NPR’s Complete Impeachment Inquiry Coverage

The latest stories, videos and explainers - and a little impeachment history.

NPR Impeachment Inquiry Coverage Jonathan Ernst/Reuters  The latest stories:  President Trump told Ukraine's president that "a lot of people want to find out" about the Biden family's activities in Ukraine — and asked him to be in touch with his attorney and the attorney general, a White House memorandum of the July call shows. The Justice Department concluded that based on the evidence that's available, prosecutors "did not and could not make out a criminal campaign finance violation ."  President Trump cited concerns about corruption as his rationale for blocking security assistance to Ukraine earlier this week. But a letter sent to four congressional committees in May and obtained by NPR says officials have "certified that the Government of Ukraine has taken substantial actions" to address corruption. The top House Democrats said the account of President Trump’s call to Ukraine confirms the need for an impeachment inquiry. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stated, "I respect the responsibility of the President to engage with foreign leaders as part of his job. It is not part of his job to use taxpayer money to shake down other countries for the benefit of his campaign." Trump later called the call for impeachment a “hoax” at a Wednesday news conference. Pelosi formally announced an impeachment inquiry on Tuesday.  The topic of impeachment is back and hotter than ever in Washington. But is it back by popular demand? Will the issue simmer into the fall, or will the heat dissipate in the days ahead?  Newsletter continues after sponsor message Mapping It Out Members of the House calling for an impeachment inquiry Momentum behind an impeachment inquiry has grown in Congress. House Democrats once wary of the issue publicly said allegations that President Trump pressed the leader of Ukraine to dig up dirt on the Biden family represented a turning point. Here is NPR’s impeachment tracker showing who supports impeachment proceedings and who doesn’t.  Video What does it take to impeach a president? NPR No president of the United States has ever been removed from office by impeachment. But it's hard to watch the news these days without hearing the word. So, what does it actually take to impeach a president? In this Ron's Office Hours video from 2018, NPR's Ron Elving explains the procedure by which the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate remove a sitting president. ► WATCH Analysis Are Trump's actions regarding Ukraine an impeachable offense? NPR's Noel King talks to Nick Akerman, a member of the Watergate prosecution team that investigated President Nixon, about the whistleblower complaint against Trump, and whether it could lead to impeachment. ► LISTEN Q&A What the Bidens were doing in Ukraine Nick Wass/AP President Trump is calling for an investigation of Joe Biden and his son Hunter. Here are five questions about the accusations involving the Bidens and Ukraine and the facts behind them.  History Lesson Whistleblowing is not a new phenomenon in America Samuel Corum/Getty Images The first whistleblowers reported on the actions of one Esek Hopkins in the late 1780s. "He was the first commodore of the U.S. Navy, and they blew the whistle on him ostensibly for torturing British prisoners of war," says author and professor Allison Stanger. "So we're a leader in this realm and whistleblowing is really in our DNA. So that's why this particular moment is so interesting." What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback:  bestofnpr@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings  — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy