Witness denounces ‘fictional’ Ukraine election interference

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former White House Russia analyst sternly warned Republican lawmakers in the impeachment probe Thursday to quit pushing a “fictional” narrative that Ukraine not Russia interfered in the 2016 election as they defend President Donald Trump. Fiona Hill, a career expert on Russia, and David Holmes, a State Department official in Kyiv…

Ex-Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh faces fraud, tax charges

BALTIMORE (AP) — The disgraced former mayor of Baltimore was charged Wednesday with fraud and tax evasion involving sales of her self-published children’s books. An 11-count federal indictment accuses Catherine Pugh of using her “Healthy Holly” books to enrich herself, promote her political career and fund her run for mayor. Federal authorities say Pugh and…

The Latest: Sondland says testimony has ‘not been perfect’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump and the House impeachment inquiry (all times local): 9:50 a.m. Gordon Sondland says his testimony has “not been perfect” because President Donald Trump’s administration has refused to give him access to calendars, phone records and other State Department documents that he says might have helped him accurately answer…

The Latest: Volker says Trump was using aid to press Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the public impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine (all times local): 4 p.m. Tim Morrison, who recently left his National Security Council post, has told Congress that he is taking no position on whether President Donald Trump should be impeached. But Morrison says his fears that a July…

The Latest: Vindman says he saw Trump request as a demand

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the public impeachment hearings into President Donald Trump’s dealings with Ukraine (all times local): 10:20 a.m. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a National Security Council official, says his military experience shapes how he views a phone call between President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart. Vindman said at Tuesday’s impeachment hearing that…

White House Officials to Kick Off Big Trump Impeachment Week

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — Two top national security aides who listened to President Donald Trump’s call with Ukraine are preparing to testify in the impeachment hearings, launching a week of back-to-back sessions as Americans hear from those closest to the White House. Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, an Army officer at the National Security Council, and…

Pelosi invites Trump to testify as new witnesses prepare

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi invited President Donald Trump to testify in front of investigators in the House impeachment inquiry ahead of a week that will see several key witnesses appear publicly. Pushing back against accusations from the Republican president that the process has been stacked against him, Pelosi said Trump is welcome to…