Pick up coverage next in the Situation Room. Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. Im wolf blitz her in washington along with erin burnett in new york. Were following major Breaking News on the vote a short while ago to remove Kevin Mccarthy as speaker of the house of representatives, the first in the history of the u. S. Congress. An incredible day. Mccarthys ouster led by Congressman Matt Gaetz, joined by other gop hard liners. It was sealed by democrats who could have stepped up to save mccarthy, and they refused to do it. Extremely historic and dramatic, indeed. House business, for all practical purposes, is paralyzed as the chamber faces the very difficult and divisive challenge of choosing a new speaker of the house. Were standing by for a meeting of House Republicans this hour. This is a Special Edition of the Situation Room. We begin on capitol hill where our chief congressional correspondent, manu raju, is covering it all, speaking to everyone
This hour, we continue cnns special live coverage of a historic vote on capitol hill. A moment, the House Of Representatives will hold a key vote on a motion to oust Kevin Mccarthy as speaker. A motion being brought by one of his fellow republicans. At the beginning of the day, we knew there were five republicans who would vote to oust him. Now, we know there are six. And were learning that mccarthys republican allies are attempting to make a lastminute plea to the 212 House Democrats there, to try to join them, to save him. But House Democrats appear to be united in not wanting to rescue mccarthy. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries just sent what is known as a Dear Colleague letter to his fellow democrats. Saying its the responsibility of the gop to end their own House Republican civil war. Lets go right to capitol hill now where we find cnns manu raju and cnns melanie zanona. Manu, to you first, what are you hearing from republicans as this vote gets closer and closer . Reporter well,
We are following several break news events this hoursh a one that has huge repercussions for the functions of congress, and the others are legal battles one for a former u. S. President and one for the sitting president s son. Those are separate legal cases playing out in two different courthouses for two different reasons. A moment ago we saw hunter biden heading into court and we are waiting for former President Trump to head into court. President trump faces an existential threat to his business empire, and he is heading back into a court where he has lost part of his case, and the judge has already found that he is liable for fraud. And hunter biden is in a delaware courtroom to be arraigned on federal gun charges. And major Breaking News, we are learning that there is going to be a vote today, and House Speaker Kevin Mccarthy announced that there is going to be a vote today to decide his fate. Will he keep his job . Democrats and republicans are meeting Behind Closed Doors at this
Of a global pandemic. Carrico and wiseman were both professors at the university of pennsylvania. Executive Vice President of U Penn School of medicine said it has charned the world and indeed it has. Thanks for being with us. Id love to. The lead with jake tapper starts right now. Today donald trump called the judge overseeing his fraud case a trump hater. Im not sure that was a smart move. The lead starts rielg now. With millions of dollars on the line, and his future businesses in new york at stake, donald trump shows up for day one of His Civil Fraud Trial Blasting not only prosecutors, but insulting the very judge who will decide how much trump must pay in a case where hes already been found liable for fraud. And as trump pleads his case, here comes some shocking comments and a new warning from one of his former longest serving white house officials. This official going on the record setting the record straight only on the lead. Exclusively confirming a number of very damning deta
Wolf blitzer in the situation room. Ill see you tomorrow. Happening now, the first day of Donald Trumps Civil Fraud Trial wraps up with the former president in the courtroom to fight charges that could potentially decimate this family business. Trump attempting to turn the trial into a platform for personal and political attacks. Also tonight, republican hardliner matt gaetz takes his threat to House Speaker Kevin Mccarthy to the house floor, but stops short of any action yet telling americans to, quote, stay tuned. Were tracking the intense gop infight right now after mccarthy worked with democrats to avert a government shutdown. And californias governor appoints a democratic activist to temporarily fill the senate seat of the late Dianne Feinstein. Well take a closer look at Laphonza Butlers potential impact on d. C. Politics and on californias high Profile Senate Race in 2024. Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. Im wolf blitzer. Youre in the situat