It's been less than two weeks since US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, but the investigation has dominated the US political scene and the presidential agenda.
The inquiry focuses on Mr Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on July 25 in which the US President said "I would like you to do us a favour though," as he urged Mr Zelenskiy to launch a corruption investigation into his political opponent, former US vice president Joe Biden, who is seeking the Democratic nomination.
Paul Rosenzweig, a legal expert at R Street institute and a former deputy assistant secretary for policy at the Department of Homeland Security, said there was a clear case for impeachment.
"President Trump is essentially daring the democrats to impeach him. If they fail [to impeach him in the House], he will be able to establish a presidential norm that it is acceptable to use his powers to solicit information from a foreign government," Mr Rosenzweig told The National.
Since the announcement, Mr Trump has been on the attack, tweeting no less than 300 times about the impeachment attempt, and borrowing from his lines in the Mueller probe in calling it a “witch-hunt” and “presidential harassment”.
But unlike the Mueller probe, which mostly involved Mr Trump's campaign aides and not the president directly, Mr Rosenzweig said the impeachment case "is very clear" in that the US president is promising the Ukrainian leader "money for dirt on my opponent".
The money in this case is US military equipment, but Mr Trump denies any “quid pro quo”.
“He is not just seeking assistance from a foreign government, but he is also giving them leverage in US politics,” Mr Rosenzweig argued.
Three House committees have already issued subpoenas to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, five of his aides, Mr Trump’s lawyer Rudy Giuliani and the White House. The investigation also involves the vice president's office.
Former US envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker, who resigned after the inquiry, has already testified in Congress and provided details that include text messages on Mr Giuliani's involvement in bargaining with the Ukrainian government.
Mr Giuliani fired back and tweeted his own text exchanges.
“Unlike [former President] Richard Nixon who kept interference to a small circle of aides around him, Mr Trump has involved a large number whose names we see getting dragged into the investigation,” Mr Rosenzweig argued.
Although Democrats have enough votes in the House to impeach Mr Trump, it is still unlikely that they can garner two-thirds of support in the Republican-majority Senate to oust the president.
So far, Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Ben Sasse are the only two voices criticising the president from within his party.
Mr Rosenzweig expected other Senators such as Susan Collins or Cory Gardner, who are up for re-election, to vote against Mr Trump, but still without reaching 67, the magic number required to convict the president.
Mr Romney on Friday criticised Mr Trump's call for China and Ukraine to investigate the Biden family.
A USA Today poll found that 45 per cent of Americans support impeaching Mr Trump while 38 per cent are opposed to it.
The process is already distracting Mr Trump from other issues. His Twitter timeline is flooded with attacks on Democrats, and most of his press availability, even with foreign dignitaries, has been solely focused on the inquiry.
Mr Pompeo has also taken a combative role in challenging the inquiry, accusing Democrats of harrassing State Department employees by asking for documents relating to the inquiry.
"The US president is certainly distracted, and that would undermine him if he had to face a crisis [such as a new Iranian attack]," said Andrew Bishop, the head of research at Signum Global Advisers.
But the US government bureaucracy is still functioning he explained, and "emails aren’t going unanswered any more than they were before".
Mr Bishop told The National that Donald Trump's "growing domestic woes make him ever more eager for a win on the international front".
Such a victory would be in the form of a diplomatic deal but not a military confrontation, he said.
The problem, however, is Mr Trump's "adversaries might not be inclined to give him one …That applies to China, Iran and North Korea – all of whom are playing hardball with the US President," said Mr Bishop.
The impeachment process is expected to intensify in the coming two months with a vote in the House expected before the end of the year.
Several sources said the Democratic leadership in Congress wants to avoid dragging the process into the election primaries that start in Iowa on February 3.
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Asia Cup 2018 Qualifier
Sunday's results:
- UAE beat Malaysia by eight wickets
- Nepal beat Singapore by four wickets
- Oman v Hong Kong, no result
Tuesday fixtures:
- Malaysia v Singapore
- UAE v Oman
- Nepal v Hong Kong
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
World Cricket League Division 2
In Windhoek, Namibia - Top two teams qualify for the World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe, which starts on March 4.
UAE fixtures
Thursday February 8, v Kenya; Friday February 9, v Canada; Sunday February 11, v Nepal; Monday February 12, v Oman; Wednesday February 14, v Namibia; Thursday February 15, final
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The biog
Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos
Favourite spice: Cumin
Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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SUZUME
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The specs
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Power: 575bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh554,000
On sale: now
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
