Tipsheet: Key GOP senators split with Trump on Biden investigation push

View in your browser     Key GOP senators split with Trump on Biden investigation push BY ALEXANDER BOLTON President Trump is pushing hard for an investigation of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son, but the prospect of using the Oval Office to go after a political rival is prompting some GOP senators to speak out. Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine), Ben Sasse (Neb.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) have raised concerns, to varying degrees, about launching a politically motivated probe into the Bidens. Read the full story here     Trump calls for Romney's impeachment BY JOHN BOWDEN President Trump called for Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) to be impeached Saturday and argued that Republican voters in the state made a "mistake" nominating Romney for the Senate. Read the full story here     Trump rails against whistleblower, impeachment inquiry BY RACHEL FRAZIN President Trump on Saturday lashed out against House Democrats' impeachment inquiry while blasting the U.S. intelligence community whistleblower whose complaint has helped fuel the probe. Read the full story here     Trump accuses Democrats of 'interfering' with 2020 election and 'continuing to interfere' with 2016 BY RACHEL FRAZIN  President Trump has accused Democrats of "interfering" with the 2020 election and the 2016 election as he faces an impeachment probe based on an allegation that he solicited foreign help to interfere in the 2020 contest. Read the full story here       Pompeo says State Dept. has given initial response to Congress over documents BY RACHEL FRAZIN   Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Saturday that the State Department has given an "initial response" to congressional Democrats over a request for documents relating to their impeachment inquiry. Read the full story here     Defense chief on Ukraine: 'My aim is to keep the department apolitical' BY JESSICA CAMPISI Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Saturday that his aim is “to keep the department apolitical” amid a swirling scandal surrounding the Trump administration’s dealings with Ukraine. Read the full story here     Biden faces dual challenges from Trump, Warren BY AMIE PARNES AND JONATHAN EASLEY  Joe Biden is at a crossroads in his quest for the Democratic presidential nomination, as President Trump fights an impeachment inquiry by unloading on the former vice president and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) overtakes him in some polls. Read the full story here     Supreme Court abortion case poses major test for Trump picks BY JESSIE HELLMANN The Supreme Court's decision to take up a Louisiana abortion case this term will pose a major test for President Trump's nominees on the politically divisive issue. Read the full story here     Window narrows for Trump trade deals BY SYLVAN LANE President Trump is facing a crucial stretch for his trade agenda and reelection prospects amid heightened concerns about the U.S. economy. Read the full story here     North Korea missile test raises fears of new capabilities BY REBECCA KHEEL North Korea crossed a major threshold with its weapons program this past week when it test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, military experts say. Read the full story here     Casual or cowardly? Pelosi takes dangerous road to impeachment BY JONATHAN TURLEY Opinion | The current impeachment “inquiry” rests on the authority of one person. Until the entire body votes, it remains the Pelosi impeachment effort rather than a House impeachment process. While Democrats are counting on the courts to follow their traditional deference to the House on this question, the abandonment of the traditional vote in the House will undoubtedly give pause to some judges who are asked to override legal barriers to gain access to executive branch and grand jury material. Read the full story here     Thwarting Moscow’s latest escalation BY JOHN HERBST Opinion | Moscow’s open attack on Ukrainian ships this week was designed primarily to prevent Kyiv from increasing its naval presence in the Sea of Azov. It is essential for US and European security to take strong steps against the Kremlin’s latest escalation. Stopping Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine is the smart way to prevent provocations against our NATO allies in Eastern Europe. Read the full story here     The Washington Post: Impeachment probe widens the divide Democrats hoped to bridge BY MIKE DEBONIS AND AMBER PHILLIPS Days after House Democrats united behind a formal impeachment investigation of President Trump, apprehensive lawmakers went home and found themselves immediately questioned about their stance. Read the full story here     The New York Times: Biden faced his biggest challenge, and struggled to form a response BY JONATHAN MARTIN, ALEXANDER BURNS AND KATIE GLUECK As Trump made unfounded allegations about Biden and his son, the former vice president was torn over what to do. He now looks more vulnerable than at any point in the campaign. Read the full story here     Reuters: Giuliani plays down role in proposed Ukraine statement on corruption BY KAREN FREIFELD Rudy Giuliani, a central figure in the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, on Saturday played down his role in a proposed statement negotiated between U.S. diplomats and Ukrainian officials this summer about fighting corruption in the eastern European country. Read the full story here     The Associated Press: Romney ramps up rhetoric on Trump, but what's his next move? BY LINDSAY WHITEHURST In the hours after President Donald Trump called on China to investigate his political foe — plowing through another political guardrail — Democrats and Trump critics looked for signs that his party would slap him back. Seeking foreign help in an election is illegal. Who would stand up and say so? Twenty-four hours later, Mitt Romney stepped in. Read the full story here     The Wall Street Journal: North Korea calls working-level talks with US a failure; US disagrees BY MICHAEL R. GORDON AND TIMOTHY W. MARTIN State Department says U.S. presented ‘creative ideas’ and was eager to continue talks. Read the full story here   Did a friend forward you this email? Sign up for The Hill Tipsheet       Forward this Tipsheet     You might like         Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  |  Email to a friend  |  Sign Up for Other Newsletters   The Hill 1625 K Street, NW 9th Floor, Washington DC 20006 ©2016 Capitol Hill Publishing Corp., a subsidiary of News Communications, Inc.