Trump not to participate in impeachment hearing: Counsel
WASHINGTON: Donald Trump nor his attorney will take part in the impeachment hearing against the US President on Wednesday, his lawyer has said, citing complete lack of “basic due process and fundamental fairness.”
The impeachment hearings are an effort by the Democrats to establish whether Trump withheld US military aid to Ukraine to pressure the Central Asian Country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky into announcing a corruption inquiry into Joe Biden, Trump’s leading Democratic Party rival in the US Presidential poll in 2020.
The Democrats are alleging that Trump’s call with his Ukrainian counterpart was irregular and inappropriate and abuse of his office for political gain.
In a letter to Chairman of the Judiciary Committee of the US House of Representatives Jerrold Nadler dated December
1, Pat Cipollone accused him of “purposely” scheduling the initial hearing at this time as Trump would be out of the country. “You scheduled this initial hearing-no doubt purposely-during the time that you know the President will be out of the country attending the NATO Leaders Meeting in London,” Trump’s lawyer said in the letter.
Trump also complained the House Judiciary Committee will be holding an impeachment inquiry hearing while he attends a NATO summit that comes at a critical moment for the 70-year-old military alliance.
Speaking to reporters at the White House before departing on Monday, Trump said the NATO trip is “one of the most important journeys we make as President” and the summit date was established a year ago. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blasted the House on Monday for scheduling impeachment hearings while President Donald Trump is abroad. He said it’s “very unfortunate” for the House Judiciary Committee to hold its hearing Wednesday at the same time that Trump is representing the US at this week’s NATO summit in London.
US to impose steel, aluminium tariffs on Brazil, Argentina The US will impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Brazil and Argentina, President Donald Trump said in a tweet on Monday. “Brazil and Argentina have been presiding over a massive devaluation of their currencies,” he posted, adding this was hurting American farmers.