On eve of vote, Trump pens blistering letter to Pelosi
IMPEACHMENT CRISIS US prez charges House speaker with ‘abuse of power’
WASHINGTON:US President Donald Trump accused Nancy Pelosi of turning the House into a medieval “star chamber” in pursuit of his impeachment, lashing out at the speaker in a blistering, sixpage letter and vowing her party would be punished by voters in the 2020 election.
Trump’s letter, on the eve of an expected House vote to approve two articles of impeachment, laid out his defence against charges he abused his power and obstructed Congress while also ridiculing Democrats’ allegations.
He punctuated his missive with occasional exclamation marks and hyperbole, minimising the behaviour that had led him to the brink of becoming the third US president to be impeached while repeating a false claim about former vicepresident Joe Biden.
“Your legacy will be that of turning the House of Representatives from a revered legislative body into a Star Chamber of partisan persecution,” Trump wrote on Tuesday. “I have no doubt the American people will hold you and the Democrats fully responsible in the upcoming 2020 election. They will not soon forgive your perversion of justice and abuse of power.”
One White House aide started a draft last week, then officials played roles in the review and rewriting, including adviser Stephen Miller, legislative aide Eric Ueland and Michael Williams, counsel to the chief of staff.
Pelosi said that she hadn’t “fully read” Trump’s letter. “I’ve seen the essence of it, though, and it’s really sick,” she said.
Trump’s likely impeachment on Wednesday will add an unpredictable wrinkle to what is already shaping up to be one of the most rancorous elections in modern history.
Meanwhile, the top US diplomat in Ukraine will be leaving his post at the beginning of next year.
William Taylor could only serve a maximum of 210 days. He will be replaced on an interim basis by his deputy, Kristina Kvien, officials said.