PAT CIPOLLONE

A member of the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot says more evidence is emerging that lends support to recent testimony that President Donald Trump wanted to join an angry mob that marched to the Capitol and rioted.

As evidence mounts, a rift has opened between the congressional committee investigating January 6th and the Department of Justice.

The committee issued the subpoena in order to have Cipollone testify on record, since an earlier interview with him was informal and off the record.

Testimony in the Jan. 6 hearings so far has shown Cipollone present at key points in the leadup to Jan. 6 and on the day of the attack. He figured heavily in Tuesday's testimony of Cassidy Hutchinson.

The panel has been ramping up the pressure, believing his testimony about former president Donald Trump could be explosive

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection has issued a subpoena to former White House counsel Pat Cipollone.

The House Jan. 6 committee has now heard dramatic testimony from former White House aides and others about Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony was damning. If anyone was surprised, they shouldn’t have been.

A former Trump White House aide has painted a portrait of a volatile commander-in-chief who lashed out at advisers as his grasp on power was extinguished.

The House Jan. 6 committee held a surprise hearing Tuesday delivering alarming new testimony about Donald Trump’s actions that day.

Former Mark Meadows aide Cassidy Hutchinson recalls exchange between her boss and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, who warned "Somebody is going to die and this is going to be on your effing hands."

The testimony of former Mark Meadows's chief of staff Cassidy Hutchinson revealed how often President Donald Trump had been warned about amplifying the threat at the Capitol.

The announcement was shrouded in secrecy, with even committe staff kept out of the loop.

Former top Justice Department officials have testified to the Jan. 6 committee that President Donald Trump hounded the department to pursue his false election fraud claims.

Rep. Liz Cheney said the House January 6 committee has evidence that Trump White House counsel Pat Cipollone "tried to do what was right."

The House Jan. 6 panel has interviewed more than 1,000 people who were directly or indirectly involved in the U.S. Capitol insurrection as it's probed the violent attack and former President Donald Trump’s unprecedented efforts to overturn his election defeat.

Trump seriously considered replacing the acting attorney general with a supporter who had a plan to try to throw out 2020 election results.

A congressional oversight committee has sought additional documents from the National Archives related to former President Donald Trump’s handling of White House records.

The chief GOP talking point is that Trump didn't ultimately follow through with the plot. But Trump didn't pull back for moral reasons; according to testimony, it was because he knew the jig was up.

A report by the Senate Judiciary Committee's Democratic majority details Donald Trump’s extraordinary effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election that he lost.

They offer vivid details, and try to save their reputations, in a new book by Post reporters.

Since losing the November election to President Joe Biden, Trump has been hemorrhaging attorneys. Trump's impeachment lawyers started off their defense by misspelling the words “United States” in their brief. Navarro told The Associated Press that he “warned the president that his legal team was going to fail him." Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said Trump’s team did a “terrible job." AdBut after impeachment, Trump's legal needs will likely accelerate, with the investigations in New York, Georgia and possibly Washington, D.C., where prosecutors will have the power of subpoena.

Trump still has supporters, especially among the many rank-and-file Republican voters and conservative activists beyond Washington. That makes Trump the first outgoing president since Andrew Johnson 152 years ago to skip the swearing-in of his successor. Meanwhile, there is no clear path for the Republican Party without Trump. “We need a Republican Party,” Biden said, noting that he spoke with Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, a leading Trump critic. Doug Deason, a Texas-based donor who served on the Trump campaign's finance committee, said this week's events have done nothing to shake his confidence in the Republican president.

Trump still has supporters, especially among the many rank-and-file Republican voters and conservative activists beyond Washington. That makes Trump the first outgoing president since Andrew Johnson 152 years ago to skip the swearing-in of his successor. Meanwhile, there is no clear path for the Republican Party without Trump. “We need a Republican Party,” Biden said, noting that he spoke with Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, a leading Trump critic. Doug Deason, a Texas-based donor who served on the Trump campaign's finance committee, said this week's events have done nothing to shake his confidence in the Republican president.

WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump's top White House lawyer has repeatedly warned the president that he could be held responsible for inciting Wednesday's riot at the Capitol, but the standard for legal liability is high under court decisions reaching back 50 years. Trump did just that in a video from White House on Thursday. Trump urged the crowd to march on the Capitol, even promising to go with them, though he didn’t in the end. A police officer died from injuries suffered during the siege, and a rioter was shot to death by Capitol Police. The court found that invalid parts of the law that encompassed speech tending to “encourage” or “promote” a riot, as well as speech “urging” others to riot or involving mere advocacy of violence.

President Donald Trump Jonathan Ernst | ReutersThe top federal prosecutor in Washington, D.C., on Thursday pointedly did not rule out charging President Donald Trump in connection with inciting a riot after his supporters invaded the U.S. Capitol complex a day earlier. A reporter during a press call noted that Trump had called on his supporters at a rally before the riot to fight for him. The Times also reported Thursday that Trump since Election Day has told advisors that he is considering pardoning himself for any crimes, and has asked whether he should do so. For weeks after Election Day, Trump, his lawyers and allies had waged a long-shot effort to overturn Biden's win by filing lawsuits. But judges, some of them appointed by Trump, rejected a number of those suits, while other cases were voluntarily withdrawn.

President Donald Trump's lawyer and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks to journalists outside the White House West Wing July 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. Giuliani also has been warned by Dominion's lawyers that "litigation regarding these issues is imminent," according to a new report by CNN, which was shown a copy of the letter. The letters to Cipollone and Giuliani reportedly demanded that Giuliani stop "making defamatory claims against Dominion," which makes voting machines. Powell last week was sent a similar letter from Dominion's lawyers about her "wild, knowingly baseless, and false accusations" about the company. Giuliani and a White House spokesman had no immediate comment when contacted by CNBC about CNN's report.

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump floated naming lawyer Sidney Powell, who was booted from his campaign's legal team after pushing unfounded conspiracy theories, as a special counsel investigating allegations of voter fraud as he grasps for straws to stay in power. It is unclear whether Trump intends to try to move forward with the effort to install Powell. Trump’s campaign and his allies have now filed roughly 50 lawsuits alleging widespread voting fraud and almost all have been dismissed or dropped. That includes Giuliani, who during the Friday meeting pushed Trump to seize voting machines in his hunt for evidence of fraud. "She is not a member of the Trump Legal Team.

Beyond appointing a special prosecutor to investigate the younger Biden, the sources said Trump is interested in having another special counsel appointed to look into his own baseless claims of election fraud. Trump announced that Barr would be stepping down from his position on Dec. 23, amid lingering tension between the president and the attorney general over the Hunter Biden investigation. Appointing a special counsel could prove to be complicated, requiring consolidating different investigatory angles and bringing in someone new to run the probe and get up to speed. Either way, the probe is complicating Joe Biden’s pick for attorney general, upon whose shoulders this probe would land. Any nominee for attorney general is likely to face a mountain of questions at a confirmation hearing about how they would oversee the probe.

Beyond appointing a special prosecutor to investigate the younger Biden, the sources said Trump is interested in having another special counsel appointed to look into his own baseless claims of election fraud. Trump announced that Barr would be stepping down from his position on Dec. 23, amid lingering tension between the president and the attorney general over the Hunter Biden investigation. Trump was angry for days after learning that Barr knew of the Hunter Biden tax investigation before the election but did not disclose it. Appointing a special counsel for the Hunter Biden probe would also signal a more prolonged and complicated investigation than the current inquiry, so far largely centered on his taxes. Either way, the probe is complicating Joe Biden’s pick for attorney general, upon whose shoulders this probe would land.

By Tuesday afternoon, the Biden transition had been in contact with all federal agencies about transition planning, according to a transition official. It also came as an increasing number of Republicans were publicly acknowledging Biden’s victory, after weeks of tolerating Trump’s baseless claims of fraud. At the same time, he warned staffers who are not specifically authorized to interact with the Biden team against contact with the incoming administration. “We are immediately getting them all of the pre-prepared transition briefing materials,” Azar said. “HUD career officials have begun the process of scheduling briefings with the Biden transition team in response to their requests," said a spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

But Trump did tweet that he was directing his team to cooperate on the transition. The Republican president had grown increasingly frustrated with the flailing tactics of his legal team. President-elect Biden won the State of Michigan by more than 154,000 votes, and he will be our next president on January 20th,” Michigan Gov. Trump was increasingly frustrated by his legal team, led by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, whose erratic public performances drew bipartisan mockery in recent weeks. Still, the legal challenges were expected to continue, as Trump seeks to keep his supporters on his side and keep his options open for opportunities post-presidency.

Amid the uproar, Trump said anew he's not sure the election will be “honest." But his increased questioning before any result is setting off alarms ahead of an Election Day like no other. But it doesn’t surprise me.”On Capitol Hill, Trump's possible refusal to accept the election results has been discussed privately for weeks as lawmakers consider options. Before the 2016 election, much as now, Trump refused to commit to accepting the results during the summer. “I have to see,” Trump said two months ago on “Fox News Sunday.” “No, I’m not going to just say yes.

(Greg Nash/Pool via AP)WASHINGTON WASHINGTON (AP) Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says he is blocking two Trump administration nominees until the White House provides adequate reasons for the termination of two inspectors general. Grassley has been seeking answers on President Donald Trump's recent firings of several inspectors general, including Michael Atkinson, inspector general for the intelligence community, and State Department Inspector General Steve Linick. Atkinson, who was fired as intelligence community inspector general in April, advanced a whistleblower complaint that resulted in the presidents impeachment. A 2008 law requires the president to provide Congress with a written explanation at least 30 days prior to removing an inspector general. The law is intended to prevent politically motivated terminations, although there is little Congress can do to block an IGs firing.

WASHINGTON Members of three House and Senate committees will interview former State Department Inspector General Steve Linick on Wednesday as part of an investigation by House Democrats into his abrupt firing by President Donald Trump. Democrats announced Friday that they are expanding their probe into Linick's firing earlier this month with a series of interviews. The Democrats plan to interview multiple officials in the administration who may have more information about Linicks dismissal on May 15, including whether Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recommended the firing for retaliatory reasons. Linick is one of several inspectors general whom Trump has removed from office, sparking outrage among Democrats who say the administration is undermining government accountability. Democrats were probing Trumps pressure on Ukraine to investigate Democrats.

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2019, file photo State Department Inspector General Steve Linick leaves a meeting in a secure area at the Capitol in Washington. A senior department official said President Donald Trump removed Linick from his job as State Departments inspector general on Friday, May 15, 2020, but gave no reason for his ouster. Linick is one of several inspectors general whom Trump has removed from office, sparking outrage among Democrats who say the administration is undermining government accountability. Linick is the second inspector general to be fired who was involved with the impeachment process. In addition, Trump demoted acting Defense Department Inspector General Glenn Fine, effectively removing him as head of a special board to oversee auditing of the coronavirus economic relief package.

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2019, file photo State Department Inspector General Steve Linick leaves a meeting in a secure area at the Capitol in Washington. A White House letter issued in response to concerns from a prominent Republican senator does little to explain the decision-making behind Trump's recent upheaval of the inspector general community. The tumult has not been limited to the watchdog offices at the State Department and intelligence community. Democrats say Steve Linick was fired as State Department inspector general as he was conducting multiple investigations tied to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The White House Counsels letter does not address this glaring conflict of interest," Grassley said.

A White House letter issued Tuesday in response to concerns from a prominent Republican senator does little to explain the decision-making behind Trump's recent upheaval of the inspector general community. The White House letter failed to explain why Trump fired the inspectors general, which should put to rest any question whether the current law is adequate. Michael Atkinson, who was fired as intelligence community inspector general last month, advanced a whistleblower complaint that resulted in the president's impeachment. The White House Counsels letter does not address this glaring conflict of interest," Grassley said. Congress established inspectors general to serve the American people to be independent and objective watchdogs, not agency lapdogs."

WASHINGTON The day he declared the COVID-19 pandemic a national emergency, President Donald Trump made a cryptic offhand remark. That prompted 10 senators to look into how sweeping Trump believes his emergency powers are. They have asked to see this administration's Presidential Emergency Action Documents, or PEADs. The senators think the documents would provide them a window into how this White House interprets presidential emergency powers. The most publicized example was Trumps decision last year to declare the security situation along the U.S.-Mexico border a national emergency.

Senate Television via Getty ImageWASHINGTON As the Iowa caucuses officially kicked off the 2020 presidential election Monday, November's ballot was foremost on the minds of the president's lawyers and the House impeachment managers as they delivered closing arguments in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. "We put our faith in the Senate because we know that you will put your faith in the American people," White House counsel said Pat Cipollone in his closing arguments. In his closing statement, Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., invoked a much different authority: Dumbledore, the patriarchal wizard of the "Harry Potter" fantasy novel series. "There is only one answer to that, and the answer is to reject those articles of impeachment. "Can we be confident that he will not continue to try to cheat in that very election?

Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] President Donald Trump's impeachment trial resumes Wednesday, with the Senate poised to question his legal team and the House managers. In Monday's arguments, Trump's lawyers ignored the news, based on an unpublished manuscript of Bolton's forthcoming memoir. "You cannot impeach a president on an unsourced allegation," Sekulow said, calling the report "inadmissible" as evidence, though he did not deny the allegation. Following the question period, the Senate will vote on whether to call witnesses or produce additional documents.

President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate is set to resume Wednesday afternoon, with the upper chamber poised to question his legal team and the House managers. Senators will have 16 hours over two days to ask questions of the House managers and the defense team. The relationship between the abruptly halted aid and the investigations Trump wanted is at the heart of the impeachment case. Mitt Romney of Utah and Susan Collins of Maine signaled an increased interest in voting to allow witness testimony at Trump's Senate trial. Even if witnesses are called, it remains unlikely that the Senate will vote to convict Trump and remove him from office.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trumps lawyers wrapped up their arguments in his impeachment trial on Tuesday with a plea for acquittal, and sought to marginalize former national security adviser John Boltons explosive allegations as inadmissible. White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and U.S. President Donald Trump's personal attorney Jay Sekulow depart after concluding their opening arguments in the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 28, 2020. It would dangerously change our country and weaken - weaken - forever all of our democratic institutions.The Senate cannot allow this to happen. And you simply cant have a fair trial without witnesses.SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER CHUCK SCHUMERGive me a break! She just came out and flat said it: You know the whole impeachment trial for Trump is just a political hit job to try to smear me because he is scared to death to run against me.

The Senate cannot allow this to happen, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone told the Senate. A fair trial involves witnesses and it involves documents, Schiff told reporters. Sekulow underscored what fellow Trump legal team member Alan Dershowitz told senators late on Monday - that even if what Bolton says is true, it would not represent impeachable conduct. Trump has denied telling Bolton he sought to use the Ukraine aid as leverage to get Kiev to investigate the Bidens. The impeachment drive against Trump, Sekulow argued, was a partisan exercise motivated by Democratic opposition to Trumps policies, not genuine impeachable offenses.

A source close to the team said the lawyers will wrap up in around two to 2-1/2 hours. Senate Republicans, who have so far refused to allow any witnesses or new evidence in the trial, faced mounting pressure from Democrats and some moderates in their own party to summon Bolton. Lankford late on Monday urged Bolton to speak publicly outside of the impeachment trial. White House counsel Pat Cipollone departs at the end of the day as the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump continues in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2020. The focus was on whether two other moderate Republicans, Lamar Alexander and Lisa Murkowski, would vote to hear from Bolton.

White House counsel Pat Cipollone departs at the end of the day as the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump continues in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsThe impeachment trial has been roiled by New York Times reporting about an unpublished book manuscript written by Bolton, who left his White House post last September. GRAPHIC: Impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump - hereTrumps lawyers delivered about seven hours of arguments before the Senate on Monday. Boltons allegations go to the heart of impeachment charges against Trump. Senate Republicans have so far refused, however, to allow any witnesses or new evidence in the trial.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trumps lawyers will wrap up their arguments on Tuesday in the U.S. Senate impeachment trial of the Republican president after attacking Democrat Joe Biden but shrugging off disclosures from a former top White House adviser. White House counsel Pat Cipollone departs at the end of the day as the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump continues in Washington, U.S., January 27, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsIn about seven hours of arguments before the Senate on Monday, Trumps lawyers largely ignored revelations in an unpublished manuscript by John Bolton, Trumps former national security adviser, that go to the heart of impeachment charges against Trump. It was not clear when senators would begin submitting their questions to U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts, the next step in the Senate impeachment trial. Senate Republicans have so far refused, however, to allow any witnesses or new evidence in the trial that will determine whether Trump is removed from office.

President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate resumes Tuesday, with his legal team laying out the case for acquittal on the final day of arguments before the floor opens to questions. A whistleblower report on Trump's Ukraine dealings - made public in September - triggered the probe. The president's legal team began its defense on Saturday, following three days of evidence presented by the House impeachment managers arguing for Trump's removal. Later Monday morning, Trump falsely said that the House "never even asked John Bolton to testify." Trump's defense team, Like the House impeachment managers, had up to 24 hours over three days to present their arguments.

WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump's legal team finished presenting its defense of the president at his impeachment trial on Tuesday, the third day of Trump's defense arguments. "The articles of impeachment fall far short of any constitutional standard," said White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, who led Trump's defense. The defense team was given 24 cumulative hours to present its opening statements, but only used approximately half of them. The lawyers kicked off their arguments in an abbreviated session Saturday morning, accusing Democrats of pursuing Trump's impeachment simply to remove him from the ballot in the 2020 presidential election. It remains unlikely that two thirds of the Senate will vote to remove Trump, as the Constitution requires.

PAT CIPOLLONEThe White House counsel, 53, will lead Trumps defense. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsAt the Senate trial, Dershowitz will present constitutional arguments against impeachment and removal from office, according to Trumps legal team. REUTERS/Erin ScottPATRICK PHILBINPhilbin, 52, is another deputy white house counsel. Both he and Purpura joined the Trump White House counsels office in January 2019. PAM BONDIBondi, 54, a Trump adviser and former Florida attorney general, joined Trumps communications team for the impeachment investigation in November.

President Donald Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate resumed Monday as his legal team lays out its case for acquittal. Former independent counsel Ken Starr, also part of the president's legal defense team, took the lead on Monday, giving a lengthy overview of the history of impeachment in the United States. A whistleblower report on Trump's Ukraine dealings - made public in September - triggered the probe. The president's legal team began its defense on Saturday, following three days of evidence presented by the House impeachment managers arguing for Trump's removal. Like the House impeachment managers, Trump's defense team will get up to 24 hours over three days to present their arguments.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate will hear opening arguments in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial on Wednesday, beginning several days of argument on whether to remove Trump from office. The trial, the third presidential impeachment trial in U.S. history, was due to resume at 1 p.m. Senators also rejected requests for subpoenas seeking the testimony of acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, White House aide Robert Blair and White House budget official Michael Duffey. Slideshow (14 Images)The Senate trial is expected to run six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until at least the end of January. Trump and his legal team say that there was no pressure on Ukraine and that the Democrats case is based on hearsay.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate blocked Democratic attempts on Tuesday to obtain evidence and call a witness in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, an early sign the proceeding could advance on lines favorable to Trump. Senators also rejected by the same tally a request for a subpoena seeking the testimony of acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. And its just increasingly clear that the White House has no answers for why these documents and these witnesses shouldnt be produced, U.S. House Managers Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) walk to the Senate Floor for the start of the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2020. The Senate trial is expected to continue six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until at least the end of January.

The U.S. Senate plunged into President Donald Trump's impeachment trial with Republicans abruptly abandoning plans to cram opening arguments into two days but solidly rejecting Democratic demands for more witnesses to expose Trump's "trifecta" of offenses. But it ended near 2 a.m. Wednesday with Republicans easily approving the new trial rules largely on their terms. After one particularly bitter exchange, Roberts intervened, taking the rare step of admonishing both the Democratic House managers and the White House counsel to "remember where they are." Over and over, Republicans turned back Democratic amendments to subpoena documents from the White House, State Department, Defense Department and budget office. The turnaround was a swift lesson as White House wishes run into the reality of the Senate.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate rejected Democratic efforts on Tuesday to obtain evidence and call witnesses in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, an early sign the proceeding could advance along lines favorable to Trump. Senators also rejected by the same tally a request for a subpoena seeking the testimony of acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney. And its just increasingly clear that the White House has no answers for why these documents and these witnesses shouldnt be produced, U.S. House Managers Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) walk to the Senate Floor for the start of the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2020. The Senate trial is expected to continue six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until at least the end of January.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate rejected three Democratic efforts on Tuesday to obtain documents and evidence in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, an early sign the proceeding could advance along lines favorable to Trump. House Managers Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) walk to the Senate Floor for the start of the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2020. The Senate trial is expected to continue six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until at least the end of January. MARKETS SHRUG OFF TRIALFinancial markets have shrugged off the impeachment trial, and the disclosures in the months-long impeachment investigation have done little to boost anti-Trump sentiment among undecided voters or shift away moderate Republican voters. The obstruction of Congress charge relates to Trump directing administration officials and agencies not to comply with House subpoenas for testimony and documents related to impeachment.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate rejected two Democratic efforts on Tuesday to obtain documents and evidence in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, an early sign the proceeding could advance along lines favorable to Trump. House Managers Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) walk to the Senate Floor for the start of the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2020. The Senate trial is expected to continue six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until at least the end of January. MARKETS SHRUG OFF TRIALFinancial markets have shrugged off the impeachment trial, and the disclosures in the months-long impeachment investigation have done little to boost anti-Trump sentiment among undecided voters or shift away moderate Republican voters. The obstruction of Congress charge relates to Trump directing administration officials and agencies not to comply with House subpoenas for testimony and documents related to impeachment.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled U.S. Senate rejected a second Democratic bid on Tuesday to obtain documents and evidence in President Donald Trumps impeachment trial, an early sign the trial could proceed along lines favorable to Trump. The Senate earlier voted by the same margin to block a subpoena for documents and evidence from the White House on the matter. House Managers Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) walk to the Senate Floor for the start of the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2020. The rules also will allow the Houses record of the impeachment probe admitted as evidence in the trial, as Democrats had demanded. McConnell has repeatedly said the rules would mirror those used in the 1999 impeachment of then-President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled Senate rejected a Democratic bid to force the White House to produce more documents and evidence on Tuesday, in a sign the third impeachment trial in U.S. history could proceed along lines favorable to President Donald Trump. As the impeachment trial began in earnest, senators voted 53-47 along party lines to block a motion from Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to subpoena White House documents related to Trumps dealings with Ukraine. On the first day of the trial, Trumps chief legal defender attacked the case as baseless and a top Democratic lawmaker said there was overwhelming evidence of wrongdoing. The rules also will allow the Houses record of the impeachment probe admitted as evidence in the trial, as Democrats had demanded. McConnell has repeatedly said the rules would mirror those the Senate used in the 1999 impeachment of then-President Bill Clinton, a Democrat.

Democrats want a number of current and former Trump administration officials, including Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton to testify. The rules also will allow the Houses record of the impeachment probe admitted as evidence in the trial, as Democrats had demanded. Cipollone also repeated a trope that Republicans were excluded from the secure facility where the initial depositions for the House impeachment hearings took place. The Senate trial is expected to continue six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until at least the end of January. This is only the third impeachment trial in U.S. history.

McConnell unveiled a plan on Monday for what would be a potentially quick trial without new testimony or evidence. The rules also will allow the Houses record of the impeachment probe admitted as evidence in the trial, as Democrats had demanded. The Senate trial is expected to continue six days a week, Monday through Saturday, until at least the end of January. This is only the third impeachment trial in U.S. history. (Graphic: Impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump, here)(Graphic: How Trumps impeachment timeline compares to past processes, here)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While arguing President Donald Trumps case at this weeks Senate trial, White House counsel Pat Cipollone also is defending his own role in a legal strategy that helped lead to Trumps impeachment on a charge of obstructing Congress. They have charged Trump with abuse of power and obstructing their probe, while he has proclaimed his innocence. Neil Eggleston, who served as White House counsel to Democratic President Barack Obama, said Cipollones response arguably helped lead to the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress. When Smith, chair of the House Armed Services Committee, was working on a bill to fund the Pentagon, he said Cipollone put in a good word for him with the White House legislative team. But being White House counsel was the pinnacle of a legal career, she said, and now Cipollone is about to argue a case that will etch him into history.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House rejected a request from Democrats that President Donald Trumps lawyer Pat Cipollone disclose any first-hand knowledge he had of the withholding of aid to Ukraine, which is at the crux of the Senate trial over whether Trump should be removed from office. The idea that the counsel to the President has to turn over protected documents and confidential information is ludicrous, and to imply he cant represent the President of the United States in an impeachment proceeding is completely absurd, said White House spokesman Hogan Gidley.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats on Tuesday accused Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of trying to rig U.S. President Donald Trumps impeachment trial and demanded the presidents top lawyer be made a possible witness in the case. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) arrives for the first day of the Senate impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 21, 2020. Trump and his legal team say there was no pressure and that the Democrats case is based on hearsay. This is only the third impeachment trial in U.S. history. GRAPHIC: How Trumps impeachment timeline compares to past processes - here

FILE PHOTO: White House Counsel Pat Cipollone departs after meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., December 4, 2019. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats who will argue the case to remove President Donald Trump from office demanded on Tuesday that Trumps personal lawyer Pat Cipollone disclose any first-hand knowledge he has of evidence he will present in the Senates impeachment trial, calling him a material witness. You must disclose all facts and information as to which you have first-hand knowledge that will be at issue in connection with evidence you present or arguments you make in your role as the Presidents legal advocate so that the Senate and Chief Justice can be apprised of any potential ethical issues, conflicts, or biases, the House of Representatives managers wrote in a letter to Cipollone.

FILE PHOTO: White House Counsel Pat Cipollone departs after meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., December 4, 2019. Neil Eggleston, who served as White House counsel to Democratic President Barack Obama, said Cipollones response arguably helped lead to the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress. FILE PHOTO: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) arrive for the beginning of the impeachment trial of U.S. President Donald Trump on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., January 16, 2020. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File PhotoBut being White House counsel was the pinnacle of a legal career, she said, and now Cipollone is about to argue a case that will etch him into history. I said, Youre getting ready? And he said, I am ready.GRAPHIC: How Trumps impeachment timeline compares to past processes - here

Alan Dershowitz (center) leaves Manhattan Federal Court in New York, following a status conference in the defamation lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, against Dershowitz, over discovery issues, in Manhhattan, New York, U.S., December 2, 2019. REUTERS/Jefferson SiegelWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former independent counsel Ken Starr and lawyer Alan Dershowitz will join U.S. President Donald Trumps impeachment trial defense team led by White House counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump attorney Jay Sekulow, Trumps legal team and a source said on Friday. Trump adviser Pam Bondi and former independent counsel Robert Ray will also be on the team, according to the source who is familiar with the teams composition.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Thursday that White House lawyer Pat Cipollone is likely to be the main lawyer to represent him in the U.S. Senates impeachment trial. Trumps lawyers are likely to argue that there is no evidence that the president did anything wrong and that the House of Representatives investigation was partisan and flawed. Cipollone, a 53-year-old Republican, sent an eight-page letter to Congress in October laying out why the White House was refusing to cooperate with the House inquiry, calling it a charade.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House counsel Pat Cipollone is likely to play a leading role in defending President Donald Trump at a potential U.S. Senate impeachment trial, an administration official said on Friday. The likelihood of a Senate trial crept closer as the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, voting along party lines, approved two articles of impeachment. If the full House approves the articles as expected next week, the Republican-controlled Senate would then hold an impeachment trial. The White House has not yet announced who would spearhead the defense of Trump on the Senate floor. But the official said Cipollone would be expected to play a leading role.

The White House informed the U.S. Congress on Friday that it will refuse to participate in impeachment hearings against President Donald Trump in the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee next week. In a letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, White House counsel Pat Cipollone called the Democrats' impeachment inquiry "completely baseless" and said that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had ordered Democrats to proceed with articles of impeachment "before your committee has heard a single shred of evidence." "We don't see any reason to participate because the process is unfair," said a senior administration official. "We haven't been given any fair opportunity to participate. The speaker has already announced the predetermined result and they will not give us the ability to call any witnesses."

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives to greet Boyko Borissov, Bulgaria's prime minister, not pictured, at the South Portico of the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019. The White House said Sunday it will not participate in the House Judiciary Committee's first impeachment hearing on Wednesday but left open the possibility that it may take part in future proceedings. In a letter to committee chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., White House Counsel Pat Cipollone said next week's hearing does "not begin to provide the president with any semblance of a fair process." More from NBC News:House Judiciary Committee announces first impeachment hearing, invites Trump to attendHouse Intelligence Committee to vote on impeachment reportAppeals court puts brief hold on McGahn testimony orderNadler had invited Trump and his lawyers last week to participate in the hearing. It will occur one day after the House Intelligence Committee votes on a report that will make the case for the president's impeachment.

The White House said Sunday night that it will not be participating in the House Judiciary Committee's upcoming impeachment inquiry hearing on Wednesday, White House counsel Pat Cipollone said in a five-page letter. Committee chairman Jerry Nadler told the White House on November 26 that it had until December 1 to decide if it would participate, and the White House was not expected to do so. The White House was offered the option of sending someone to represent the president. On Friday, the committee said the White House had until December 6 to decide if it would participate in future hearings by suggesting witnesses, accessing evidence or presenting evidence. The White House has not yet responded to that deadline.