least nine others have testified despite being instructed by the White House not to do so, Schiff said.

Kupperman was expected to provide testimony about Trump's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-states-lawmakers-hear-from-corroborating-witness-in-trump-impeachment-probe-258323">dealings with Ukraine</a> brought to Congress' attention by a report from a whistleblower about a July 25 telephone call between the US&nbsp;president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Trump's request to Zelenskiy that he investigate former US&nbsp;Vice President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, is the focus of the inquiry being conducted by the three panels.

Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by the US&nbsp;Congress to help fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.

A separate White House official, Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who sits on the National Security Council and who listened in on the call, is expected to tell lawmakers in a closed-door hearing on Tuesday that the conversation alarmed him so much that he raised concerns with an NSC lawyer.

But Trump again dismissed the inquiry in comments to reporters.

"I had a great conversation with the Ukrainian president. I had another with him also, I think before that, which was the same thing, it was nothing. They tried to take that conversation and make it into a big scandal," Trump said on Monday.

Schiff noted that a federal judge had validated the legality of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry in a decision about releasing information regarding a separate investigation, into Russian election interference in 2016, to Congress and that all witnesses need to come forward when called.

The Trump administration appealed that ruling on Monday.

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their impeachment investigation of US President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe.

Democrats in Congress, answering Republican complaints that their impeachment investigation of US President Donald Trump is being conducted in secret, plan a vote on Thursday on how to make their inquiry public, a significant new stage in the probe. Trump and his fellow Republicans have for weeks branded the work of committees probing Trump's overtures to Ukraine as illegitimate, arguing the full Democratic-led House of Representatives had failed to authorise their investigations in a public vote. Meeting behind closed doors, the House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight committees have been looking into the possibility that Trump violated federal law by seeking foreign help for his November 2020 re-election efforts. House Rules Committee Chairman James McGovern said on Monday: "I will be introducing a resolution to ensure transparency and provide a clear path forward." House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said in a statement the legislation would establish a format for open hearings.The US Constitution gives the House broad authority to set ground rules for an impeachment inquiry and Democrats say they are following House rules on investigations. Several administration officials, including a former deputy national security adviser on Monday, have failed to testify to House committees engaged in the probe. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to her fellow House Democrats the House will vote this week - on Thursday, according to a senior Democratic aide - on a resolution that spells out how future public hearings will be held. Pelosi promised to provide legal protections for Trump. A source familiar with the probe said the public hearings will be held by the Intelligence Committee and that the transcripts from closed depositions with witnesses will be made public. A senior House Democratic aide said the hearings could begin within the next month. The measure will set the stage for House investigating committees to forward evidence they have collected to the House Judiciary Committee, which would then decide whether to advance articles of impeachment against Trump. Even if the House impeaches Trump, he would face a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which for the moment seems unlikely to convict the president and force his ouster. Impeachment requires a simple majority in the 435-member House but conviction demands the support of a two-thirds majority in the 100-member Senate. Charles Kupperman, a former deputy to ousted national security adviser John Bolton, failed to appear earlier on Monday before the three House panels conducting the Ukraine phase of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry, lawmakers said. Other panels are probing separate issues, including Trump's finances and abuses of White House security clearances. Kupperman put off testifying while asking a court to rule on whether he should comply with a congressional subpoena or honour the Trump administration's order not to testify, his lawyers said last week. Democrats in turn said they would not let further legal manoeuvrings delay their work. At least nine others have testified despite being instructed by the White House not to do so, Schiff said. Kupperman was expected to provide testimony about Trump's dealings with Ukraine brought to Congress' attention by a report from a whistleblower about a July 25 telephone call between the US president and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Trump's request to Zelenskiy that he investigate former US Vice President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and his son Hunter Biden, who had served on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, is the focus of the inquiry being conducted by the three panels. Trump made his request after withholding $391 million in security aid approved by the US Congress to help fight Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. A separate White House official, Alexander Vindman, a lieutenant colonel who sits on the National Security Council and who listened in on the call, is expected to tell lawmakers in a closed-door hearing on Tuesday that the conversation alarmed him so much that he raised concerns with an NSC lawyer. But Trump again dismissed the inquiry in comments to reporters. "I had a great conversation with the Ukrainian president. I had another with him also, I think before that, which was the same thing, it was nothing. They tried to take that conversation and make it into a big scandal," Trump said on Monday. Schiff noted that a federal judge had validated the legality of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry in a decision about releasing information regarding a separate investigation, into Russian election interference in 2016, to Congress and that all witnesses need to come forward when called. The Trump administration appealed that ruling on Monday.

Democrats set to vote on on how to make Trump impeachment probe public

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said on Sunday he had not offered to resign for indicating last week that US&nbsp;President Donald Trump had sought a political favor&nbsp;from Ukraine in exchange for military aid, comments he has since retracted.

"I never said there was a quid pro quo because there isn't," Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday," using a Latin phrase meaning favour for a favor.

Mulvaney told reporters on Thursday that Trump's decision to withhold $391 million in aid to Ukraine was linked in part to his desire for an investigation by Kyiv into a debunked theory that a Democratic National Committee (DNC) computer server was held in Ukraine.

When told by a reporter that what he had just described was a quid pro quo, Mulvaney responded: “We do that all the time with foreign policy.”

His remarks at a White House news conference created turmoil in Washington and left the president's Republican allies flummoxed and frustrated.

Mulvaney walked back the comments in a statement the same day. But after weeks in which the president argued that he had done nothing wrong, Mulvaney's remarks undermined the core arguments that Trump and his advisers have made against the effort to oust him from office in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-begins-trump-impeachment-inquiry-over-call-to-ukraine-leader-251866">House of Representatives impeachment inquiry.</a>

"This Scam going on right now by the Democrats against the Republican Party, and me was all about a perfect phone call I had with the Ukrainian President. He's already stated, NO PRESSURE!" Trump said as part of a series of tweets later on Sunday.

Mulvaney said on Sunday he did not offer to resign over the episode, nor was his possible resignation discussed at the White House.

"Absolutely, positively not," he told Fox News Sunday. "I'm very happy working there. Did I have the perfect press conference, no, but again the facts are on our side. ... I still think I'm doing a pretty good job as the chief of staff and I think the president agrees."

Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in 2020, has said the aid to Kyiv was frozen because he believed European countries should also contribute. Mulvaney said on Sunday the European aid had been a concern along with corruption in Ukraine and noted that the "aid flowed" eventually.

US&nbsp;Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday supported Mulvaney's walk-back of his remarks, saying he had not seen evidence of a connection between withholding Ukraine aid and Kyiv pursuing a political investigation.

"I never saw that in the decision-making process that I was a part of .... the conversation was always around what were the strategic implications, would that money get to the right place or would there be corruption in Ukraine and the money wouldn't flow to the mission that it was intended for," Pompeo said on ABC's "This Week."

The original Mulvaney remarks produced anxiety among some Republicans, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, who told reporters foreign aid should not be held up for a political initiative.

Mitt Romney, a US&nbsp;senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, criticized Trump's actions in a recent interview, calling it "shocking" that Trump publicly said China and Ukraine should investigate political rival and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son.

"It was shocking, in my opinion ... and a mistake," he said on "Axios on HBO." "I can't imagine coming to a different point of view."

Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday" it was "just absurd" to think that the episode, as well as Republican resistance to Trump's plan to pull US&nbsp;troops from Syria, made it more likely the Republican-led Senate would vote to convict Trump on impeachment charges if they are filed by the Democratic-led House.

Mulvaney said Trump was still "extraordinarily popular back home" and Republican lawmakers would respond to that.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who frequently allies himself with Trump, told Axios he would need to see more evidence before considering impeachment.

"If you could show me that, you know, Trump actually was engaging in a quid pro quo, outside the phone call, that would be very disturbing," he said.

Democrats continued to focus on the Ukraine quid pro quo issue.

"Republicans face a simple question: is the president allowed to pressure a foreign country into interfering in our elections? History will remember their answer, or their silence," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on Twitter

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said on Sunday he had not offered to resign for indicating last week that US President Donald Trump had sought a political favor from Ukraine in exchange for military aid, comments he has since retracted.

Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney said on Sunday he had not offered to resign for indicating last week that US President Donald Trump had sought a political favor from Ukraine in exchange for military aid, comments he has since retracted. "I never said there was a quid pro quo because there isn't," Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday," using a Latin phrase meaning favour for a favor. Mulvaney told reporters on Thursday that Trump's decision to withhold $391 million in aid to Ukraine was linked in part to his desire for an investigation by Kyiv into a debunked theory that a Democratic National Committee (DNC) computer server was held in Ukraine. When told by a reporter that what he had just described was a quid pro quo, Mulvaney responded: “We do that all the time with foreign policy.” His remarks at a White House news conference created turmoil in Washington and left the president's Republican allies flummoxed and frustrated. Mulvaney walked back the comments in a statement the same day. But after weeks in which the president argued that he had done nothing wrong, Mulvaney's remarks undermined the core arguments that Trump and his advisers have made against the effort to oust him from office in a House of Representatives impeachment inquiry. "This Scam going on right now by the Democrats against the Republican Party, and me was all about a perfect phone call I had with the Ukrainian President. He's already stated, NO PRESSURE!" Trump said as part of a series of tweets later on Sunday. Mulvaney said on Sunday he did not offer to resign over the episode, nor was his possible resignation discussed at the White House. "Absolutely, positively not," he told Fox News Sunday. "I'm very happy working there. Did I have the perfect press conference, no, but again the facts are on our side. ... I still think I'm doing a pretty good job as the chief of staff and I think the president agrees." Trump, a Republican who is seeking re-election in 2020, has said the aid to Kyiv was frozen because he believed European countries should also contribute. Mulvaney said on Sunday the European aid had been a concern along with corruption in Ukraine and noted that the "aid flowed" eventually. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday supported Mulvaney's walk-back of his remarks, saying he had not seen evidence of a connection between withholding Ukraine aid and Kyiv pursuing a political investigation. "I never saw that in the decision-making process that I was a part of .... the conversation was always around what were the strategic implications, would that money get to the right place or would there be corruption in Ukraine and the money wouldn't flow to the mission that it was intended for," Pompeo said on ABC's "This Week." The original Mulvaney remarks produced anxiety among some Republicans, including Senator Lisa Murkowski, who told reporters foreign aid should not be held up for a political initiative. Mitt Romney, a US senator and 2012 Republican presidential nominee, criticized Trump's actions in a recent interview, calling it "shocking" that Trump publicly said China and Ukraine should investigate political rival and former Vice President Joe Biden and his son. "It was shocking, in my opinion ... and a mistake," he said on "Axios on HBO." "I can't imagine coming to a different point of view." Mulvaney told "Fox News Sunday" it was "just absurd" to think that the episode, as well as Republican resistance to Trump's plan to pull US troops from Syria, made it more likely the Republican-led Senate would vote to convict Trump on impeachment charges if they are filed by the Democratic-led House. Mulvaney said Trump was still "extraordinarily popular back home" and Republican lawmakers would respond to that. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican who frequently allies himself with Trump, told Axios he would need to see more evidence before considering impeachment. "If you could show me that, you know, Trump actually was engaging in a quid pro quo, outside the phone call, that would be very disturbing," he said. Democrats continued to focus on the Ukraine quid pro quo issue. "Republicans face a simple question: is the president allowed to pressure a foreign country into interfering in our elections? History will remember their answer, or their silence," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wrote on Twitter

White House's Mick Mulvaney did not mull quitting over 'quid pro quo' flap

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a group of United States lawmakers arrived in Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II, her office said on Saturday, just days after the speaker clashed with President Donald Trump in a meeting on Syria policy.

"With the deepening crisis in Syria after Turkey’s incursion, our delegation has engaged in vital discussions about the impact to regional stability, increased the flow of refugees, and the dangerous opening that has been provided to ISIS, Iran and Russia," Pelosi said in a statement.

The statement described the visiting American delegation as "bipartisan," though congressman Mac Thornberry was the only Republican representative listed as being on the trip.

The US visit to Jordan comes after Turkey launched an offensive against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria on October 9, following President Trump's withdrawal of troops from the area.

Trump has defended his move as "strategically brilliant" but earlier this week 129 members of his Republican Party joined Democrats in the House of Representatives denounced the withdrawal.

On Wednesday, Pelosi and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer walked out of an acrimonious White House meeting with Trump on Syria, a sign of the deteriorating relations as the House conducts an impeachment inquiry.

The administration then brokered a ceasefire between Turkish and Kurdish forces Thursday, but on Saturday the sides accused each other of violating the agreement.

The offensive has already killed more than 500 people, including dozens of civilians, while some 300,000 civilians have been displaced within Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor.

More than 650,000 Syrian refugees are registered with the UNHCR in Jordan, which shares a 370-kilometre&nbsp;border with Syria.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a group of United States lawmakers arrived in Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II, her office said on Saturday, just days after the speaker clashed with President Donald Trump in a meeting on Syria policy.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a group of United States lawmakers arrived in Jordan for talks with King Abdullah II, her office said on Saturday, just days after the speaker clashed with President Donald Trump in a meeting on Syria policy. "With the deepening crisis in Syria after Turkey’s incursion, our delegation has engaged in vital discussions about the impact to regional stability, increased the flow of refugees, and the dangerous opening that has been provided to ISIS, Iran and Russia," Pelosi said in a statement. The statement described the visiting American delegation as "bipartisan," though congressman Mac Thornberry was the only Republican representative listed as being on the trip. The US visit to Jordan comes after Turkey launched an offensive against Kurdish forces in northeastern Syria on October 9, following President Trump's withdrawal of troops from the area. Trump has defended his move as "strategically brilliant" but earlier this week 129 members of his Republican Party joined Democrats in the House of Representatives denounced the withdrawal. On Wednesday, Pelosi and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer walked out of an acrimonious White House meeting with Trump on Syria, a sign of the deteriorating relations as the House conducts an impeachment inquiry. The administration then brokered a ceasefire between Turkish and Kurdish forces Thursday, but on Saturday the sides accused each other of violating the agreement. The offensive has already killed more than 500 people, including dozens of civilians, while some 300,000 civilians have been displaced within Syria, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor. More than 650,000 Syrian refugees are registered with the UNHCR in Jordan, which shares a 370-kilometre border with Syria.

Nancy Pelosi leads 'bipartisan' United States group for meetings in Jordan

President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended as "strategically brilliant" his decision to pull <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-syria-envoy-calls-for-ceasefire-in-northeast-border-area-256288">US troops out of Syria</a> as the House of Representatives overwhelmingly condemned the move in a rare bipartisan rebuke.

A total of 129 members of Trump's Republican Party joined Democrats as the House denounced the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria in a 354-60 vote.

The joint resolution called on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/explained-turkeys-decision-to-opt-for-military-action-in-syria-256267">Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a> to immediately halt military operations against Kurdish militants in Syria.

In a sign of Trump's deteriorating relationship with Congress, where the House is conducting an impeachment inquiry, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer walked out of what they said was an acrimonious White House meeting with Trump.

Schumer said Trump had called Pelosi a "third-rate politician" while the speaker said the president had experienced a "meltdown."

Trump then took to Twitter, accusing Pelosi of having her own "meltdown," while adding that the Democratic leader "needs help fast!"

"There is either something wrong with her 'upstairs,' or she just plain doesn't like our great Country," the president wrote.&nbsp;

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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. It was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1184620202480193537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Faced with mounting bipartisan criticism in Washington over the abrupt pullout of US forces from Syria, Trump denied he had given Erdogan a "green light" to launch operations against the Kurds.

"President Erdogan's decision didn't surprise me because he's wanted to do that for a long time," Trump told reporters earlier in the day at the White House. "He's been building up troops on the border with Syria for a long time."

The US president disparaged the Kurdish allies he abandoned in the face of the Turkish offensive, saying they were "not angels," as well as his Republican critics at home.

"I didn't give him a green light," Trump said of a telephone conversation he held with Erdogan prior to the Turkish incursion. "Just the opposite of a green light.

"I wrote a letter right after that conversation, a very powerful letter," he said.

In the letter dated October 9, Trump told Erdogan "you don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands" of people and urged him not to be a "tough guy" or a "fool."

"History will look upon you favourably if you get this done the right and humane way," Trump wrote.

Trump emphasised to reporters that US troops were out of harm's way and that the fallout from the US withdrawal was for Syria, Turkey and Russia to work out among themselves.

"I view the situation on the Turkish border with Syria to be, for the United States, strategically brilliant," Trump said. "Our soldiers are out of there, our soldiers are totally safe. They've got to work it out.

"Turkey has gone into Syria. If Turkey goes into Syria, that's between Turkey and Syria -- it's not between Turkey and the United States, like a lot of stupid people would like you to believe," he said.

Trump spoke as Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo head&nbsp;to Turkey to try to persuade Erdogan to halt the offensive.

PKK 'worse' than Islamic State

Trump expressed confidence that US nuclear weapons stored at Turkey's Incirlik airbase were secure, despite flaring tensions between Ankara and its NATO allies over the Syrian incursion.

And he minimised the escape of Islamic State fighters who had been held by the Kurds as an attempt to "make us look like, 'Oh, gee, we have to get right back in there.'"

Critics have warned their escape gives the jihadists an opportunity to regroup after having lost their caliphate in Syria to US forces and their Kurdish allies. The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a unanimous statement warning of the risk of a jihadist "dispersion" in the region.

As for the Kurds, Trump said they "know how to fight and as I said, they aren't angels. They are not angels if you take a look."

Trump said the Kurdish rebel PKK, who have waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara, were "probably" a bigger terror threat than the Islamic State group.

"The PKK, which is a part of the Kurds, as you know, is probably worse at terror and more of a terrorist threat in many ways than ISIS," he said.

Trump lashed out at critics of his withdrawal decision, particularly Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential Republican who has been a staunch defender of the president.

"Lindsey Graham would like to stay in the Middle East for the next thousand years with thousands of soldiers fighting other people's wars," Trump said. "I want to get out of the Middle East."

"Let them fight their own wars," he said. "They've been fighting for a thousand years."

Graham shot right back, in comments to US reporters, that Trump was making "the biggest mistake of his presidency" in Syria.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended as "strategically brilliant" his decision to pull US troops out of Syria as the House of Representatives overwhelmingly condemned the move in a rare bipartisan rebuke.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended as "strategically brilliant" his decision to pull US troops out of Syria as the House of Representatives overwhelmingly condemned the move in a rare bipartisan rebuke. A total of 129 members of Trump's Republican Party joined Democrats as the House denounced the withdrawal of US troops from northern Syria in a 354-60 vote. The joint resolution called on Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to immediately halt military operations against Kurdish militants in Syria. In a sign of Trump's deteriorating relationship with Congress, where the House is conducting an impeachment inquiry, Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate minority leader Charles Schumer walked out of what they said was an acrimonious White House meeting with Trump. Schumer said Trump had called Pelosi a "third-rate politician" while the speaker said the president had experienced a "meltdown." Trump then took to Twitter, accusing Pelosi of having her own "meltdown," while adding that the Democratic leader "needs help fast!" "There is either something wrong with her 'upstairs,' or she just plain doesn't like our great Country," the president wrote. 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. It was very sad to watch. Pray for her, she is a very sick person! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2019 × Faced with mounting bipartisan criticism in Washington over the abrupt pullout of US forces from Syria, Trump denied he had given Erdogan a "green light" to launch operations against the Kurds. "President Erdogan's decision didn't surprise me because he's wanted to do that for a long time," Trump told reporters earlier in the day at the White House. "He's been building up troops on the border with Syria for a long time." The US president disparaged the Kurdish allies he abandoned in the face of the Turkish offensive, saying they were "not angels," as well as his Republican critics at home. "I didn't give him a green light," Trump said of a telephone conversation he held with Erdogan prior to the Turkish incursion. "Just the opposite of a green light. "I wrote a letter right after that conversation, a very powerful letter," he said. In the letter dated October 9, Trump told Erdogan "you don't want to be responsible for slaughtering thousands" of people and urged him not to be a "tough guy" or a "fool." "History will look upon you favourably if you get this done the right and humane way," Trump wrote. Trump emphasised to reporters that US troops were out of harm's way and that the fallout from the US withdrawal was for Syria, Turkey and Russia to work out among themselves. "I view the situation on the Turkish border with Syria to be, for the United States, strategically brilliant," Trump said. "Our soldiers are out of there, our soldiers are totally safe. They've got to work it out. "Turkey has gone into Syria. If Turkey goes into Syria, that's between Turkey and Syria -- it's not between Turkey and the United States, like a lot of stupid people would like you to believe," he said. Trump spoke as Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo head to Turkey to try to persuade Erdogan to halt the offensive. PKK 'worse' than Islamic State Trump expressed confidence that US nuclear weapons stored at Turkey's Incirlik airbase were secure, despite flaring tensions between Ankara and its NATO allies over the Syrian incursion. And he minimised the escape of Islamic State fighters who had been held by the Kurds as an attempt to "make us look like, 'Oh, gee, we have to get right back in there.'" Critics have warned their escape gives the jihadists an opportunity to regroup after having lost their caliphate in Syria to US forces and their Kurdish allies. The UN Security Council on Wednesday adopted a unanimous statement warning of the risk of a jihadist "dispersion" in the region. As for the Kurds, Trump said they "know how to fight and as I said, they aren't angels. They are not angels if you take a look." Trump said the Kurdish rebel PKK, who have waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara, were "probably" a bigger terror threat than the Islamic State group. "The PKK, which is a part of the Kurds, as you know, is probably worse at terror and more of a terrorist threat in many ways than ISIS," he said. Trump lashed out at critics of his withdrawal decision, particularly Senator Lindsey Graham, an influential Republican who has been a staunch defender of the president. "Lindsey Graham would like to stay in the Middle East for the next thousand years with thousands of soldiers fighting other people's wars," Trump said. "I want to get out of the Middle East." "Let them fight their own wars," he said. "They've been fighting for a thousand years." Graham shot right back, in comments to US reporters, that Trump was making "the biggest mistake of his presidency" in Syria.

'Strategically brilliant': Trump defends Syria pullout, condemned by House in bipartisan vote

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

After the US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning interference in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/houston-rockets-gm-wasnt-educated-when-he-sent-hong-kong-tweet-lebron-james-256087">Hong Kong, China hit back</a> saying that Washington should "stop meddling".

"We express our strong indignation and firm opposition to the US House of Representatives' insistence on passing the so-called 'Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act', foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday.

The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act will be moved to the Senate after it was passed by the House of Representatives.&nbsp;

"Today we're simply urging the Chinese president and the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, to faithfully honour the government's promises" that Hong Kong's rights and autonomy would be protected," Republican Representative Chris Smith, sponsor of the bill, said on the US House floor.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hong-kong-is-military-intervention-on-the-cards-255946/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Hong Kong has seen widespread violence for the past four months which started as an opposition to the extradition bill which was later withdrawn by authorities, however, there has been no letup in clashes between Hong Kong police and street protesters.

US House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "For years, the people of Hong Kong have faced a barrage of unjust and harsh restrictions on their freedoms, and those who have stood up for their rights have been met with a cruel crackdown."

"In Congress, Democrats and Republicans in the House and in the Senate stand united with the people of Hong Kong," Pelosi said, adding,"If America does not speak up for human rights in China because of commercial interests then we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights in any place in the world."

The US House also approved a related bill to prohibit the export of certain non-lethal crowd control items such as tear gas to Hong Kong.

After the US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning interference in Hong Kong, China hit back saying that Washington should "stop meddling".

After the US House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution condemning interference in Hong Kong, China hit back saying that Washington should "stop meddling". "We express our strong indignation and firm opposition to the US House of Representatives' insistence on passing the so-called 'Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act', foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday. The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act will be moved to the Senate after it was passed by the House of Representatives. "Today we're simply urging the Chinese president and the Hong Kong Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, to faithfully honour the government's promises" that Hong Kong's rights and autonomy would be protected," Republican Representative Chris Smith, sponsor of the bill, said on the US House floor. Watch Video: Hong Kong has seen widespread violence for the past four months which started as an opposition to the extradition bill which was later withdrawn by authorities, however, there has been no letup in clashes between Hong Kong police and street protesters. US House of Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi said: "For years, the people of Hong Kong have faced a barrage of unjust and harsh restrictions on their freedoms, and those who have stood up for their rights have been met with a cruel crackdown." "In Congress, Democrats and Republicans in the House and in the Senate stand united with the people of Hong Kong," Pelosi said, adding,"If America does not speak up for human rights in China because of commercial interests then we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights in any place in the world." The US House also approved a related bill to prohibit the export of certain non-lethal crowd control items such as tear gas to Hong Kong.

Firmly oppose US House of Representatives' insistence on passing Hong Kong Democracy Act: China

A defiant White House declared war Tuesday against the impeachment <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-democrats-subpoena-pentagon-docs-in-impeachment-inquiry-254451">investigation of Donald Trump</a>, blasting the process as partisan, illegitimate and unconstitutional and saying neither the president nor his administration will cooperate.

In a fiery letter, the White House threw down the gauntlet to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of three congressional panels leading the inquiry, challenging them to proceed with their effort to oust <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-diplomats-to-testify-about-trump-ukraine-efforts-as-democrats-build-impeachment-case-254216">Trump despite zero future cooperation</a>.

"Put simply, you seek to overturn the results of the 2016 election and deprive the American people of the president they have freely chosen," White House counsel Pat Cipollone wrote in an eight-page letter.

"Your inquiry lacks any legitimate constitutional foundation, any pretense of fairness, or even the most elementary due process protections," he said of the probe, which is weighing whether Trump abused his office by seeking a corruption probe in Ukraine of his rival Joe Biden.

"President Trump cannot permit his administration to participate in this partisan inquiry under these circumstances."

Pelosi fired back, terming the letter "manifestly wrong" and describing it as "another unlawful attempt to hide the facts."

"Mr President, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable," she said, warning that "continued efforts to hide the truth of the president's abuse of power from the American people will be regarded as further evidence of obstruction."

The stand-off set Washington on a path toward a constitutional crisis and into unknown territory, with the potential for a court showdown just as the nation gears up for the 2020 election.

Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell expressed support for Trump's strategy, tweeting that the House had failed "to follow the same basic procedures that it has followed for every other President in our history."

The White House &nbsp;letter capped a day of explosive developments that included Trump barring a key witness, Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, from speaking to Congress -- calling it a "totally compromised kangaroo court."

In response, Democrats slapped Sondland with a subpoena that "compels" him to appear on October 16.

Pelosi formally launched the impeachment inquiry last month after revelations Trump pressured Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July 25 phone call.

Biden, the former vice president who is seeking the 2020 Democratic nomination, joined the chorus of condemnation, tweeting that Trump "must stop stonewalling Congress."

Sondland, a major donor to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, was one of a handful of US diplomats on a text message chain between July and September that goes to the heart of the investigation.

The messages involving Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani show them coordinating to pressure Kiev into investigating Biden, as Ukraine sought US military aid and access.

House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff said investigators have learned that Sondland has text messages or emails on a personal device that are "deeply relevant" to the probe, but that State is withholding them.

A defiant White House declared war Tuesday against the impeachment investigation of Donald Trump, blasting the process as partisan, illegitimate and unconstitutional and saying neither the president nor his administration will cooperate.

A defiant White House declared war Tuesday against the impeachment investigation of Donald Trump, blasting the process as partisan, illegitimate and unconstitutional and saying neither the president nor his administration will cooperate. In a fiery letter, the White House threw down the gauntlet to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the chairmen of three congressional panels leading the inquiry, challenging them to proceed with their effort to oust Trump despite zero future cooperation. "Put simply, you seek to overturn the results of the 2016 election and deprive the American people of the president they have freely chosen," White House counsel Pat Cipollone wrote in an eight-page letter. "Your inquiry lacks any legitimate constitutional foundation, any pretense of fairness, or even the most elementary due process protections," he said of the probe, which is weighing whether Trump abused his office by seeking a corruption probe in Ukraine of his rival Joe Biden. "President Trump cannot permit his administration to participate in this partisan inquiry under these circumstances." Pelosi fired back, terming the letter "manifestly wrong" and describing it as "another unlawful attempt to hide the facts." "Mr President, you are not above the law. You will be held accountable," she said, warning that "continued efforts to hide the truth of the president's abuse of power from the American people will be regarded as further evidence of obstruction." The stand-off set Washington on a path toward a constitutional crisis and into unknown territory, with the potential for a court showdown just as the nation gears up for the 2020 election. Top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell expressed support for Trump's strategy, tweeting that the House had failed "to follow the same basic procedures that it has followed for every other President in our history." The White House letter capped a day of explosive developments that included Trump barring a key witness, Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, from speaking to Congress -- calling it a "totally compromised kangaroo court." In response, Democrats slapped Sondland with a subpoena that "compels" him to appear on October 16. Pelosi formally launched the impeachment inquiry last month after revelations Trump pressured Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in a July 25 phone call. Biden, the former vice president who is seeking the 2020 Democratic nomination, joined the chorus of condemnation, tweeting that Trump "must stop stonewalling Congress." Sondland, a major donor to Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, was one of a handful of US diplomats on a text message chain between July and September that goes to the heart of the investigation. The messages involving Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani show them coordinating to pressure Kiev into investigating Biden, as Ukraine sought US military aid and access. House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff said investigators have learned that Sondland has text messages or emails on a personal device that are "deeply relevant" to the probe, but that State is withholding them.

Trump impeachment enquiry lacks legitimate constitutional foundation: White House

US President Donald Trump, under pressure as Democrats pursue an impeachment inquiry against him, lashed out at the top Democrat in Congress on Sunday, saying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be guilty of treason.

"Nancy Pelosi knew of all of the many Shifty Adam Schiff lies and massive frauds perpetrated upon Congress and the American people," Trump said on Twitter, referring to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff.

Trump has attacked Schiff for his characterisation of a call the president held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and he has said, without evidence, that Schiff helped draft a whistleblower complaint at the heart of the inquiry.

During the July 25 call, Trump pressed Zelenskiy for an investigation into former US vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, according to a summary of the call released by the Trump administration.

Democrats say Trump's effort was an abuse of power to gather dirt on a political rival.

Schiff, who was tagged by Pelosi to lead the impeachment investigation, said during a hearing last month that the summary read like a "classic organized crime shakedown."

Trump has repeatedly attacked Schiff for his characterization of the call. Schiff has said it was "meant to be at least part in parody."

A spokesman for Schiff's committee acknowledged last week that the whistleblower approached the panel for guidance before filing his complaint about Trump's efforts to push Ukraine to pursue an investigation into the Bidens, but there is no evidence that Schiff or the panel helped draft the complaint.

Trump referred to both Schiff's characterization of his call with Zelenskiy and the whistleblower's approach to the House Intelligence Committee in his email targeting Pelosi.

"This makes Nervous Nancy every bit as guilty as Liddle’ Adam Schiff for High Crimes and Misdemeanors, and even Treason," he said on Twitter.

"I guess that means that they, along with all of those that evilly 'Colluded' with them, must all be immediately Impeached!"

US President Donald Trump, under pressure as Democrats pursue an impeachment inquiry against him, lashed out at the top Democrat in Congress on Sunday, saying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be guilty of treason.

US President Donald Trump, under pressure as Democrats pursue an impeachment inquiry against him, lashed out at the top Democrat in Congress on Sunday, saying House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could be guilty of treason. "Nancy Pelosi knew of all of the many Shifty Adam Schiff lies and massive frauds perpetrated upon Congress and the American people," Trump said on Twitter, referring to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff. Trump has attacked Schiff for his characterisation of a call the president held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and he has said, without evidence, that Schiff helped draft a whistleblower complaint at the heart of the inquiry. During the July 25 call, Trump pressed Zelenskiy for an investigation into former US vice president and current Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, according to a summary of the call released by the Trump administration. Democrats say Trump's effort was an abuse of power to gather dirt on a political rival. Schiff, who was tagged by Pelosi to lead the impeachment investigation, said during a hearing last month that the summary read like a "classic organized crime shakedown." Trump has repeatedly attacked Schiff for his characterization of the call. Schiff has said it was "meant to be at least part in parody." A spokesman for Schiff's committee acknowledged last week that the whistleblower approached the panel for guidance before filing his complaint about Trump's efforts to push Ukraine to pursue an investigation into the Bidens, but there is no evidence that Schiff or the panel helped draft the complaint. Trump referred to both Schiff's characterization of his call with Zelenskiy and the whistleblower's approach to the House Intelligence Committee in his email targeting Pelosi. "This makes Nervous Nancy every bit as guilty as Liddle’ Adam Schiff for High Crimes and Misdemeanors, and even Treason," he said on Twitter. "I guess that means that they, along with all of those that evilly 'Colluded' with them, must all be immediately Impeached!"

Donald Trump amps up complaints, says Pelosi may be guilty of treason

Explainer: Impeaching US President - how it works

A parade of US diplomats will head to Capitol Hill for closed-door testimony this week as Democrats build their impeachment case against President Donald Trump, while the White House considers ways to slow down the process.

The interviews could yield more fodder for Democrats' impeachment drive over a whistleblower's allegations that Trump leveraged $400 million in aid to secure a promise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate political rival Joe Biden, and his son Hunter, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company.

Trump has denied wrongdoing and assailed the probe.

Among those due to testify: Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union who was involved in efforts to get Ukraine to open the investigations, and Masha Yovanovitch, who was abruptly recalled from her post as US ambassador to Ukraine in May after Trump supporters questioned her loyalty to the president.

Trump's White House could formally tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as early as Monday that it will ignore lawmakers' demands for documents until the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives holds a vote to formally approve the impeachment inquiry.

Pelosi says a vote is not needed, but Democrats say she would prevail if one were held, although very few Republicans would be expected to side with the Democratic majority. Congress returns to Washington on October 15 after a two-week recess.

"There's no question in my mind that she would have the votes," Democratic Representative Jim Himes said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

The impeachment investigation could lead to the approval by the House of formal charges against Trump.

A trial on whether to remove him from office would then be held in the Republican-controlled Senate, but few Republicans have broken ranks with Trump so far for asking Ukraine and China to launch investigations of Biden, a former vice president and leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in the November 2020 presidential election.

Second whistleblower

On Sunday, lawyers said a second whistleblower had come forward to substantiate an August complaint from an unnamed US government official, which touched off the investigation.&nbsp;

Diplomatic text messages released by Democrats last week show that US officials were involved in the effort to secure a public commitment from Ukraine to look into the business dealings of Hunter Biden.&nbsp;

Trump has alleged that Hunter Biden profited in his business dealings in both Ukraine and China from his father's position, and that Joe Biden, as vice president, pushed Ukraine to fire a prosecutor to impede a probe of a company tied to his son.

There has been no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of either Biden.

Those texts show Sondland seeking to downplay the concerns of another US diplomat, William Taylor, that the United States was withholding $400 million in aid in order to secure Ukraine's cooperation.

"The President has been crystal clear no quid pro quo's of any kind," Sondland wrote. "I suggest we stop the back and forths by text."

Sondland is expected to testify on Tuesday before the three House committees leading the impeachment probe. State Department counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl is also scheduled to testify that day.

Deputy Secretary of State George Kent is scheduled to testify on Monday. Yovanovitch is due to appear on Friday.

A parade of US diplomats will head to Capitol Hill for closed-door testimony this week as Democrats build their impeachment case against President Donald Trump, while the White House considers ways to slow down the process.

A parade of US diplomats will head to Capitol Hill for closed-door testimony this week as Democrats build their impeachment case against President Donald Trump, while the White House considers ways to slow down the process. The interviews could yield more fodder for Democrats' impeachment drive over a whistleblower's allegations that Trump leveraged $400 million in aid to secure a promise from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to investigate political rival Joe Biden, and his son Hunter, who sat on the board of a Ukrainian energy company. Trump has denied wrongdoing and assailed the probe. Among those due to testify: Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union who was involved in efforts to get Ukraine to open the investigations, and Masha Yovanovitch, who was abruptly recalled from her post as US ambassador to Ukraine in May after Trump supporters questioned her loyalty to the president. Trump's White House could formally tell House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as early as Monday that it will ignore lawmakers' demands for documents until the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives holds a vote to formally approve the impeachment inquiry. Pelosi says a vote is not needed, but Democrats say she would prevail if one were held, although very few Republicans would be expected to side with the Democratic majority. Congress returns to Washington on October 15 after a two-week recess. "There's no question in my mind that she would have the votes," Democratic Representative Jim Himes said on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday. The impeachment investigation could lead to the approval by the House of formal charges against Trump. A trial on whether to remove him from office would then be held in the Republican-controlled Senate, but few Republicans have broken ranks with Trump so far for asking Ukraine and China to launch investigations of Biden, a former vice president and leading contender for the Democratic nomination to face Trump in the November 2020 presidential election. Second whistleblower On Sunday, lawyers said a second whistleblower had come forward to substantiate an August complaint from an unnamed US government official, which touched off the investigation. Diplomatic text messages released by Democrats last week show that US officials were involved in the effort to secure a public commitment from Ukraine to look into the business dealings of Hunter Biden. Trump has alleged that Hunter Biden profited in his business dealings in both Ukraine and China from his father's position, and that Joe Biden, as vice president, pushed Ukraine to fire a prosecutor to impede a probe of a company tied to his son. There has been no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of either Biden. Those texts show Sondland seeking to downplay the concerns of another US diplomat, William Taylor, that the United States was withholding $400 million in aid in order to secure Ukraine's cooperation. "The President has been crystal clear no quid pro quo's of any kind," Sondland wrote. "I suggest we stop the back and forths by text." Sondland is expected to testify on Tuesday before the three House committees leading the impeachment probe. State Department counselor Ulrich Brechbuhl is also scheduled to testify that day. Deputy Secretary of State George Kent is scheduled to testify on Monday. Yovanovitch is due to appear on Friday.

US diplomats to testify about Trump-Ukraine efforts as Democrats build impeachment case

U.S. President Donald Trump opened a new front in the impeachment battle that threatens his administration, blasting a prominent member of his party for criticizing his push to get foreign nations to probe a leading Democratic rival.

Will Donald Trump be impeached?

Trump Impeachment Inquiry: Trump hits out at Pelosi, Schiff

Top democratic leader and speaker of US house of representatives Nancy Pelosi has lauded India-US ties and said support for New Delhi in the US Congress "is always bipartisan."

Speaking at the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and 90th birth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr,&nbsp;Pelosi said, "legacies of these 2 extraordinary men forever shaped our nations and changed the course of history in both of our countries and the world".

Lauding India US ties, speaker of US house of representatives said, "Relationship between India and US is a shining example of cooperation, prosperity, peace and respect. As the world's oldest and largest democracies, we have been partners in the fight to expand justice and ensure the blessing of liberty for all."

Nancy Pelosi expressed her appreciation for India for hosting Dalai Lama saying she, "mentioned it to Indian PM, previous PM" and "they have always said no need to thank us, that is who we are."

She lauded role played by Indian-Americans in enriching American society with "beautiful culture, rich tradition and entrepreneurship".&nbsp;

Last month 50,000 people mostly, Indian Americans gathered in Houston for the biggest diaspora event — the howdy Modi event in which PM Modi and US President Donald Trump shared staged and endorsed each other.&nbsp;

India has dismissed reports suggesting New Delhi loses bipartisan support by the endorsement itself with Trump with EAM Jaishankar saying in Washington, " I don’t think we should, honestly, misinterpret what was said."

The event the historic building of Library of Congress in Washington saw participation on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Indian Envoy to US Harsh V Shringla and envoys of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Myanmar to the US.

Both US Senate and US house of representatives have introduced resolutions recalling Mahatma Gandhi's contribution to mankind and emphasizing the shared influence of Gandhi Ji's teaching through human rights on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary Mahatma Gandhi.

Top democratic leader and speaker of US house of representatives Nancy Pelosi has lauded India-US ties and said support for New Delhi in the US Congress "is always bipartisan.

Top democratic leader and speaker of US house of representatives Nancy Pelosi has lauded India-US ties and said support for New Delhi in the US Congress "is always bipartisan." Speaking at the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and 90th birth anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr, Pelosi said, "legacies of these 2 extraordinary men forever shaped our nations and changed the course of history in both of our countries and the world". Lauding India US ties, speaker of US house of representatives said, "Relationship between India and US is a shining example of cooperation, prosperity, peace and respect. As the world's oldest and largest democracies, we have been partners in the fight to expand justice and ensure the blessing of liberty for all." Nancy Pelosi expressed her appreciation for India for hosting Dalai Lama saying she, "mentioned it to Indian PM, previous PM" and "they have always said no need to thank us, that is who we are." She lauded role played by Indian-Americans in enriching American society with "beautiful culture, rich tradition and entrepreneurship". Last month 50,000 people mostly, Indian Americans gathered in Houston for the biggest diaspora event — the howdy Modi event in which PM Modi and US President Donald Trump shared staged and endorsed each other. India has dismissed reports suggesting New Delhi loses bipartisan support by the endorsement itself with Trump with EAM Jaishankar saying in Washington, " I don’t think we should, honestly, misinterpret what was said." The event the historic building of Library of Congress in Washington saw participation on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Indian Envoy to US Harsh V Shringla and envoys of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Myanmar to the US. Both US Senate and US house of representatives have introduced resolutions recalling Mahatma Gandhi's contribution to mankind and emphasizing the shared influence of Gandhi Ji's teaching through human rights on the occasion of 150th birth anniversary Mahatma Gandhi.

Bipartisan support for India in US Congress: Nancy Pelosi

Top democratic leader and speaker of US house of representatives Nancy Pelosi has lauded India-US ties and said support for New Delhi in the US Congress "is always bipartisan." Watch this video to know more.

Support for India in US Congress bipartisan: Nancy Pelosi

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

Chronology of events in the Trump phone call scandal

WION USA Direct: Kevin Mcaleese WION Correspondent speaks on Trump-Zelensky call row.

WION USA Direct: Kevin Mcaleese, WION Correspondent on Trump-Zelensky call row

Impeaching US president: How the process works

White House releases the transcript of Call between the Ukrainian president and Donald Trump.

WION USA Direct: Trump- Zelensky call row escalates

US President Donald Trump lashed out at Democrats on Wednesday for opening impeachment proceedings against him calling the probe into his efforts to get Ukraine to investigate rival Joe Biden a "manufactured crisis."

Trump spoke out following a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York -- and shortly after the White House's release of a rough transcript of his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky.

Referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who opened the impeachment inquiry on Tuesday, Trump said, "She is wasting her time on a manufactured crisis."

"All they are talking about is nonsense," he added.

The White House released a call transcript Wednesday confirmingTrump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to probe his political rival Joe Biden.

"There's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that," Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky in the July 25 call.

As Barack Obama's vice president, Joe Biden and other Western leaders pressured Ukraine to get rid of the country's top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, because he was seen as not tough enough on corruption.

"Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it," Trump said.

US President Donald Trump lashed out at Democrats on Wednesday for opening impeachment proceedings against him calling the probe into his efforts to get Ukraine to investigate rival Joe Biden a "manufactured crisis.

US President Donald Trump lashed out at Democrats on Wednesday for opening impeachment proceedings against him calling the probe into his efforts to get Ukraine to investigate rival Joe Biden a "manufactured crisis." Trump spoke out following a meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in New York -- and shortly after the White House's release of a rough transcript of his July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky. Referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who opened the impeachment inquiry on Tuesday, Trump said, "She is wasting her time on a manufactured crisis." "All they are talking about is nonsense," he added. The White House released a call transcript Wednesday confirmingTrump asked his Ukrainian counterpart to probe his political rival Joe Biden. "There's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution and a lot of people want to find out about that," Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky in the July 25 call. As Barack Obama's vice president, Joe Biden and other Western leaders pressured Ukraine to get rid of the country's top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, because he was seen as not tough enough on corruption. "Biden went around bragging that he stopped the prosecution so if you can look into it," Trump said.

'Pelosi wasting her time on manufactured crisis, ' says Trump on impeachment inquiry over Ukraine controversy

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Impeachment inquiry: Trump pens blistering letter to Nancy Pelosi, accuses Democrats of 'attempted coup