TRIAL TIME -- The House impeachment managers delivered the articles of impeachment to the Senate yesterday — but they will have to return to the upper chamber today, when the Senate officially receives them. The House began to lay the groundwork for the trial on Wednesday by approving a resolution that named impeachment managers and officially transmitted the articles.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi then signed the articles during an engrossment ceremony, where she doled out ceremonial pens to the newly-minted impeachment managers and committee chairs (and she kept one for herself, per Heather.) Then, the Sergeant at Arms and House Clerk led a procession of impeachment managers — with printed copies of the articles in tow — across the Capitol and over to the Senate. Heather and Sarah with the lead-all: https://politi.co/2u6eXcM.
PICS:
Related read: “'Huge mistake': Senators in both parties rip impeachment press access,” via Marianne and Burgess: https://politi.co/30pKNgp.
SO ... what’s next? Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) laid out the schedule for today: At noon, the House impeachment managers will officially present their articles of impeachment. At 2 p.m., Chief Justice John Roberts arrives to be sworn in by Senate Pro Tempore Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa). Roberts will then swear in all 100 senators as jurors. After that, the Senate will likely head home for the weekend and "the trial will commence in earnest on Tuesday," McConnell said.
Related reads: “Rand Paul threatens fellow Republicans with explosive witness votes,” by Burgess: https://politi.co/386YPq3; and “Its Reputation Tattered, Polarized Senate Faces a Steep Impeachment Test,” from NYT’s Carl Hulse: https://nyti.ms/2Rlhp6Z.
RUN AND HYDE -- Top Republicans are racing to distance themselves from Robert Hyde, a controversial House candidate and GOP donor who became the latest figure to get wrapped up in the Ukraine saga. The top three Republican leaders in the House all said they don’t know Hyde and don’t support him, according to their offices. And the Republican Party chairman in Connecticut is calling on Hyde to drop out of the race. “His campaign is a distraction for the Democrats to raise money and falsely label all Republicans with his antics,” the chairman tweeted. More from your Huddle host: https://politi.co/36XG2gP.
The backstory: The House Intelligence Committee released a trove of new evidence on Tuesday (and continued to release more documents yesterday), including text messages between Hyde and Lev Parnas, an indicted former associate of Trump’s personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. The communications appear to show that Hyde was working with Parnas to track Marie Yovanovitch, whom Giuliani was trying to oust as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. “Wow. Can’t believe Trumo [sic] hasn’t fired this bitch,” Hyde wrote in one encrypted message to Parnas. “I’ll get right in that.”
Speaking of Parnas … he went on MSNBC with Rachel Maddow last night and made some explosive claims, fueling the Democrats’ push for witnesses and documents in the trial and validating Pelosi’s decision to delay sending the articles. Among Parnas’ allegations: Vice President Mike Pence did not attend the Ukrainian president’s inauguration because he hadn't announced a Biden investigation; Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and his aide were involved in digging up dirt on Biden; and Hyde was “drunk” all the time and “got into something” with Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.), whatever that means. More highlights from Matthew Choi, Kyle Cheney and Darren Samuelsohn: https://politi.co/35XUOCA
Related read: “Parnas associate Robert Hyde accused of stalking, erratic behavior,” from Ben Schreckinger: https://politi.co/2tZf0qB.
MEET THE MANAGERS -- Pelosi announced her long-awaited picks for impeachment managers, unveiling a roster that reflects her desire for geographic, racial and gender diversity, according to Andrew. Every one of the impeachment managers has a background in practicing law or law enforcement. And all but one served on the committees investigating Trump. Here are the seven Democrats who have been tasked with prosecuting Trump:
- Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee
- Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee
- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus
- Rep. Zoe Lofrgen of California, who served on the Judiciary panel during Bill Clinton’s impeachment
- Rep. Val Demings of Florida, who sits on both Intel and Judiciary and has an extensive background in law enforcement
- Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a freshman and former Army captain
- Rep. Sylvia Garcia of Texas, a freshman and former municipal judge
Meanwhile ... Trump has yet to formally announce his final impeachment defense team, though most of it has taken shape. But Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) told your Huddle host and a few other reporters that he does not expect any of Trump’s House allies to serve as litigators on the defense team, though he said there was talk of them playing more of a “consultant” role.
Related read: “Pelosi picks reserved team of impeachment managers who didn’t seek the role,” per Roll Call’s Lindsey McPherson and Griffin Connolly: http://bit.ly/2NtrTzW; and “Trump’s defenders to play to many audiences in Senate trial,” via The AP’s Zeke Miller, Eric Tucker, Lisa Mascaro and Jonathan Lemire: http://bit.ly/2u5kekw.
GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, January 16, where your host is wondering which controversy is more appetizing; champagne-gate or bagel-gate?
WEDNESDAY’S MOST CLICKED: Roll Call’s report on the unprecedented press restrictions during the impeachment trial was the big winner.
MAKE ROOM FOR VAN DREW -- House Republicans are reshuffling their committees in order to accommodate their newest member: Rep. Jeff Van Drew. The New Jersey freshman is expected to land on the House Education and Labor Committee, according to multiple sources, after losing his old committee assignments when he left the Democratic party. After joining the GOP, Republican leaders vowed to work hard to get him desirable committee assignments.
To open up a spot for Van Drew, retiring Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) has agreed to give up his seat on the House Financial Services Committee, the New York Republican confirmed to your Huddle host. And Rep. Van Taylor (R-Texas) — who serves on the Education panel — will then slide over to Financial Services, creating the space for Van Drew. The GOP Steering Committee approved the roster shakeup on Tuesday, but the full conference will vote on the changes this morning at 9 a.m. The dispatch: https://politi.co/35ZJypB.
Related: “GOP leaders encourage retiring lawmakers to give up committee posts,” by The Hill’s Juliegrace Brufke: http://bit.ly/30rPwOO.
SPEAKING OF PARTY SWITCHERS ... "Rep. Justin Amash: ‘Most Members of Congress Don’t Think Anymore,’” via Rolling Stone’s Andy Kroll: http://bit.ly/2FVdzMM.
ON THE EDGE OF GLORY -- The Senate is poised to pass Trump’s new trade deal with Mexico and Canada this morning, just hours before senators are sworn in as jurors in Trump’s impeachment trial. The pact is expected to receive overwhelming support from both parties. "We are finally on the threshold of approving this agreement and sending it to President Trump’s desk to become law," McConnell said on the Senate floor.
Trump is expected to sign the deal next week, but it will not fully enter into force until Canada ratifies the pact. Mexico has already passed the revised deal, and Canada is expected to hold a vote in the House of Commons once it reconvenes in late January, writes Sabrina Rodriguez. “All eyes will be on Canada to get the job done quickly so we can all work together to implement this agreement,” Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley said on the Senate floor. The story: https://politi.co/3afH2i6.
Related: “Trump hypes modest China deal, distracting from impeachment,” by Anita Kumar: https://politi.co/2NvWVHo.
GET WELL SOON -- Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick will seek treatment for alcoholism after suffering from a “serious” fall that was linked to drinking, the Arizona Democrat announced yesterday. “I am finally seeking this help after struggling to do so in the past, and I am ready to admit that I, like countless other Americans, suffer from this disease,” Kirkpatrick wrote in a statement. “I am taking this important step forward with the full expectation and desire to return to work stronger and healthier and to continue serving my beloved Arizona.”
Following the announcement, there was an outpouring of support from her colleagues in the Arizona delegation. Rep. Tom O'Halleran called Kirkpatrick a "dedicated public servant" and said he is keeping her in his thoughts. “Asking for help is hard, but Ann has always been stronger than most," O'Halleran tweeted. And Sen. Kyrsten Sinema said she was “proud to call [Kirkpatrick] my friend and colleague” and expressed confidence that she would tackle this “brave journey of recovery” with “courage and strength.” Sarah with latest: https://politi.co/387Qqm0.
PETE’S LATEST FEAT -- Pete Buttigieg has locked down another key congressional endorsement in his bid for the White House: Rep. Annie Kuster of New Hampshire. The endorsement is the first from a lawmaker in the Granite State, which is one of the four early voting states and where Buttigieg is banking on a strong performance. "Like Barack Obama before him, Pete is young, inspiring, brings fresh ideas to the table, and is motivated to win," Kuster said in a statement.
Kuster was also named a co-chair of the campaign, alongside Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.), who became the first member of the Congressional Black Caucus to back Buttigieg. "I firmly believe that Pete Buttigieg is the guy to lead our nation after we defeat Donald Trump and have to pick up the pieces and repair the damage of the last four years," said Brown, a fellow Harvard grad and military veteran. More from The Sentinel Source: http://bit.ly/3af2W5g.
SPOTTED … New Orleans Saints quarterback
Nissa Koerner will be the new press secretary for Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.). She was previously press assistant.
Jessica Andrews, communications director for House Judiciary Republicans under Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), is moving across the Capitol to work for Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) to serve as comms director.
Kyle Morse, communications director for Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), is joining American Bridge as the deputy comms director of the Trump War Room.
The House gavels in at 9 a.m., with first votes expected between 10 and 11 a.m. Today’s agenda: http://bit.ly/2uVVufj.
The Senate meets at 9:45 a.m. to resume consideration of H.R.5430, the "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act. At 11 a.m., the Senate will proceed to two votes on H.R.5430. At noon, the Senate will receive impeachment articles for President Donald Trump from the House managers.
Reps. Max Rose (D-N.Y.). Katie Porter (D-Calif.), Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), Gil Cisneros (D-Calif.), Josh Harder (D-Calif.) and Andy Levin (D-Mich.) hold a news conference to announce a new "End Corruption" Caucus at 10 a.m. on the House Triangle.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) holds her weekly press conference at 10:45 a.m. in HVC Studio A.
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) holds his weekly press conference at 11:30 a.m. in HVC Studio A.
WEDNESDAY’S WINNER: Michael Smythers was the first person to correctly guess that Ronald Reagan once held a job as a lifeguard at a local river in his youth.
TODAY’S QUESTION: From Michael: This person won an historic election to the U.S. House of Representatives and later went on to cast the only “no” vote when Congress declared war against a sneaky foreign aggressor. Who is this person, what was historic about their election, and which foreign nation was the subject of the war declaration? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: mzanona@politico.com.
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