A quick snapshot of what's happening now in impeachment news.
Previously: Yesterday was one of the wilder days since the impeachment inquiry kicked off. Between Mick Mulvaney admitting that the president held up aid to Ukraine in return for political favors, US ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland saying that he was directed to run Ukraine policy through Rudy Giuliani, the president's personal lawyer, and Energy Secretary Rick Perry saying the same thing, you would think that today would be off like a shot. Well...
- The reverberations of yesterday's press conference with White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney—where he admitted to linking military aid for Ukraine with Ukraine investigating Democrats (and that people should "get over it")—continued to ripple out. While Donald Trump has so far stood by his chief of staff, his go-to conservative pundit Sean Hannity told his radio listeners "I just think he’s dumb, I really do." On Capitol Hill, even a few Republican lawmakers spoke out. "You don’t hold up foreign aid that we had previously appropriated for a political initiative. Period," said Senator Lisa Murkowski. Rep Francis Rooney of Florida was even more outspoken, saying that Mulvaney "basically said it was a quid pro quo," adding "it’s not an etch a sketch, it's kind of hard to argue that he didn't say it, right?" Yep, you're definitely right about that. (Source: Politico)
- But Republican leadership continues to hold the line despite Mulvaney's admissions yesterday. In a press conference today, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy came to his defense saying "I think Mick Mulvaney clarified his statement to be very clear. I take Mick Mulvaney at his word for clarification." Which I mean, OK you do you man. (Source: Yahoo News)
- Meanwhile in the House, after four days in a row of depositions, most impeachment work took a breather today after Laura Cooper, a deputy at the Pentagon, rescheduled her deposition late Thursday night. Cooper, who is the deputy assistant secretary for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, is now expected to testify October 24. She joins an already-full calendar with five testimonies scheduled for next week. (Source: Bloomberg)
- And to wrap up the week with what has been the White House's ongoing theme, outgoing Energy Secretary Rick Perry today told House investigative committees that he won't comply with a subpoena for documents that had a deadline for today. Democrats had sought documents pertaining to Perry's involvement in Ukraine but, nope, the Energy Department is "unable to comply with your request for documents and communications at this time." Democrats might want to figure out a strategy for enforcing subpoenas but I'm not holding my breath at this point. (Source: CNN)
What's coming next: Well if today ended up being what qualifies for "chill" around here, then certainly that'll just ride out through the weekend right? Please? Five testimonies are set for next week, plus document deadlines, and maybe the Democrats will enforce a subpoena I think I close out every week with that last one wheee. Weekend!