The Impeachment of President Donald J Trump

[Sheilbh]

I think Mulvaney was ahead of schedule and they'll end up basically saying everyone does it or would do it if they were smart enough.

[The Minsky Moment]

I think Mulvaney was ahead of schedule and they'll end up basically saying everyone does it or would do it if they were smart enough.

More than anything else that's why he has to be impeached.
If he isn't, then it makes that statement come true.

[Habbaku]

Right. If Trump gets away with this action, it'll open the floodgates to seeking external influence in future elections. If he can flout it, there's no reason not to do so in the future.

[PDH]

I was going to comment on the Republican takeover of the hearings in the secure room, but I realized what is the point?

[Admiral Yi]

The House has the power to impeach (indict) and thus has the functional role of a grand jury in an ordinary criminal case.  The witness depositions and subpoenas are the functional equivalent of a grand jury subpoena.

But Republicans in the House have the right to question (cross examine) witnesses, jah?

The best defense IMO would have been that investigating the Bidens in Ukraine is a legitimate state interest of the US.

[PDH]

But Republicans in the House have the right to question (cross examine) witnesses, jah?

The best defense IMO would have been that investigating the Bidens in Ukraine is a legitimate state interest of the US.

The Republican are on the committees, they are in the hearings, they can ask questions.  The problem is that potentially sensitive information is also being discussed, so making this phase public is nuts.

I agree, wasting money on investigating the closed story of Burisma makes strategic sense, but I am not sure it would help - the nuts are strong on the Right.

[Barrister]

The House has the power to impeach (indict) and thus has the functional role of a grand jury in an ordinary criminal case.  The witness depositions and subpoenas are the functional equivalent of a grand jury subpoena.

But Republicans in the House have the right to question (cross examine) witnesses, jah?

The best defense IMO would have been that investigating the Bidens in Ukraine is a legitimate state interest of the US.

They tried that.  The problem is it is so transparent that the only "corruption" Trump was interested in was that of Hunter Biden.

[Razgovory]

Right. If Trump gets away with this action, it'll open the floodgates to seeking external influence in future elections. If he can flout it, there's no reason not to do so in the future.

I think that Democrats in the House and the Senate should make this clear, and to clarify the their position they should state that if Trump is not removed from office they will take immediate action to request criminal inquiries of the Trump organization in all countries where Donald Trump has property.  Make it clear that Donald Trump, his family and his business will never be safe if it is legal to request foreign nationals to open criminal investigations into political opponents.

[Razgovory]

One of the most shocking things about this is that several legitimate politicians were in on this.  Rick Perry may not be particularly clever but he knows that using government resources for campaign resources is a crime.  They explain that to your when you first run for office.  Secretary of State's office (secretary of state for individual states, not the Federal one) sends you a big packet of information. Guys like Bar and Mulveny and Pompeo should know better.

[Admiral Yi]

I don't think it's coincidental that Perry resigned.

[Sheilbh]

One of the most shocking things about this is that several legitimate politicians were in on this.  Rick Perry may not be particularly clever but he knows that using government resources for campaign resources is a crime.  They explain that to your when you first run for office.  Secretary of State's office (secretary of state for individual states, not the Federal one) sends you a big packet of information. Guys like Bar and Mulveny and Pompeo should know better.

I often wonder that. But we're a few steps away from people who could serve in any Republican administration acting as guardrails and quite deep into the reserve team right now.

And even then I think Mulvaney is still technically OMB Director plus Acting Chief of Staff.

[Admiral Yi]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOiZ3Jzqc7U

About two dozen GOP Congressdudes stormed into secure hearing room where the NSC chick was giving testimony.

[Sheilbh]

Apparently 12 them are serving on committees with access and could attend the hearings if they wanted.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/addybaird/republicans-storm-scif-impeach-trump-pizza-phones

Notably, according to a list provided by Gaetz's office of the Republicans who RSVP'd to join the protest, 12 of them are members of the Oversight or Foreign Affairs committees — including Rep. Jim Jordan, the ranking member on the Oversight Committee — meaning they have been allowed to sit in on all depositions held in the SCIF in recent weeks. A spokesperson for Rep. Ken Buck, who is on the list and serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee, however, later clarified that he did not attend, though he tweeted in support.

Rep. Fred Keller, an Oversight member who joined the protest, "was acting in solidarity with those members of Congress who are not allowed in the hearings, to review testimony, or read transcripts of this secret inquiry. ... [He] believes the way this inquiry is being conducted is unfair and it needs to stop," according to a spokesperson.

[The Minsky Moment]

I don't think it's coincidental that Perry resigned.

Right, and the full circumstances of Bolton's departure are also coming more into focus.

[The Minsky Moment]

GOP coming around to civil liberties AND imitating Occupy Wall Street.

Trump really is a miracle worker.