January 1, Dems Accuse Trump of ‘Serious Misconduct’

This Day in History | 1945

The Senate approves U.S. participation in the United Nations by a vote of 65-7.

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Good Morning Middle Americans.

Get ready for it. I know the anticipation has been building – you’ve all been waiting for House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler to take control of the gavel during these impeachment hearings. That day is today. Nadler is the same guy who condemned the Clinton impeachment in a video that will make you laugh in more ways than one. 

Also today, we have a report about Sen. Kamala Harris dropping out of the 2020 race. Her exit  wasn’t exactly graceful, but she’ll be able to focus on the impeachment trial in the Senate. If it gets that far. 

6 Marines have plead guilty to human and drug trafficking. Finally Willie Nelson explains why he’s no longer smoking weed. 

Read all about it. 

– Fraser Dixon

‘Serious misconduct’ by Trump Takes Center Stage at Hearing

(AP) – The House Judiciary Committee is moving swiftly to weigh findings by fellow lawmakers that President Donald Trump misused the power of his office for personal political gain and then obstructed Congress’ investigation as possible grounds for impeachment.

Responsible for drafting articles of impeachment, the Judiciary Committee prepared Wednesday morning for its first hearing since the release of a 300-page report by Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee that found “serious misconduct” by the president.

Kamala Harris Quits

(Politico) – Kamala Harris is ending her presidential campaign after months of failing to lift her candidacy from the bottom of the field — a premature departure for a California senator once heralded as a top-tier contender for the nomination.

Harris told aides of her intentions in an all-staff call on Tuesday, and a person familiar with the conversation said she sounded distraught. While Harris had qualified for the December debate in her home state later this month, she was running dangerously low on cash — lacking the resources to air TV ads in Iowa — and her staff was gripped by long-running internal turmoil.

Read more about Sen. Harris’s decision to drop out of the 2020 race here

6 Marines Plead Guilty to Human, Drug Trafficking 

(NBC San Diego) – Six of the nearly two dozen Marines accused of participating in human and drug trafficking rings have pleaded guilty, the government confirmed Tuesday. 

Twenty-three Marines were detained in July 2019 for alleged human trafficking. Twenty-three Marines were detained in July 2019 for alleged human trafficking, drug distribution, and weapons charge, according to the 1st Marine Division, which is based at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton.

In a brief update Tuesday afternoon, the 1st Marine Division confirmed six Marines have pleaded guilty to charges during court-martials.

The department said 13 of the remaining 17 Marines requested separation from service instead of undergoing courts-martial. All 13 of their pre-trial requests were approved.

Willie Nelson: “I Don’t Smoke (Marijuana) Anymore”

(KSAT) – Midway through a sold out two night stand at the Majestic Theater here, country music icon Willie Nelson said that in spite of recent breathing related health issues, he has no plans to give up touring. 

Years of smoking marijuana, the country music legend admits, has taken a toll on his health.

Nelson, 86, said “I have abused my lungs quite a bit in the past, so breathing is a little more difficult these days and I have to be careful.”

Watch the interview here