For those watching on pbs and around thelobe, welcomeo a bbc news special edition of world news america. We are following the ongoing debate on the floor of the u. S. House of representatives. Hethese areive pictures. Lawmakers have been making their cases one by one, first a democrat, then a republican, backwards and forwards. 435 members, it takes a little bit of time. Ma have invoked the constitution oroa the solem that they took themselves as lawmakers. And of course we have heard some of the usual talomng points both parties and from the president himself. When they have all had a chance to speak, they will hold a v voe tes, actually. One, abuse of power. Two, obstruction of congress. We will have the latest from capitol hill, but first, north america editor jon sopel has this report. Merciful god, we pause in your presence jon decber 18, 2019, a day that will go dhin in american ory. A day that started at least with solemnity. Give them wisdom and discernment jon ve but very quic
We are going to start with Daniel Freeman and alan baron. First im going to have them tell a little bit about themselves. Us a little bit about yourself. What is your background with impeachment in the u. S. Congress . My background includes two and then a gap of a few years judgeat i did two more, a and another judge. ,here have been eight judges effective all the convictions of judges involved eight judges and ive had the honor of handling three of the eight eight i cannot do the first one because it was in 1803 before my time. And obviously ive been interested in impeachment ever since. Daniel i worked on the House Judiciary Committee after watergate. During watergate there was the position created to have a Committee Parliamentarian who knew the rules. I had that job under peter rodino and that he retired and his successor jack brooks kept me on. Landslide,re was a Seismic Shift in american political process. And the cans took over the house. The incoming chairman of the House Judi
Potentially drawing up articles of impeachment against the president. House democrats invited three positive note scholars to testify. A Harvard Law School professor, gerhardt,an, michael a professor at the university of North Carolina school of law, and stanford professor pamela karlan. Republicans invited jonathan tur ley, a professor of Public Interest law at George Washington university. The House Committee on the judiciary will come to order. Mr. Chairman youre upsurping the right to object. Objection is noted. I receiver tzrbreserve the r object. Peropportunity to cause g, im furnishing you with a demand on minority hearings on this subject signed by all the republican the gentleman will suspend. Pursuant to cause 2 j 1 rule 11 im furnish you with a letter signed by all the republican members of the committee. I request you set this date before the Committee Votes on any articles of impeachment i withdraw my reservation. We will confer on this later. The quorum is present. This i
Potentially drawing up our articles drying up articles of impeachment against donald trump. They invited three scholars to testify. A law school professor, a stanford loss will professor, professor, andol in North Carolina lost go professor. The republicans invited Jonathan George Washington Law School professor. The House Committee will come to order. We are reserving the right to object. The objection is noted. I amrsuant to clause 2j1, furnishing you with demand of a majority day of hearings on this subject. I withdraw my reservation. The quorum is present. We are the first hearing conducting pursuant down to resolution 660. The special Judiciary Committee procedures described in section 4a. Here is how the committee will proceed. I will make an Opening Statement and then i will recognize the Ranking Member for an Opening Statement. Each witness will have 10 minutes to make their statements and then we will proceed to questions. I will now recognize myself. Mr. Chairman, parliamenta
Professor. Here is the hearing in its entirety. Order. House will come to object. E the right to i am furnishing you with the subject signed by all republicans. Pursuant to clause, i am furnishing you with a letter signed by all the members of the committee can i request that you set this date before the Committee Votes on any articles of impeachment. I withdraw my reservation. Later. Ill confer on this hearing wethe first to housecting pursuant resolution 660. Here is have the committee will proceed for this hearing will openingill make it an statement and then i will rubberneck just recognized a member for making an Opening Statement. I now recognize myself for no Opening Statement. For anve the time Opening Statement. The facts before us are undisputed. President trump called roses was zelensky andent asked him for a favor. That was a concerted effort to solicit an advantage in the next. Lection to obtain that private political advantage, President Trump elected from the newly presi