For only the third time in modern American history, impeachment hearings [1] will be heard on Capitol Hill after weeks of closed-door testimony that have led to this point.
The U.S. House of Representatives begins hearing key testimony [2] today from witnesses concerning President Donald Trump’s alleged attempts at powering a foreign country into investigating his political rival. In short, the President is being accused of bribery and abusing his power.
1) Where to find the hearings: Proceedings that will continue Friday and into next week [3] will be televised and live-streamed beginning today at 10:00 a.m. EST.
2) Wednesday witnesses: Bill Taylor [4], the top American diplomat in Ukraine, and George Kent [5], a senior State Department official in charge of Ukraine policy.
3) Hearing location: The Ways and Means Committee room since 1940, it is the largest and grandest of the hearing chambers, “designed as the showplace [6] of what is now the Longworth House Office Building, with elaborate plaster work and light fixtures.”
4) Committee in charge: House Intelligence Committee led by Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, chairman, and Republican Representative Devin Nunes.
5) Party questioners: Democrats – Daniel Goldman, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan; Republicans – Steve Castor, a congressional investigator.
6) The rules: Democrats and Republicans will question witnesses [7] in 90-minute rounds, according to the rules approved by the House, with each side rotating in 45-minute blocks.
7) Impeachment Happy Hour: Some D.C. bars are opening early and offering impeachment Happy Hour specials [8].
Some news outlets that will be featuring breaking news, live-streaming, and continuing coverage of the hearings are NBC News [9], NPR [10], The New York Times [11], Fox News [12], and The Washington Post [13].