Author: Zeke Miller
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McConnell backs off, abruptly eases impeachment trial limits
WASHINGTON • The U.S. Senate plunged into President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial on Tuesday with Republicans abandoning plans to cram opening arguments into two late-night sessions and Democrats arguing for more witnesses to expose what they called Trump’s “trifecta” of offenses. The turn of events was a setback for Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and…
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Iranians shot down jetliner, U.S., Canadian, UK leaders say
WASHINGTON • Evidence indicates it is “highly likely” that an Iranian anti-aircraft missile downed a Ukrainian jetliner near Tehran late Tuesday, U.S., Canadian and British officials said Thursday. They said the strike, which killed all 176 people on board, could well have been a mistake amid missile launches and high tensions throughout the region. The…
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U.S. braces for Iranian response: a ‘tit for tat’ assault?
WASHINGTON • U.S. officials on Monday braced for Iran to respond to the killing of its most powerful general, noting heightened military readiness in the country and preparing for a possible “tit-for-tat” attempt on the life of an American military commander. President Donald Trump ordered the Jan. 2 strike against Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head…
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Trump aims for role of NATO statesman but mars unity message
WATFORD, England • Aiming to play the role of global statesman as the impeachment drama was unfolding in Washington, President Donald Trump instead shattered NATO’s professed message of unity at its 70th anniversary celebration in England and put his personal and policy differences with alliance members on stark display. Trump called Canadian Prime Minister Justin…
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White House vows no cooperation with probe
WASHINGTON • The White House declared Tuesday it will not cooperate with what it termed the “illegitimate” impeachment probe by House Democrats, sharpening the constitutional clash between President Donald Trump and Congress. Trump attorneys sent a letter to House leaders bluntly stating their refusal to participate in the quickly moving impeachment investigation. “Given that your…
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Trump’s White House fighting impeachment by stalling and attacking
WASHINGTON — As House Democrats fire off more subpoenas, the White House has launched a high-stakes strategy to counter the impeachment threat to President Donald Trump: Stall. Obfuscate. Attack. Repeat. One of the administration’s first moves: the State Department on Tuesday barred Gordon Sondland, the U.S. European Union ambassador, from appearing before a House panel…
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Democrats move ahead with subpoenas, Trump impeachment
WASHINGTON — House Democrats took their first concrete steps in the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump, issuing subpoenas demanding documents from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and scheduling legal depositions for other State Department officials. At the end of a stormy week of revelation and recrimination, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi framed the impeachment inquiry…
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Trump says he’s considering 5 candidates to replace Bolton
WASHINGTON • President Donald Trump said Wednesday he’s looking at five individuals to become his fourth national security adviser to replace John Bolton, the hawkish diplomat who clashed with the president on global challenges, especially Iran and North Korea. “John wasn’t in line with what we were doing,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.…
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Trump portrays G-7 as a lovefest, papering over differences
BIARRITZ, France • Never mind his differences with world leaders on China, trade, Russia, Iran and more. President Donald Trump’s takeaway message from the Group of Seven summit in France was “unity.” In fact, “flawless” unity. During this year’s gathering of leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies, Trump went to great lengths to portray it…
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Trump visits grieving cities as gun-control debate boils
EL PASO, Texas • Aiming to play the traditional role of healer during national tragedy, President Donald Trump paid visits Wednesday to cities reeling from mass shootings that left 31 dead and dozens wounded. But his divisive words preceded him, large protests greeted him, and biting political attacks soon followed. The president and first lady…