Inquiry gets scholarship and partisanship

Happy Hump Day, OnPolitics readers! The impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump is front and center as the House Judiciary Committee's public hearings began Wednesday. Let's jump right in.

Experts weigh in at Judiciary Committee's first hearing

The House Judiciary Committee's first hearing on Wednesday featured testimony from four constitutional law experts. Professors Noah Feldman, Pamela Karlan, Michael Gerhardt and Jonathan Turley were called before the committee to help define what the Constitution describes as "high crimes and misdemeanors."

These are some of the takeaways and key moments from the hearing:

• Feldman, Karlan and Gerhardt — the three witnesses called by the Democratic committee members — all asserted that Trump's conduct rose to the level of an impeachable offense on more than one basis.
• In one of the notable quotes of the day, Gerhardt, a University of North Carolina Professor,  said Trump's conduct merited impeachment to prevent future presidents from seeking foreign help. "If what we are talking about is not impeachable, then nothing is impeachable," he said.
• Turley, who noted in his written testimony that he is not a supporter of Trump, was the sole witness called before the committee by the Republicans. He offered testimony that bolstered the Republican argument against the timeline and procedure of the impeachment inquiry. But he acknowledged that Trump's conduct was far from perfect. 
• Paul Taylor, the Republican Counsel for the House Judiciary Committee, said that impeachment would thwart the will of the American people. 
• As opening statements were underway, Republicans tried to insert motions and points of inquiry, persisting as Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., repeatedly declined to recognize them. The Republicans also forced multiple procedural votes on motions, calling for a roll call of all members of the committee and further delaying the process.

Professor apologizes for using Trump's son's name after first lady calls her out

First lady Melania Trump joined in a chorus of Republican criticism of Karlan for a comment Karlan made about Barron Trump, the president's son, during her testimony.

"The Constitution says there can be no titles of nobility, so while the president can name his son Barron, he can’t make him a baron," Karlan, a Stanford Law School professor, said at one point to scattered laughter and applause in the hearing room.

In a tweet Wednesday, Melania Trump called out Karlan saying " ... you should be ashamed of your very angry and obviously biased public pandering, and using a child to do it."

Karlan apologized later during the hearing. But she also added that she wished the president would also apologize for his actions. 

What's next on the agenda

Next week — a date has not been set yet — staff counsel from both the Republicans and the Democrats for the House Intelligence Committee will testify before the House Judiciary Committee to present the committee's findings of their investigation. 

• More on the inquiry: 'High crime' or 'railroad job'? Wednesday's combative hearing explored whether the president committed any impeachable acts.

Trump calls Trudeau 'two-faced' after video of leaders surfaces

Trump called Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau "two-faced" on Wednesday after a viral video circulated showing several top NATO leaders appearing to chuckle about Trump. 

Taking questions after a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Great Britain, Trump also said that he called out Trudeau because Canada is not spending 2% of its GDP on defense spending, as required by NATO guidelines. "I guess he's not very happy about it," Trump said. 

The video, first shared by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, captures parts of a conversation between French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Trudeau and others. At one point, Trudeau, apparently referencing Trump conducting a press conference at the beginning of an event, said:  "You just watched his team's jaw drop to the floor."

More on Harris' departure from the Democratic presidential primary

One day after she ended her presidential campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden said "of course" he would consider California Sen. Kamala Harris as his vice president.

"Senator Harris has the capacity to be anything she wants to be. I mean it sincerely," Biden said to reporters Wednesday.

The president appeared to be a bit more sarcastic when he shared a tweet written by former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski reacting to Harris' departure from the field and added, "Too bad. We will miss you Kamala!" 

But Harris tweeted a quick response to Trump: "Don't worry, Mr. President, I'll see you at your trial."

Let's finish strong

This is what else is going on in and around Washington:

• Attorney General William Barr said at an award ceremony Tuesday honoring officers and deputies that if communities do not show more respect to law enforcement officers, they may lose "police protection."
• California Republican Rep. Devin Nunes filed a defamation lawsuit against CNN in federal court on Tuesday in which he is seeking $435,350,000 in damages for the suit labels a "demonstrably false hit piece."
• Former Secretary of State and first lady Hillary Clinton made an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show" Wednesday, and discussed Trump, some of his supporters on Capitol Hill, the 2016 election, and even her sexuality.
• Finally, a bit of good news: Former President Jimmy Carter, 95, was released from the hospital Wednesday after being admitted for an infection over the weekend.

- Until Thursday, OP readers