Trump’s Syria move ignites GOP revolt as impeachment threat looms Presented by

REPUBLICAN REVOLT -- Congressional Republicans are breaking with President Donald Trump … on Syria. Trump’s stunning decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria’s border — allowing a planned Turkish military offensive in the region and abandoning U.S.-allied Kurdish fighters in the process — earned a chorus of rebukes from both sides of the aisle, including from some of Trump’s top allies and members of GOP leadership. It was especially surprising to hear such blistering criticism from the GOP, since the party has been so reluctant to unload on Trump for asking foreign leaders to dig up dirt on his political opponents.

A few examples: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s close confidants, called the decision “impulsive” and a “disaster in the making.” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) advised the president to “exercise American leadership.” Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called it a “grave mistake.” Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) denounced the maneuver as “a betrayal.” And Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), the third-ranking House Republican, called the move “a catastrophic mistake.”

Now there is a serious pressure campaign underway to get Trump to reverse course. Per Burgess: McConnell is reminding Trump that there is a supermajority supporting a U.S. presence in Syria, while Graham is threatening to pursue bipartisan sanctions against Turkey as well as a resolution condemning the administration's decision. And a bipartisan pair of Senate Foreign Relations Committee members are demanding administration officials testify before Congress.

The Republican revolt comes at a sensitive time for Trump, who needs to keep his firewall of support standing strong as he faces the threat of impeachment. Yet despite the GOP backlash, Trump is digging in. The president is defending his effort to get the U.S. out of “endless wars,” while also signaling he’d be willing to retaliate against Turkey if it goes after the Kurds. Much more: https://politi.co/35ihHBB .

Related reads: “'POTUS went rogue': Trump's Syria move blindsides national security leaders,” by Wesley Morgan: https://politi.co/30UzQlU ; and “Five things to know about Trump's decision on Syria, Turkey and the Kurds,” via The Hill’s Rebecca Kheel and Ellen Mitchell: http://bit.ly/2VoY5Yj .

President Donald Trump speaks after a signing ceremony for a trade agreement with Japan in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) | Evan Vucci/AP Photo

SUBPOENA SEASON -- Democrats’ impeachment inquiry continues to heat up. A trio of House Committees slapped a subpoena on the Pentagon and the White House Office of Management and Budget for documents related to the administration’s decision to withhold aid from Ukraine. "The Committees are investigating the extent to which President Trump jeopardized national security by pressing Ukraine to interfere with our 2020 election and by withholding military assistance provided by Congress to help Ukraine counter Russian aggression, as well as any efforts to cover up these matters," the committee chairmen wrote. Democrats gave the agencies until Oct. 15 to respond. Kyle with the latest: https://politi.co/311jTKM .

Meanwhile, two Florida businessmen who helped introduce Rudy Giuliani to politicians in Ukraine rejected a request from House Democrats to supply documents and sit for depositions in their impeachment probe. Their Attorney, former Trump lawyer John Dowd, argued that there wasn’t enough time to comply and said the information being sought could be protected by attorney-client privilege. The Miami Herald’s Alex Daugherty and Kevin G. Hall with more: https://hrld.us/2Iv41cI .

Related: “House Democrats consider masking identity of whistleblower from Trump’s GOP allies in Congress,” from WaPo’s Rachael Bade, Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima and Karoun Demirjian: https://wapo.st/2OvDr7s ; and “Why Republicans may want a House vote on impeachment inquiry and Pelosi doesn't," via Sarah D. Wire of the Los Angeles Times: https://lat.ms/2VxMTZv .

ON TAP TODAY … “U.S. ambassador to EU faces questions in Trump impeachment probe,” by Patricia Zengerle of Reuters: https://reut.rs/2Ou3Geo .

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THE OTHER “I” WORD -- Ohio Sen. Rob Portman became the latest Republican to voice concern with Trump’s pleas to China and Ukraine to probe the Biden family. But even though he found the interactions inappropriate, he says they are not impeachable. “The president should not have raised the Biden issue on that call, period. It’s not appropriate for a president to engage a foreign government in an investigation of a political opponent,” Portman told the Columbus Dispatch. But, he added, “I don’t view it as an impeachable offense.”

Could this be the new roadmap for other Republicans who are uncomfortable with Trump’s actions but wary of completely breaking with the president? A lot of Republicans have yet to speak up, as Congress has been on a two-week recess. But Trump doesn’t leave much room in the party to disagree with him. Darrel Rowand with more: http://bit.ly/33bkKtz .

Related: “Mitt won’t primary Trump — but he’s trying to bring him down,” via Gabriel Sherman for Vanity Fair: http://bit.ly/31SWooe ; and “Poll: Majority of Americans say they endorse opening of House impeachment inquiry of Trump,” via WaPo’s Dan Balz and Scott Clement: https://wapo.st/2AV1Qex .

GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, October 8, where your host is taking a poll: should we switch the newsletter font to Comic Sans ? (Kidding…)

MONDAY’S MOST CLICKED: The big winner was Axios’ report on Trump worried about the stain of impeachment on his legacy.

TRADE DEAL BY T-GIVING? -- Despite the intensifying drama over impeachment, Democrats and Republicans have been quietly making progress on Trump’s new trade deal with Canada and Mexico, reports the New York Times. And a long-awaited deal could even be voted on before Thanksgiving. “The deal may be a rare bright spot in an otherwise dysfunctional dynamic that has taken hold in the capital, and it owes its progress to a coincidence of timing, productive negotiations that have unfolded behind closed doors for months and political necessity for two parties that each has distinct reasons to hope it succeeds,” write Carl Hulse and Catie Edmondson.

“For President Trump and Republicans, the agreement is a major priority that could bolster American businesses and help struggling farmers, while showing voters that they have been good stewards of the economy. For Democrats, the accord is a way to give lawmakers from swing districts a broadly popular achievement to show constituents, and a way to counter criticism that they have accomplished little during their time in Washington, which has more often consisted of passing legislation that dies in the Republican-controlled Senate.” The story: https://nyti.ms/30UJ6WY .

Related: “Trump aide calls drug price deal possible if impeachment fades,” by CQ Roll Call’s Andrew Siddons: http://bit.ly/335hqAi .

DUNCAN DELAY -- The trial date for indicted Rep. Duncan Hunter has been pushed back to the end of January 2020, reports the Times of San Diego. The delay was requested by the California Republican's attorney in order to accommodate a 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals hearing that is taking place in December in Seattle. “We hope that this will give us a window to get back here and both be ready to go,” Hunter’s lawyer said in a statement.

Hunter and his wife were indicted last summer for allegedly misusing $250,000 in campaign funds to pay for a lavish lifestyle, while prosecutors also allege that Hunter was using the money to pursue extramarital affairs with lobbyists and congressional aides. Now, Hunter is facing multiple primary challengers, including from former Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and former San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio. The dispatch from Ken Stone: http://bit.ly/2Mh2wQs .

Related: “He Was Trump’s First Fan in Congress. Now He’s a Felon,” by NYT’s Vivian Wang: https://nyti.ms/2Mozfn5 .

I GOT MONEY IN THE BANK -- Democrat Mark Kelly, who is vying to unseat Sen. Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), raised a whopping $5.5 million during the third quarter, reports The Arizona Republic. That brings the former NASA astronaut’s total fundraising to nearly $14 million, with $9.5 million cash on hand. “The support that we’re seeing for this Mission for Arizona is simply out of this world,” said Jen Cox, Kelly's campaign manager.

Kelly outraised McSally, who brought in $3 million during the third quarter, according to her campaign, while she has $5.6 million on hand. Those numbers "prove that Arizonans are unified in their support for her to keep fighting for them in the U.S. Senate,” said her campaign consultant Terry Nelson. The Senate race, which is rated as a toss up, is shaping up to be one of the most expensive and closely watched congressional battles in 2020. The latest from Yvonne Wingett Sanchez: http://bit.ly/2onLzMs .

DEM DIVORCE -- Freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) has filed for divorce from her second husband, reports The Star Tribune. “The divorce papers, filed on her 37th birthday, cite an ‘irretrievable breakdown of the marriage relationship’ with [Ahmed] Hirsi, a man with whom she has been romantically involved since at least 2002,” writes J. Patrick Coolican. “The divorce was filed more than a month after a woman in Washington, D.C., accused Omar of having an affair with her husband.” The story: http://strib.mn/35lArAz .

GET WELL SOON … “Rep. Maloney 'Feeling Much Better' After Suffering Medical Episode,” via WCBS: http://bit.ly/30VVFkP .





TRANSITIONS

Nothing today.

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House and Senate are out.

AROUND THE HILL

Nada.

TRANSITIONS

MONDAY’S WINNER: Kelly Bobek was the first person to correctly guess that Frances Cleveland was the first FLOTUS to get married in the White House.

TODAY’S QUESTION: From Kelly: Who was the first Member of Congress to select a room in the first-ever congressional office building and what is the current name of that building? First person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your best guess my way: [email protected]

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Follow us on Twitter Melanie Zanona @MZanona