POOL
Washington DC - 9 December 2019
1.SOUNDBITE (English) Stephen Castor, Republican Attorney:
"Yes. I don't I don't think the record supports that.
(Berke off camera: It doesn't say can you look into it?)
President Trump is not asking him. I don't I don't think it supports that. I think it's ambiguous."
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Doug Collins, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member:
"Mr. Chairman I'm not, he can ask or answer, but he can't do both. He can either ask or answer, he can't do both.
(Nadler: Gentlemen is not recognized)
(Off camera: Mr. Chairman I make a point of order that is badgering the witness.)
(Nadler off camera: He is not, the gentleman will continue)
(laughter from audience)
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, House Judiciary Committee Chairman:
"That is not a point of order. The committee is in order.
(Off camera: Well, would you rule on my original point of order?)
The original point of order was not recognizable and does not necessitate a ruling.
(Off camera: That the lawyer is badgering the witness? We have to have some decorum in here and you have your own rules of decorum which aren't comporting with everybody else's rules of decorum.)
Sharp cross-examination of a witness is not badgering the witness. The gentleman will continue with it.
(Off camera: It is if its badgering the witness.)
The gentleman has the time.
(Off camera: Mr. Chairman, point of order.)
Gentleman say the point of order."
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Mike Johnson, (R) Lousiana:
"That is not a point of order. The committee is in order.
(Off camera: Well, would you rule on my original point of order?)
++CAMERA PANS AT SOURCE++
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Jerry Nadler, Chairman House Judiciary Committee:
The original point of order was not recognizable and does not necessitate a ruling.
(Off camera: That the lawyer is badgering the witness? We have to have some decorum in here and you have your own rules of decorum which aren't comporting with everybody else's rules of decorum.)
Sharp cross-examination of a witness is not badgering the witness. The gentleman will continue with it.
(Off camera: It is if its badgering the witness.)
The gentleman has the time.
(Off camera: Mr. Chairman, point of order.)
Gentleman say the point of order."
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Barry Berke, Democratic Counsel:
"Is this President Trump asking President Zelenskiy to investigate his political rival, Joe Biden?"
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Dan Goldman, Chief Democratic Investigator:
"I don't think there's any other way to read the words on the page than to conclude that."
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus127858
House Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler reminded his Republican colleagues during a testy impeachment hearing Monday that 'sharp cross examination of a witness is not badgering a witness."
Nadler's comments came as Democrats began questioning Republican attorney Stephen Castor and chief Democratic investigator, Dan Goldman.
Democrats insisted that President Donald Trump's push to have Ukraine investigate rival Joe Biden while at the same time withholding U.S. military aid ran counter to U.S. policy and benefited Russia as well as himself.
But in one testy exchange, Republican attorney Stephen Castor dismissed the transcript of Trump's crucial call with Ukraine as “ambiguous" and did not amount to the president seeking a personal political favor.
Democrats argued vigorously that Trump's meaning could not have been clearer in seeking political dirt on Biden, his possible opponent in the 2020 election.
The chief Democratic investigator, Dan Goldman, asked for his view, testified, “I don’t think there’s any other wáy to read the words on the page.” Goldman is the top Democratic counsel on the Intelligence Committee.
The Republicans tried numerous times to halt or slow the proceedings, formally objecting several times that the committee’s Democratic counsel was impugning Trump as he spelled out potential charges.
Nadler responded that negative comments about Trump might well be expected in listing reasons to impeach him.
The Judiciary Committee is reviewing the findings of the Intelligence panel's 300-page report ahead of a vote, possibly as soon as this week, on two or more articles of impeachment on charges of abuse of power, bribery and obstruction against the Republican president.
A vote in the full House could come before Christmas.
