What Went Down On Day 1 Of The Impeachment Hearings

Chairman Schiff told witnesses they do not have to respond to leading questions. Republicans pounced and asked if they can basically “object” when there are questions they think are leading. Remember that earlier Taylor was actually pretty careful to not make inferences about what people were maybe thinking, feeling, and so on.

Castor is laying out reasons why Trump might have felt like he was threatened by Ukraine and trying to get Taylor to agree with them. He says that Trump may have reasonably perceived that some parts of the Ukrainian establishment were “out to get him.” It quickly devolved into a debate among members about whether Castor is asserting facts that aren’t in evidence and may not be correct.

Schiff interrupts Castor’s questioning, and now Republicans are objecting.