World Bill Clinton weighs in on Trump impeachment: Congress 'doing their job'

Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y., calls on a reporter during a news conference on Dec. 10 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Copy of the Articles of Impeachment, Dec. 10 in Washington. House Democrats announced they are pushing ahead with two articles of impeachment against President Trump - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - charging he corrupted the U.S. election process and endangered national security in his dealings with Ukraine.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., accompanied by from left, Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Senate Majority Whip Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, speaks to reporters on Dec. 10 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

From left, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee Maxine Waters, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Eliot Engel, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform Carolyn Maloney, House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal and Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Adam Schiff, unveil articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 10.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., left speaks with ranking member Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., after the House Judiciary Committee hearing of investigative findings in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, Dec. 9, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The hearing is being held for the Judiciary Committee to formally receive evidence in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, whom Democrats say held back military aid for Ukraine while demanding they investigate his political rivals. The White House declared it would not participate in the hearing.

A staffer carries out a pasteboard after the end of a public impeachment inquiry hearing on Dec. 9.

A bust of former House Speaker Nicholas Longworth, R-Ohio, stands behind television news equipment on Dec. 9.

U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) (2nd L) speaks during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on Dec. 9.

Rep. Luis Correa, D-Calif., speaks as the House Judiciary Committee hears investigative on Dec. 9.

Stephen Castor, Minority Counsel for House Judiciary and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, prepares to testify as the House Judiciary Committee receives presentations of evidence in the impeachment inquiry on Dec. 9.

Republican counsel Ashley Hurt Callen, joined at right by Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., questions a witness on Dec. 9.

House Intelligence Committee majority counsel Daniel Goldman (R), and House Judiciary Committee minority counsel Steve Castor are sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on Dec. 9, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on the grounds for the impeachment of President Donald Trump.

Republican staff attorney Steve Castor testifies as the House Judiciary Committee hears investigative findings in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, on Dec. 9, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

House Democrats lay out case for formal Trump impeachment

The House Judiciary Committee received a detailed summing up of the impeachment case against President Donald Trump Monday as Democrats prepare formal charges against him. Trump and his allies lobbed fresh assaults on the proceedings they dismiss as a hoax and a sham. Democratic lawyers outlined the findings so far, saying 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.

Former President Clinton (D) on Thursday advised President Trump to leave fighting impeachment to his staff and focus on his agenda. "My message would be, look, you got hired to do a job ," Clinton said during a phone interview with CNN.

Former US President Bill Clinton has reacted after the US House of Reps passed two articles of impeachment against US president Donald Trump . “They’re doing their job as they see it and we should wait to see it unfold,” Clinton told Fox News while touring a Clinton Foundation program in

Democratic staff attorney Barry Berke speaks as the House Judiciary Committee hears investigative findings in the impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, on Dec. 9, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee holds an evidentiary hearing to receive counsel presentations of evidence from the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on, Dec. 9.

House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler, left, speaks with senior Republican on the Judiciary Committee Rep. Doug Collins during a hearing on Capitol Hill on Dec. 9.

Trump lashes out at FBI director in wake of Justice Department inspector general’s report

In a morning tweet, the president took issue with Christopher A. Wray’s response to the report examining the bureau’s investigation of Trump’s 2016 campaign. “I don’t know what report current Director of the FBI Christopher Wray was reading, but it sure wasn’t the one given to me,” Trump tweeted.

Former President Bill Clinton , who was impeached in the late 1990s, weighed in on the articles of impeachment that were laid out by House He didn’t elaborate on what he meant by Congress is “ doing their job ,” although Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly said Democrats in the

Former President Clinton , who was nearly impeached during his time in office, on Thursday advised President Trump to leave fighting impeachment to his staff and And Congress is basically in denial of the consequences of doing nothing. Or at least the people who are opposed to it,” Clinton said.

Stephen Castor, Minority Counsel for House Judiciary and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, prepares to testify during the hearing on Dec. 9.

A protestor shouts as the House Judiciary Committee hears investigative findings in the impeachment inquiry on Dec. 9.

Republican staff attorney Steve Castor, left, and Democratic staff attorney Barry Berke arrive to testify, on Dec. 9.

A woman walks past the U.S. Capitol dome early in the morning on another day of the continued impeachment inquiry hearings, on Dec. 9.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., makes a statement at the Capitol in Washington, on Dec. 5. Pelosi announced that the House is moving forward to draft articles of impeachment against President Trump.

Committee chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler (C) (D-NY) confers with Rep. Doug Collins (R) (R-GA) and majority counsel Norm Eisen (L) during an impeachment hearing where Constitutional scholars Noah Feldman of Harvard University, Pamela Karlan of Stanford University, Michael Gerhardt of the University of North Carolina, and Jonathan Turley of George Washington University testified before the House Judiciary Committee in the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill on Dec. 4 in Washington, DC. This is the first hearing held by the House Judiciary Committee in the impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump, whom House Democrats say held back military aid for Ukraine while demanding it investigate his political rivals. The Judiciary Committee will decide whether to draft official articles of impeachment against President Trump to be voted on by the full House of Representatives.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., center, with members of the committee, speaking during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on the constitutional grounds for the impeachment of President Trump on Dec. 4 on Capitol Hill in Washington.

A member of the public uses binoculars to watch the first U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing on Dec. 4.

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee, Democrat from Texas, holds up copies of the Mueller Report as she questions Constitutional scholars during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Dec. 4.

Scene during the hearing of the House Judiciary Committee on Dec. 4.

News photographers and members of the committee look towards the witnesses during the first U.S. House Judiciary Committee hearing on Dec. 4.

Representative Matt Gaetz, Republican of Florida, and Representative Martha Roby, Republican of Alabama, attend a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Dec. 4.

A U.S. Capitol police officer watches from in front of a video monitor displaying part of the call record of President Trump's phone call with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as the House Judiciary Committee holds their first hearing on the impeachment inquiry on Dec. 4.

Constitutional law experts University of North Carolina Law School professor Michael Gerhardt, left, talks with George Washington University Law School professor Jonathan Turley as they arrive to testify during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee on the constitutional grounds for the impeachment of President Donald Trump, on Dec. 4, on Capitol Hill in Washington.

Pamela Karlan, professor of Public Interest Law and co-director of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at Stanford Law School, testifies during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, on Dec. 4.

A television monitor displays a quote as constitutional law experts testify during a hearing in Washington, on Dec. 4.

From left, Noah Feldman, Pamela Karlan, Michael Gerhardt and Jonathan Turley are sworn in before testifying during a hearing in Washington, on Dec. 4.

Jennifer Fisher, center, and Cathy Marino-Thomas, left, both of New York City, wait in line to attend a hearing, in Washington, on Dec. 4.

Prof. Jonathan Turley listens during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in Washington, DC, on Dec. 4.

Republican ranking member Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) speaks to an aide as House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) looks on in Washington, on Dec. 4.

Constitutional scholar Noah Feldman of Harvard University testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on Dec. 4 in Washington, DC.

The 300 page Trump-Ukraine Impeachment Inquiry Report is seen after being released by the U.S. House Intelligence Committee on Dec. 3 in Washington. The House released a sweeping impeachment report outlining evidence of what it calls Trump’s wrongdoing toward Ukraine. The findings will serve as the foundation for debate over whether the 45th President should be removed from office.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) addresses Capitol Hill reporters ahead of a committee vote on its findings in the impeachment inquiry into President Trump, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington Dec. 3.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) addresses Capitol Hill reporters after the Senate Republicans policy lunch on Dec. 3 in Washington.

The report from Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump is photographed on Dec. 3 in Washington. 

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is followed by reporters as he walks on Capitol Hill on Dec. 3 in Washington.

The Capitol is seen on Dec. 2, as lawmakers return from the Thanksgiving recess. The House impeachment Report on President Trump will be unveiled Monday behind closed doors as Democrats push ahead with the inquiry despite the White House's declaration it will not participate in the first Judiciary Committee hearing.

Fiona Hill, former senior director for Europe and Russia on the National Security Council, departs after testifying at a House Intelligence Committee hearing as part of the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Nov. 21.

David Holmes, a U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, leaves after testifying, on Nov. 21.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., with committee staffer Daniel Noble at left, concludes a week of public impeachment hearings, on Nov. 21. 

U.S. Representative Denny Heck (D-WA) directs a question to Fiona Hill, former senior director for Europe and Russia, on Nov. 21.

A photo of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is displayed on a monitor as former White House national security aide Fiona Hill, and David Holmes, a U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, testify before the House Intelligence Committee, on Nov. 21.

U.S. Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX) questions witnesses, on Nov. 21.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., is seen in the audience during the House Intelligence Committee hearing, on Nov. 21.

Panel Approves Impeachment Articles and Sends Charges for a House Vote

A fiercely divided House Judiciary Committee pushed President Trump to the brink of impeachment on Friday.A fiercely divided House Judiciary Committee pushed President Trump to the brink of impeachment on Friday, voting along party lines to approve charges that he abused the power of his office and obstructed Congress.

Former White House national security aide Fiona Hill sits next to David Holmes, a U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, before testifying on Nov. 21.

Ranking member Devin Nunes (R-CA) makes an opening statement as Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) listens before testimony by Fiona Hill, the National Security Council’s former senior director for Europe and Russia, and David Holmes, an official from the American embassy in Ukraine, before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 21.

Fiona Hill testifies on Nov. 21.

David Holmes testifies on Nov. 21.

Fiona Hill, left, and David Holmes, are sworn in to testify on Nov. 21.

David Holmes, arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 21.

Fiona Hill arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 21.

Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs David Hale testifies during the House Select Intelligence Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 20.

Laura Cooper (R), deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, and David Hale (L), under secretary of state for political affairs, are sworn in prior to testifying before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 20.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper, and State Department official David Hale, left, testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 20.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Laura Cooper, right, and State Department official David Hale, arrive to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on, Nov. 20.

U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland leaves the Longworth House Office Building after testifying during the House Select Intelligence Committee hearing on the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 20.

Rep. Michael Turner (R-OH) questions Gordon Sondland, the U.S ambassador to the European Union, during testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, on Nov. 20.

Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) questions Gordon Sondland, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, during a House Intelligence Committee, on Nov. 20.

Members of the audience applaud after Gordon Sondland, the U.S ambassador to the European Union, testified before the House Intelligence Committee, on Nov. 20.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) questions Gordon Sondland, US Ambassador to the European Union, during a House Intelligence Committee, on Nov. 20.

President Donald Trump holds his notes while speaking to the media before departing from the White House on Nov. 20, in Washington, DC. President Trump spoke about the impeachment inquiry hearings currently taking place on Capitol Hill.

Ambassador Gordon Sondland, testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 20.

Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif, the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, questions Ambassador Gordon Sondland as he testifies on Nov. 20.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) speaks to reporters during a break in the testimony by Ambassador Gordon Sondland on Nov. 20.

Daniel Goldman, director of investigations for the House Intelligence Committee Democrats, left, questions U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland as he testifies before the Committee on Nov. 20.

Ambassador Gordon Sondland, appears before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on Capitol Hill during the House impeachment inquiry hearings on Nov. 20.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., questions Ambassador Gordon Sondland as he testifies before the Committee on Nov. 20.

From left, Steve Castor, the Republican staff attorney, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, listen as Ambassador Gordon Sondland testifies on Nov. 20.      

A photographer covers a House Intelligence Committee hearing featuring witness Ambassador Gordon Sondland on Nov. 20.

Ambassador Gordon Sondland takes his seat to testify before a House Intelligence Committee hearing on Nov. 20.

Sondland speaks with his lawyer Robert Luskin as he testifies on Nov. 20.

Sondland is sworn in to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 20.

Sondland, right, walks to the hearing room on Nov. 20.

Ambassador Kurt Volker, left, former special envoy to Ukraine, testifies during a public impeachment hearing on Nov. 19.

Trump on brink of impeachment as House readies historic vote

President Donald Trump is on the cusp of being impeached by the House, with a historic debate set Wednesday on charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress ahead of votes that will leave a defining mark on his tenure at the White House. President Donald Trump is on the cusp of being impeached by the House, with a historic debate set Wednesday on charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress ahead of votes that will leave a defining mark on his tenure at the White House.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and ranking member Devin Nunes, R-Calif., right, listen as Ambassador Kurt Volker (not pictured) testifies before the House Intelligence Committee, on Nov. 19.

Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, questions Ambassador Kurt Volker, former special envoy to Ukraine, and Tim Morrison, a former official at the National Security Council (not pictured), as they testify on Nov. 19.

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., questions Ambassador Kurt Volker, former special envoy to Ukraine, and Tim Morrison, a former official at the National Security Council, as they testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 19.

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) listens during a hearing before the House Intelligence Committee hearing, on Nov. 19.

Tim Morrison, a former official at the National Security Council speaks as former US Special Envoy for Ukraine, Kurt Volker, looks on during the House Intelligence Committee hearing on Nov. 19.

Ambassador Kurt Volker, left, former special envoy to Ukraine, and Tim Morrison, a former official at the National Security Council are sworn in to testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 19.

Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, leaves the Longworth building after testifying during the House Intelligence Committee hearing, into President Donald Trump's alleged efforts to tie US aid for Ukraine to investigations of his political opponents, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 19.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, director for European Affairs at the National Security Council, departs following the hearing on Nov. 19.

Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, uses a poster of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as he questions National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (not pictured) on Nov. 19.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, questions Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (not pictured) on Nov. 19.

Reporters listen during the House Intelligence Committee hearing, on Nov. 19.

People in the audience listen as Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (not pictured) testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Nov. 19.

National Security Council Ukraine expert Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman testifies during the House Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on Nov. 19.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., gives his opening remarks as Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, testify on Nov. 19.

A quote is displayed on a monitor as Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman (not pictured) testify on Nov. 19

Gabbard casts lone ‘present’ vote on impeachment

Prior to the vote, Gabbard introduced a resolution calling for Trump’s censure, rather than impeachment. © Joe Raedle/Getty Images Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Democratic leaders didn’t know how Gabbard would vote Wednesday or if she was even in Washington. But when the vote took place, Gabbard came into the chamber, interacted with just one or two lawmakers and then left immediately after voting — going out through a GOP door.In a lengthy statement released by her presidential campaign, the Hawaii Democrat framed her votes as decisions that put country before party.

Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, testifies during the House Intelligence Committee hearing, on Nov. 19.

Ranking member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Devin Nunes talks with minority legal counsel Steve Castor during the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence public hearing on the impeachment inquiry into US President Donald J. Trump, on Nov. 19.

Jennifer Williams, an aide to Vice President Mike Pence, and National Security Council aide Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, are sworn in before they testify before the House Intelligence Committee on Capitol Hill on Nov. 19.