President Trump impeachment trial to begin with rules fight, long days
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is set to unfold at the Capitol, a contentious proceeding to render judgment on his Ukraine actions as Americans form their own verdict at the start of an election year.As the Senate reconvenes with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding over the rare impeachment court, senators sworn to “impartial justice,” the legacy of President Trump's presidency and the system of checks and balances are at stake before a politically divided nation.A first test will come midday Tuesday when the session gavels open to vote on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's proposed rules for debate.On the eve of the trial, the Republican leader offered a compressed calendar for opening statements, just two days for each side, as President Trump's lawyers argued for swift rejection of the “flimsy” charges against the president and acquittal.“All of this is a dangerous perversion of the Constitution that the Senate should swiftly and roundly condemn," the president's lawyers wrote in their first full filing Monday. “The articles should be rejected and the president should immediately be acquitted.”Democrats — as the House prosecutors practiced opening arguments well into the night on the Senate floor — vowed to object to a speedy trial as they pressed for fresh witnesses and documents.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned of a “cover-up” with McConnell's plan that could lead to back-to-back 12-hour days.“It’s clear Sen.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is set to unfold at the Capitol, a contentious proceeding to render judgment on his Ukraine actions as Americans form their own verdict at the start of an election year.As the Senate reconvenes with Chief Justice John Roberts presiding over the rare impeachment court, senators sworn to “impartial justice,” the legacy of President Trump's presidency and the system of checks and balances are at stake before a politically divided nation.A first test will come midday Tuesday when the session gavels open to vote on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's proposed rules for debate.On the eve of the trial, the Republican leader offered a compressed calendar for opening statements, just two days for each side, as President Trump's lawyers argued for swift rejection of the “flimsy” charges against the president and acquittal.“All of this is a dangerous perversion of the Constitution that the Senate should swiftly and roundly condemn," the president's lawyers wrote in their first full filing Monday. “The articles should be rejected and the president should immediately be acquitted.”Democrats — as the House prosecutors practiced opening arguments well into the night on the Senate floor — vowed to object to a speedy trial as they pressed for fresh witnesses and documents.Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned of a “cover-up” with McConnell's plan that could lead to back-to-back 12-hour days.“It’s clear Sen.
President Trump lauds US economy in Davos, says little on climate woes
DAVOS, Switzerland — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he's led a “spectacular” turnaround of the U.S. economy and urged the world to invest in America, but had less to say about climate change issues that are a focus of this year's gathering of top business and political leaders in the Swiss Alps.President Trump kept to his speech script and did not mention the historic impeachment trial that was set to reconvene in the U.S. Senate in Washington later Tuesday.
DAVOS, Switzerland — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he's led a “spectacular” turnaround of the U.S. economy and urged the world to invest in America, but had less to say about climate change issues that are a focus of this year's gathering of top business and political leaders in the Swiss Alps.President Trump kept to his speech script and did not mention the historic impeachment trial that was set to reconvene in the U.S. Senate in Washington later Tuesday.
Buckle up: What to watch as President Trump's impeachment trial takes off
WASHINGTON — Senators like to float above messy politics in what's known by some as the dignified “upper chamber," home of Congress' cooler heads and lofty rhetoric.But as a court of President Donald Trump's impeachment, the Senate beginning Tuesday might seem more like the economy cabin of an oversold flight on an especially tense, mandatory work trip.Rock star legal teams will cram the airy well of the chamber just a few feet from each other and Chief Justice John Roberts.
WASHINGTON — Senators like to float above messy politics in what's known by some as the dignified “upper chamber," home of Congress' cooler heads and lofty rhetoric.But as a court of President Donald Trump's impeachment, the Senate beginning Tuesday might seem more like the economy cabin of an oversold flight on an especially tense, mandatory work trip.Rock star legal teams will cram the airy well of the chamber just a few feet from each other and Chief Justice John Roberts.
As trial nears, President Trump's lawyers call impeachment case 'flimsy'
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's legal team asserted Monday that he did “absolutely nothing wrong," calling the impeachment case against him “flimsy" and a “dangerous perversion of the Constitution." The lawyers decried the impeachment process as rigged and insisted that abuse of power was not a crime.The brief from President Trump's lawyers, filed before arguments expected this week in the Senate impeachment trial, offered the most detailed glimpse of the lines of defense they intend to use against Democratic efforts to convict the president and oust him from office over his dealings with Ukraine.It is meant as a counter to a filing two days ago from House Democrats that summarized weeks of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses in laying out the impeachment case.The 110-page filing from the White House shifted the tone toward a more legal response.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump's legal team asserted Monday that he did “absolutely nothing wrong," calling the impeachment case against him “flimsy" and a “dangerous perversion of the Constitution." The lawyers decried the impeachment process as rigged and insisted that abuse of power was not a crime.The brief from President Trump's lawyers, filed before arguments expected this week in the Senate impeachment trial, offered the most detailed glimpse of the lines of defense they intend to use against Democratic efforts to convict the president and oust him from office over his dealings with Ukraine.It is meant as a counter to a filing two days ago from House Democrats that summarized weeks of testimony from more than a dozen witnesses in laying out the impeachment case.The 110-page filing from the White House shifted the tone toward a more legal response.
Officials: 11 US troops flown to medical centers after Iran strike
WASHINGTON — Eleven U.S. troops were flown out of Iraq for evaluation of concussion-like symptoms in the days following an Iranian missile strike that President Donald Trump had said caused no harm to American forces, officials said Friday.The Pentagon's chief spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, said Defense Secretary Mark Esper did not know of the injuries until he was told Thursday afternoon that the 11 troops had been sent for evaluation at U.S. medical facilities — eight in Germany and three in Kuwait.
WASHINGTON — Eleven U.S. troops were flown out of Iraq for evaluation of concussion-like symptoms in the days following an Iranian missile strike that President Donald Trump had said caused no harm to American forces, officials said Friday.The Pentagon's chief spokesman, Jonathan Hoffman, said Defense Secretary Mark Esper did not know of the injuries until he was told Thursday afternoon that the 11 troops had been sent for evaluation at U.S. medical facilities — eight in Germany and three in Kuwait.
Wisconsin Senators prepared for President Trump impeachment trial: 'A unique responsibility'
WASHINGTON -- Both Wisconsin Senators -- Ron Johnson (R) and Tammy Baldwin (D) -- pledge to be impartial.
WASHINGTON -- Both Wisconsin Senators -- Ron Johnson (R) and Tammy Baldwin (D) -- pledge to be impartial.
President Trump rolls out new guidelines for prayer in school
WASHINGTON — The Trump Administration rolled out new guidelines Thursday afternoon to protect prayer in public schools.He also rolled back restrictions on religious groups who receive federal funding, saying if they’re treated differently than non-religious groups, that’s a form of discrimination.“Prayer in public school has always been an important part of our nation’s history,” according to Chase Windebank.Before Windebank graduated from his Colorado Springs High School, he took his own school to court.“We wound up getting banned by the administrators for praying during free time,” he said.Today, Windebank and other students who say they experienced religious persecution were invited to the White House as the president rolled out new guidelines to protect prayer in school.And in addition to the president, ten federal agencies are expected to release new guidelines they say will prevent discrimination against groups with religious affiliations.Joe Grogen, President Trump’s Domestic Policy Council Director says religious groups shouldn’t be required to find secular alternatives for people who come to them for help but are uncomfortable with their religious ideals.“You need to make sure states, when they distribute federal dollars, they’re not discriminating against religious institutions,” Grogen said. “Some people need to get over the fact that they’re offended by people of faith.”But Jack Moline, the president of Interfaith Alliance, says religious groups shouldn’t impose their beliefs on people who come to them for non-religious services, like adoptions or healthcare.“What’s being advocated by this administration is relaxing of the requirements for faith-based organizations,” Moline said. “Which is a violation of the establishment clause, the very first freedom articulated in the First Amendment.”As an executive action, the new guidelines are not subject to Congressional approval.
WASHINGTON — The Trump Administration rolled out new guidelines Thursday afternoon to protect prayer in public schools.He also rolled back restrictions on religious groups who receive federal funding, saying if they’re treated differently than non-religious groups, that’s a form of discrimination.“Prayer in public school has always been an important part of our nation’s history,” according to Chase Windebank.Before Windebank graduated from his Colorado Springs High School, he took his own school to court.“We wound up getting banned by the administrators for praying during free time,” he said.Today, Windebank and other students who say they experienced religious persecution were invited to the White House as the president rolled out new guidelines to protect prayer in school.And in addition to the president, ten federal agencies are expected to release new guidelines they say will prevent discrimination against groups with religious affiliations.Joe Grogen, President Trump’s Domestic Policy Council Director says religious groups shouldn’t be required to find secular alternatives for people who come to them for help but are uncomfortable with their religious ideals.“You need to make sure states, when they distribute federal dollars, they’re not discriminating against religious institutions,” Grogen said. “Some people need to get over the fact that they’re offended by people of faith.”But Jack Moline, the president of Interfaith Alliance, says religious groups shouldn’t impose their beliefs on people who come to them for non-religious services, like adoptions or healthcare.“What’s being advocated by this administration is relaxing of the requirements for faith-based organizations,” Moline said. “Which is a violation of the establishment clause, the very first freedom articulated in the First Amendment.”As an executive action, the new guidelines are not subject to Congressional approval.
Watchdog: White House violated law in freezing Ukraine aid
WASHINGTON — The White House violated federal law in withholding security assistance to Ukraine, an action at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment, a federal watchdog agency said Thursday.The Government Accountability Office said in a report that the Office of Management and Budget broke the law in holding up the aid, which Congress passed less than a year ago, saying “the President is not vested with the power to ignore or amend any such duly enacted law."The aid in question was held up last summer on orders from President Trump but was released in September after Congress pushed for its release and a whistleblower's complaint about President Trump's July call with the Ukrainian leader became public.The independent agency, which reports to Congress, said OMB violated the Impoundment Control Act by delaying the security assistance for “policy reasons,” rather than technical budgetary needs.“Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law,” wrote the agency's general counsel, Thomas Armstrong, in the report.Capitol Hill Democrats seized on the report as evidence of a lawless White House.
WASHINGTON — The White House violated federal law in withholding security assistance to Ukraine, an action at the center of President Donald Trump's impeachment, a federal watchdog agency said Thursday.The Government Accountability Office said in a report that the Office of Management and Budget broke the law in holding up the aid, which Congress passed less than a year ago, saying “the President is not vested with the power to ignore or amend any such duly enacted law."The aid in question was held up last summer on orders from President Trump but was released in September after Congress pushed for its release and a whistleblower's complaint about President Trump's July call with the Ukrainian leader became public.The independent agency, which reports to Congress, said OMB violated the Impoundment Control Act by delaying the security assistance for “policy reasons,” rather than technical budgetary needs.“Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law,” wrote the agency's general counsel, Thomas Armstrong, in the report.Capitol Hill Democrats seized on the report as evidence of a lawless White House.
Taliban say they handed cease-fire offer to US peace envoy
ISLAMABAD — The Taliban have given the U.S. envoy their offer for a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan that would last between seven and 10 days, Taliban officials familiar with the negotiations said Thursday.The offer is seen as an opportunity to open a window to an eventual peace deal that would allow the United States to bring home its estimated 13,000 troops and end the 18-year war in Afghanistan, America's longest conflict.The cease-fire offer was handed to Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington's envoy for talks with the insurgents, late Wednesday in Qatar, a Gulf Arab country where the Taliban maintain a political office.Khalilzad has been pressing for a cease-fire but it wasn't immediately clear whether the Taliban proposal would be enough to allow for the on-again off-again talks between the Taliban and the U.S. to restart, with the aim of eventually signing a peace deal.The U.S. State Department declined to comment.Previously, Khalilzad said a U.S.-Taliban deal would also include the start of negotiations among Afghans on both sides of the conflict to hammer out a so-called road map to a post-war Afghanistan.
ISLAMABAD — The Taliban have given the U.S. envoy their offer for a temporary cease-fire in Afghanistan that would last between seven and 10 days, Taliban officials familiar with the negotiations said Thursday.The offer is seen as an opportunity to open a window to an eventual peace deal that would allow the United States to bring home its estimated 13,000 troops and end the 18-year war in Afghanistan, America's longest conflict.The cease-fire offer was handed to Zalmay Khalilzad, Washington's envoy for talks with the insurgents, late Wednesday in Qatar, a Gulf Arab country where the Taliban maintain a political office.Khalilzad has been pressing for a cease-fire but it wasn't immediately clear whether the Taliban proposal would be enough to allow for the on-again off-again talks between the Taliban and the U.S. to restart, with the aim of eventually signing a peace deal.The U.S. State Department declined to comment.Previously, Khalilzad said a U.S.-Taliban deal would also include the start of negotiations among Afghans on both sides of the conflict to hammer out a so-called road map to a post-war Afghanistan.
Senate passes US-Mexico-Canada trade deal, delivering policy victory to President Trump
WASHINGTON -- The Senate overwhelmingly approved a new North American trade agreement Thursday that rewrites the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico and gives President Donald Trump a major policy win before senators turn their full attention to his impeachment trial.The vote was 89-10.The measure goes to President Trump for his signature.
WASHINGTON -- The Senate overwhelmingly approved a new North American trade agreement Thursday that rewrites the rules of trade with Canada and Mexico and gives President Donald Trump a major policy win before senators turn their full attention to his impeachment trial.The vote was 89-10.The measure goes to President Trump for his signature.
President Trump's impeachment trial underway with reading of charges
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate opened the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Thursday, with House Democrats reading the formal charges in the chamber ahead of the swearing in of all 100 senators as jurors for only the third trial to remove a president in U.S. history.“Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye!" said the Senate's sergeant at arms, calling the proceedings to order.Seven lawmakers prosecuting the charges, led by Rep.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate opened the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on Thursday, with House Democrats reading the formal charges in the chamber ahead of the swearing in of all 100 senators as jurors for only the third trial to remove a president in U.S. history.“Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye!" said the Senate's sergeant at arms, calling the proceedings to order.Seven lawmakers prosecuting the charges, led by Rep.
President Trump to divert billions from Pentagon to build border wall
WASHINGTON — The White House confirmed President Trump is looking to divert additional money to the construction of the border wall.President Trump has said, “Mexico is paying for the wall.
WASHINGTON — The White House confirmed President Trump is looking to divert additional money to the construction of the border wall.President Trump has said, “Mexico is paying for the wall.
MU Law poll: 61% of Wisconsin voters think US, Iran will avoid major military conflict
MILWAUKEE -- President Donald Trump's support in Wisconsin showed little signs of change in the Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday, Jan. 15 with more respondents against removing him from office than those who want to see him ousted after the House voted to impeach.Voters are nearly evenly divided over whether President Trump is doing a good job or not, the first poll of the 2020 election year showed.
MILWAUKEE -- President Donald Trump's support in Wisconsin showed little signs of change in the Marquette University Law School poll released Wednesday, Jan. 15 with more respondents against removing him from office than those who want to see him ousted after the House voted to impeach.Voters are nearly evenly divided over whether President Trump is doing a good job or not, the first poll of the 2020 election year showed.
House votes to send President Trump impeachment to Senate for trial
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Wednesday to send two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate and approve House prosecutors for only the third impeachment trial in American history.The nearly party-line vote moved President Trump's impeachment from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Democratic-run House to the Republican-majority Senate, where President Trump expects acquittal, even as new evidence is raising fresh questions about his Ukraine dealings.The vote was 228-193, coming at the start of a presidential election year and one month after the House impeached President Trump.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Wednesday to send two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate and approve House prosecutors for only the third impeachment trial in American history.The nearly party-line vote moved President Trump's impeachment from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Democratic-run House to the Republican-majority Senate, where President Trump expects acquittal, even as new evidence is raising fresh questions about his Ukraine dealings.The vote was 228-193, coming at the start of a presidential election year and one month after the House impeached President Trump.
President Trump says China trade deal delivers economic justice
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a trade agreement Wednesday with China that is expected to boost exports from U.S. farmers and manufacturers and is aimed at lowering tensions in a long-running dispute between the economic powers.President Trump said during a White House ceremony that the deal is “righting the wrongs of the past." He promoted the signing as a way of delivering economic justice for American workers and said, "We mark a sea change in international trade" with the signing.Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in a letter to President Trump that was read by Beijing's chief negotiator Liu He, said concluding the first phase of the trade deal was "good for China, the U.S. and for the whole world"But the “Phase 1” trade agreement would do little to force China to make the major economic changes such as reducing unfair subsidies for its own companies that the Trump administration sought when it started the trade war by imposing tariffs on Chinese imports in July 2018.The White House ceremony gave President Trump a chance to cite progress on a top economic priority on the same day that the House prepared to vote to send articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial.“Our efforts have yielded a transformative deal that will bring benefits to both countries,'' President Trump said.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a trade agreement Wednesday with China that is expected to boost exports from U.S. farmers and manufacturers and is aimed at lowering tensions in a long-running dispute between the economic powers.President Trump said during a White House ceremony that the deal is “righting the wrongs of the past." He promoted the signing as a way of delivering economic justice for American workers and said, "We mark a sea change in international trade" with the signing.Chinese leader Xi Jinping, in a letter to President Trump that was read by Beijing's chief negotiator Liu He, said concluding the first phase of the trade deal was "good for China, the U.S. and for the whole world"But the “Phase 1” trade agreement would do little to force China to make the major economic changes such as reducing unfair subsidies for its own companies that the Trump administration sought when it started the trade war by imposing tariffs on Chinese imports in July 2018.The White House ceremony gave President Trump a chance to cite progress on a top economic priority on the same day that the House prepared to vote to send articles of impeachment to the Senate for a trial.“Our efforts have yielded a transformative deal that will bring benefits to both countries,'' President Trump said.
Pelosi names Schiff, Nadler as prosecutors for President Trump trial
WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday named two House chairmen who led President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry as prosecutors for President Trump's Senate trial.Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who led the probe, and Judiciary Chair Rep.
WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday named two House chairmen who led President Donald Trump's impeachment inquiry as prosecutors for President Trump's Senate trial.Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who led the probe, and Judiciary Chair Rep.
'The Democrats are outraged:' Pres. Trump rallies in Milwaukee, defends Iran policy, Soleimani killing
MILWAUKEE — As President Donald Trump rallied supporters Tuesday night, Jan. 14 by defending his decision to kill a top Iranian general, the Democrats vying to replace him used their final debate before primary voting began to argue that doing so made the country less safe.
MILWAUKEE — As President Donald Trump rallied supporters Tuesday night, Jan. 14 by defending his decision to kill a top Iranian general, the Democrats vying to replace him used their final debate before primary voting began to argue that doing so made the country less safe.
1-on-1 with VP Mike Pence in Milwaukee: 'Wisconsin will play a leading role, as it did in 2016'
MILWAUKEE -- Vice President Mike Pence spoke ahead of President Donald Trump during a "Keep America Great" rally in Milwaukee Tuesday, Jan. 14, and before that, VP Pence made a surprise pit stop at a Milwaukee Culver's restaurant -- also speaking exclusively with FOX6 News.It's not often you get the president and vice president at the same rally, but the one-two punch shows how crucial Wisconsin is in 2020.
MILWAUKEE -- Vice President Mike Pence spoke ahead of President Donald Trump during a "Keep America Great" rally in Milwaukee Tuesday, Jan. 14, and before that, VP Pence made a surprise pit stop at a Milwaukee Culver's restaurant -- also speaking exclusively with FOX6 News.It's not often you get the president and vice president at the same rally, but the one-two punch shows how crucial Wisconsin is in 2020.
Democratic debate: Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders spar over her claim he said woman can't win
DES MOINES, Iowa — Elizabeth Warren made a vigorous case for a female president and stood behind her accusation suggesting sexism by progressive rival Bernie Sanders Tuesday night, Jan. 14 in a tense Democratic debate that raised gender as a key issue in the sprint to Iowa’s presidential caucuses.Sanders vehemently denied Warren's accusation, which threatened to split the Democratic Party’s far-left flank -- and a longtime liberal alliance -- at a critical moment in the 2020 contest.“Look at the men on this stage.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Elizabeth Warren made a vigorous case for a female president and stood behind her accusation suggesting sexism by progressive rival Bernie Sanders Tuesday night, Jan. 14 in a tense Democratic debate that raised gender as a key issue in the sprint to Iowa’s presidential caucuses.Sanders vehemently denied Warren's accusation, which threatened to split the Democratic Party’s far-left flank -- and a longtime liberal alliance -- at a critical moment in the 2020 contest.“Look at the men on this stage.