The articles turn to stone, and democracy crumbles into the sea. Maybe next crime. That sucks. Announcer its the late show with Stephen Colbert. Tonight signed, sealed, impeached plus, stephen welcomes andrew yang. Abby mcenany. Featuring jon batiste and stay human. And now, live on tape at the ed sullivan theater in new york city, its Stephen Colbert cheers and applause stephen whoo hey how are ya . I like it i like it cheers and applause band playing nice thank you very much so kind, yeah. Were good. Were good. Thank you very much. Welcome one and all, ladies and gentlemen, in here, out there, all around the world to the late show. Im your host, Stephen Colbert. And it is cheers and applause an historic day in anmerica, because today, the house of representatives formally sent articles of impeachment to the senate to begin the trial of donald j. Trump. cheers and applause ive got all the details for you in tonights don and the giant impeach. They got me, they got me laughter stephen
Committee will come back to order. Well now begin a period of fiveminute questions from the members. I recognize myself for five minutes. I want to ask you both about some of the questions you were asked by my colleagues in the minority. First, if i could ask you miss williams and colonel vindman, you were asked a series of questions by the Ranking Member at the outset. Were you aware of the fact that and then there was a recitation of information about burisma, the bidens. Is it fair the say you have no firsthand knowledge of any of the matters that were asked in those questions . Thats correct. That is correct. Miss williams, you were also asked a series of questions about the Vice President s schedule and whether he could have made the inauguration, was he traveling or the trip to canada. Lets be clear about something. You were instructed the president told the Vice President not to go before he knew the date of the inauguration. Is that correct . Yes. Thats correct. So at the time
Intelligence impeachment inquiry wraps up with testimony from u. S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. Also a major fundraiser for President Trumps inauguration in 2017. We will stay outside the hearing room. This is the Longworth House Office building. Its possible well now hear from some democratic members on that impeachment inquiry hearing. But were only halfway done through the set hearings for today. Another one, we understand, scheduled for 5 30 eastern coming up with two witnesses. Laura cooper, the Deputy Assistant defense secretary for ukraine and also david hale, who is the under secretary for Political Affairs. That hearing 5 30 eastern. Well have that live here on cspan 3. As we wait for that to get under way, well continue as we look live in the hearing room itself in Longworth House Office building. We continue to take your reaction, your thoughts on the testimony today from ambassador sondland. The lines are 2027488920 for democrats. Republicans its 20274
The committee will come to order. Good morning, everyone. This is the fifth in a series of public hearings the committee will be holding as part of the house of representatives impeachment inquiry. Without objection, the chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. There is a quorum present. We will turn to our witness for an Opening Statement and then to questions. For audience members, we welcome you and respect your interest in being here. In turn, we ask for your respect as we proceed with todays hearing. Its the intention of the committee to proceed without disruptions. Ill make all necessary steps to maintain order and ensure the committee is run in house rules and House Resolution 660. I recognize myself to give an Opening Statement. This morning we will hear from gordon sondland, the American Ambassador to the European Union. We are here today as part of the house of representatives impeachment inquiry because President Donald Trump sought to condition military assistan
Hearing of tchment inquiry. Wednesday. This mornings witness former u. S. Ambassador to ukraine marie yovanovitch. She has already arrived at the hill this morning. More than 30 years she spent a veteran of the u. S. Foreign Service Serving under both republican and democratic president s. She became a target of President Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Guiliani and was ousted by the president earlier this year. Helping us follow it all this morning we have chuck todd our meet the press moderator in washington. Andrea mitchell is here. Richard engel and former Justice Department prosecutor Andrew Weisman now an nbc news legal analyst. Lets start on the hill. Nbcs jeff bennett at his post with what to expect this morning. Good morning. Reporter good morning to you. Marie yovanovitch has been a Foreign Service officer for some 33 years serving in six president ial administrations, three times as an ambassador in hot spots all around the world, two times appointed by a republican president in