OnPolitics impeachment inquiry edition: Censures and interviews

IMPEACHMENT. 2020 ELECTION. WASHINGTON. AND MORE FROM THE POLITICS WORLD.

Monday, October 21

When it comes to who texted who, it's a twisted web to untangle in the impeachment inquiry.

If we've learned anything in the past four weeks, it's to expect the unexpected.

Welcome to week 5 of the impeachment inquiry. Has it really been that long?

It's a bit of a weird week in Washington, with inquiry scheduling rearranged for memorial services for the late Rep. Elijah Cummings, who was chairman of the Oversight committee.

Before we get started, some headlines to catch you up:

•	President Donald Trump calls for public identification of Ukraine whistleblower
•	'Phony': Trump mocks a clause of the U.S. Constitution that bans foreign gifts
•	Sen. Lindsey Graham indicates he may support Trump's impeachment if the inquiry establishes 'quid pro quo'
•	How the Trump White House's messaging evolved on whether there was a Ukraine quid pro quo
•	A visual timeline of the text messages in the Trump-Ukraine affair

Biggest news today: GOP calls for Schiff censure

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Friday there would be a vote Monday on a resolution to censure Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif. The resolution is unlikely to be approved because Democrats hold a majority in the 435-member chamber, but it is co-sponsored by 165 Republicans.

•	McCarthy said Schiff has lied repeatedly during the investigation of Trump. "He has tried to hide so many of the facts, and then when he was put in position to give the facts, he lied about them," McCarthy said.
•	The censure vote comes after Republicans who aren't on the three key committees tried repeatedly last week to attend the closed-door sessions. But lawmakers were blocked at the door, under a ruling from Schiff and the House parliamentarian.

Tuesday: 'Crazy' Ukraine policy

William Taylor, the top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, questioned Trump's Ukraine policy in texts revealed as part of the impeachment inquiry. Taylor is scheduled to testify privately Tuesday before the House inquiry.

•	On Sept. 1, Taylor asked Kurt Volker, the U.S. special envoy to Ukraine, and Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, whether security assistance and a White House meeting between Trump and Zelensky depended upon an investigation.
•	Sondland testified Thursday that he was disappointed that Trump delegated Ukraine policy to his private lawyer, Rudy Giuliani. Sondland also said he wasn't aware that Trump asked Zelensky to investigate Biden or that military aid was withheld.

Wednesday: Military aid

House investigators want to learn more about how military aid was withheld from Ukraine. But the Defense Department and the White House Office of Management and Budget have defied House subpoenas for documents about the funding.

•	Pat Cipollone, the White House counsel, notified the House on Oct. 8 that the administration wouldn't cooperate with the investigation.
•	Still, the House inquiry scheduled a closed-door meeting Wednesday with Laura Cooper, a deputy assistant secretary of Defense.

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