House Democrats reconvene after Yom Kippur today with fresh support for their impeachment efforts, as well as some nagging dilemmas. On Wednesday, Joseph R. Biden Jr. came out in support of President Trump’s impeachment for the first time, joining several other Democratic presidential candidates who have already done so. But those leading the impeachment inquiry face challenging questions about how quickly to proceed. Already this week, Democratic lawmakers have acknowledged the need to strike a balance, continuing with investigations and preparing additional subpoenas, but not letting their efforts stall as the White House embraces a strategy of defiance.
Trump to Fox News: Your pollsters “suck.”
President Trump took to Twitter on Thursday morning, clearly unhappy that Fox News Channel, the conservative media redoubt that he needs to maintain the support of his core voters, has been insufficiently supportive.
The president is highlighting divisions at Fox between some of the network’s commentators, such as Andrew Napolitano, and the general line that the House’s impeachment inquiry is not legitimate. That is clear in his own Twitter feed. After attacking Fox for giving Mr. Napolitano a megaphone — “he’s been terrible” — employing anchor Shep Smith — “who gave Crooked Hillary the debate questions & got fired from @CNN” — and generally venting his displeasure, he then retweeted Maria Bartiromo, a Fox Business anchor who has been broadcasting supportive statements from former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Mr. Trump reserved the right to do what he wants: “@FoxNews doesn’t deliver for US anymore,” he wrote. “It is so different than it used to be. Oh well, I’m President!”
Trey Gowdy steps back into politics and onto President Trump’s defense team.
Trey Gowdy, the former South Carolina congressman and federal prosecutor, was announced on Wednesday evening as the latest addition to President Trump’s legal team.
Mr. Gowdy led the committee investigating the terrorist attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, and received praise from Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer for his legal skills.