Impeachment News, Nov 15: Democrats Relying On Yovanovitch Testimony On Second Day Of Public Hearings

House Democrats are gearing up for the second round of public hearings, hoping that the testimony from ousted ambassador Marie Yovanovitch would help them garner public favor in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump.

The Republicans, meanwhile are trying to put forth some of their own arguments to discredit Yovanovitch's testimony in the public hearings. However, making matters worse for Republicans is a senior official from the Office of Management and Budget, who has decided to go against the wishes of White House and testify if served with a subpoena.

Also, President Trump for the first time stated publicly the personal toll that the impeachment hearings were causing him and his family.

International Business Times brings the key developments Thursday around the Congressional impeachment inquiry against President Trump.

Ex-Ukraine ambassador to testify in public hearing

Described by the Democrats as the first victim of the Ukraine scandal, former ambassador Marie Yovanovitch would testify in the impeachment hearings on Friday.

During her closed-door testimony, Yovanovitch gave an account of how the president’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, corrupt Ukrainian officials, and disreputable media figures succeeded in ousting her. She also described how she felt threatened and concerned after being singled out by Trump in his phone call with Ukraine president Vladimir Zelensky.

It is possible that Yovanovitch, who was one of the earliest witnesses to testify in the impeachment probe, would offer new information, like U.S. diplomat Bill Taylor did on Wednesday, which according to the Democrats would give them a solid proof about the shady foreign policy that was being carried out in Ukraine.

What Republicans plan to achieve at the public hearing on Friday

On Friday, when Yovanovitch testifies publicly, the Republicans would try to prove three main points, which includes pointing out the fact that the President had every right to recall her from the post in Ukraine.

GOP would also argue that the President believed in good faith that there were problems with Yovanovitch and situation in Ukraine, a concern which, according to the Republicans, was also raised by Zelensky in his call with President Trump.

The Republicans also planned to emphasize that Yovanovitch was recalled in May and was not involved in matters of Ukraine during the time relevant to the investigation.

Impeachment’s been very hard on his family, Trump says

Speaking at a rally in Louisiana, Trump said that the impeachment inquiry has been unfair and hard on his family.

“I have one problem,” Trump said. “Impeachment to me is a dirty word, it’s been very unfair, very hard on my family.”

He denied doing anything wrong in his dealings with Ukraine, stating he had no need to ask other nations to investigate political rival, Joe Biden.

“We took down Bush, Clinton, Obama, with no experience, but I had you and we won,” Trump said at the rally. “Think about that and then think about me — ‘Gee, let’s get some help from Ukraine in order to beat sleepy Joe Biden.’ I don’t think so.”

“The people of this country aren’t buying it,” he added.

He also called the investigation launched by the House Democrats as a “deranged impeachment witch hunt.”

White House Budget official plans to testify on Ukraine aid

Mark Sandy, a senior White House Budget official, decided to break free and testify Saturday to House Intelligence Committee about his knowledge of the $400 million frozen aid to Ukraine.

Barbara Van Gelder, Sandy’s lawyer, informed about Sandy’s intention to testify if he is served with a subpoena from a lawmaker, making him the first official from the Office of Management and Budget to talk to testify in the impeachment investigation.

According to investigators, Sandy had signed a document on July 25, to make the aid freeze formal. Democrats believe that Sandy’s testimony would be help shed more light on the role that Trump played in freezing the aid.

McCarthy calls Schiff a serial liar, Pelosi accuses Trump of Bribery

As the impeachment war heats up, Democrats and Republicans traded blows with the members from both parties accusing opponents.

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy blasted Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff a serial Thursday, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused President Trump of bribery as the political war continued to escalate, Fox News reported.

“Democrats are showing great patriotism,” Pelosi said, praising Schiff. “This isn’t about politics or anything political, it’s about patriotism, it’s about honoring our oath of office, and upholding the Constitution.”

“Bribery—and that is in the Constitution and attached to impeachment proceedings,” Pelosi went on, accusing the president. “The bribe is to grant or withhold military assistance in return for a public statement of a fake investigation into the election—that’s bribery.”

Just as Pelosi made her comments, McCarthy said that Republicans were standing up for the constitution. He also went on to add that Schiff had continuously lied to the people of America.

“Are they doing this for political purposes or are they standing for the Constitution?” McCarthy said. “They came to Congress to impeach the president.”

Kupperman’s subpoena lawsuit asked to be dismissed by Justice Department

Speaking for the White House, the Justice Department asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Charles Kupperman, a former national security advisor, CNN reported.

Kupperman, who has still not testified claimed that he was torn between the impeachment inquiry subpoena and the White House’s assertion of immunity.

“Dr. Charles Kupperman seeks an opinion from this Court on whether the President’s senior-most advisors share the President’s absolute immunity from testimonial compulsion by Congress. Although the answer to that critical question is undoubtedly ‘yes,’ Dr. Kupperman has no business asking this Court to answer it," the DOJ said.

According to the DOJ, the House subpoena is a grave threat to the confidentiality of the presidency.