Jonathan Chait: It’s a Moral Imperative to Prosecute Trump. This article was featured in One Great Story, New York’s reading recommendation newsletter.
Sign up here to get it nightly. In the end, the most salient fact about Donald Trump may simply be that he is a crook. He has been defying the law since at least the early 1970s, when he battled the Department of Justice over his flagrant refusal to allow Black tenants into his father’s buildings. He has surrounded himself with mafiosi, money launderers, and assorted lowlifes. His former attorney, national security adviser, and adviser, and two of his campaign managers, have been arrested on or convicted of an array of federal crimes ranging from tax fraud to perjury to threatening witnesses. And although President Trump’s opponents have been warning Americans what will happen to their 230-year-old constitutional government if our gangster president gets another four years in office, the truth is much of the damage has already been done.
But at some point, the impunity will end. The Criminal Case Against Donald Trump Is in the Works. Photo-Illustration: Joe Darrow/Photograph: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images (TRUMP); Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office via Getty Images (jumpsuit) The defendant looked uncomfortable as he stood to testify in the shabby courtroom.
Dressed in a dark suit and somber tie, he seemed aged, dimmed, his posture noticeably stooped. The past year had been a massive comedown for the 76-year-old former world leader. For decades, the bombastic onetime showman had danced his way past scores of lawsuits and blustered through a sprawl of scandals. Then he left office and was indicted for tax fraud. The date was October 19, 2012. Here in the United States, we have never yet witnessed such an event. Justice Department lawyer says House can impeach over defied subpoenas. Asked by a federal judge what the House can do to enforce its subpoenas, Justice Department lawyer James Burnham said without hesitation that the House can use its impeachment powers, among other options, like withholding appropriations.
A few hours later, lead Democratic House manager Adam Schiff mentioned Burnham's assertion during Trump's impeachment trial. "In the category of you can't make this stuff up," Schiff said on the Senate floor. "The judge says if the Congress can't enforce its subpoenas in court, then what remedy is there? And the Justice Department lawyer's response is impeachment. " Eliciting laughter from the senators, Schiff, a California Democrat, continued, "You can't make this up. Trump is fighting charges of abuse of power over his Ukraine dealings, and obstructing Congress for ordering his aides to defy subpoenas.
NBC's Glenn Kirschner: Adam Schiff Must 'Move For A Mistrial' So Republicans Can't Acquit Trump. NBC legal analyst Glenn Kirschner on Sunday addressed the possibility that Chief Justice John Roberts could declare a mistrial before Republicans in the Senate acquit President Donald Trump on impeachment charges on Wednesday.
Kirshner argued that House Impeachment Manager Adam Schiff could call for a mistrial even though such a move is not contemplated in Senate rules. "I wish Schiff WOULD make a motion for a mistrial based on, among other things, the revelation of [Pat] Cipollone’s grossly unethical conduct/conflicts of interest," Kirshner wrote on Twitter, referring to allegations that the president's attorney witnessed presidential high crimes. "The Senate rules may not contemplate/authorize a mistrial motion," he admitted. 'I would argue the rules as adopted NEVER contemplated the president’s lawyers would have hidden from the Senate, the Chief Justice and the American people such egregious, disqualifying information (as recently disclosed by John Bolton).
" Rep. Swalwell Assures Us Trump’s Problems Are Far From Over. Appearing on MSNBC last night, Rep.
Eric Swalwell (D-CA) noted that just conducting oversight hearings is a way to check Trump’s power. “You know, Ukraine was not going to get the aid until we started our impeachment inquiry,” Swalwell pointed out. Swalwell, a member of both the Judiciary and Intelligence Committees said the House is “not going to rule out” subpoenaing John Bolton and not just to question him about Trump’s behavior with Ukraine.
If the leaks about Bolton’s book are true, Swalwell said, “there are other unsavory dealings with other countries, which we will be looking into.” Later, Swalwell said that while he hopes a future Democratic administration will usher in “an era of reformation,” he signaled that the House will continue working "to protect our country" regardless. Senate stunned as Schiff reveals DOJ just argued in court that defying subpoenas is an impeachable offense. Senate stunned as Schiff reveals DOJ just argued in court that defying subpoenas is an impeachable offense.
Damning montage of Trump asking foreign countries to help him win elections shown at impeachment trial. Rep.
Jason Crow (D-CO) on Thursday showed a damning montage of President Donald Trump publicly asking foreign countries to help him win elections. The video, which was shown during the president’s impeachment trial in the Senate, started out with a clip of Trump in 2016 asking the Russian government to release emails they may have stolen from Hillary Clinton’s email server. “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing,” he said.
“I think you would be rewarded mightily by our press.” The video then cuts to Trump telling ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos that he’d be willing to hear out any foreign government that came to him offering dirt on his 2020 rival. And finally, the video wraps up with the president demanding that both Ukraine and China launch probes into Biden. “China should start an investigation into the Bidens!” Watch the video below. Report typos and corrections to: corrections@rawstory.com. In defense of Alan Dershowitz's defense. Sign Up for Our free email newsletters By the time the first day of questions in President Trump's Senate impeachment trial concluded around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening, I doubt that even the president was still watching.
A glance at his Twitter account just before midnight suggested that, if he had any reservations about the novel arguments being made by members of his counsel, particularly Alan Dershowitz, he wasn't interested in sharing them with the rest of us. Three years into this presidency, I think it's fair to interpret his unwonted silence as tacit approval.
For the first time since Trump's infamous conversation with President Zelensky of Ukraine was reported, he and his team appear to be coming around to an argument that has entertained publicly by no one except Sen. It has been clear since October that this is the only possible defense of his conduct. As Dershowitz argued on Wednesday: So what? Senate To Be Replaced With Room Full Of Monkeys Throwing Feces. WASHINGTON, D.C.
—In an emergency, overnight referendum, the American people voted on Thursday to replace the United States Senate with a room full of monkeys throwing feces. The measure passed with 57% of the vote. 22% of voters thought the Senate should be replaced by barking seals, while 17% voted that the replacement should be the pit of venomous snakes from Indiana Jones. 3.97% voted that Senate members be replaced by screaming goats. "About 100 people" voted for the current Senators to keep their jobs, with this tiny voting bloc centered in Washington, D.C. Highland Ape Rescue out of West Virginia will be teaming up with Cornwell Primate farms to supply hundreds of monkeys and apes to the Senate. The animals will be fed a nutritious mixture of foods that produce easily throwable feces.
“It will be a huge improvement from how things were before,” said ape trainer, Marlena Henwick. Republican Senators Don Trusty Googly-Eye Glasses In Order To Get Some Sleep During Impeachment Trial. Republican Senators Don Trusty Googly-Eye Glasses In Order To Get Some Sleep During Impeachment Trial WASHINGTON, D.C.
—Faced with the prospect of another drawn-out day of listening to fellow congresspeople drone on and on about impeachment, Republican senators donned their trusty googly-eye glasses in order to get a little shuteye. Senator Mitch McConnell distributed the glasses as the trial was called to order, letting the other Republican senators know that they could catch a solid eight hours of sleep behind the clever disguise. "Throw these bad boys on, and you'll look super interested -- maybe even a little too interested," a yawning McConnell said as he handed a pair to Ted Cruz. ‘Stop lying’: Experts and observers discredit Trump attorney’s impeachment defense with readily available facts. After three days of House impeachment managers’ brilliant prosecution of President Donald Trump – and “prebuttal” of the arguments the president’s team was expected to make – White House attorneys Saturday morning began their defense of President Trump.
Trump could also have been impeached for war crimes, assassinations and corruption: Law professor. Democratic lawmakers are continuing to lay out their case for removing the president from office in the final day of opening arguments by Democrats in the historic impeachment trial of President Trump. Republicans will begin their opening arguments on Saturday. The Senate trial comes a month after the House impeached Trump for withholding congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine as part of an effort to pressure the Ukrainian president to investigate Trump’s political rival, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
“He Really Thinks His Call Was Perfect. It Wasn’t”: Trump at Odds With GOP, Kushner, His Campaign as Impeachment Bites. As Donald Trump’s defense team prepares to make its first arguments on the floor of the Senate on Saturday, top Republicans are increasingly worried that Trump’s lawyers are woefully unprepared to counter Democrats’ meticulous, fact-based case for removing Trump. In the president’s circle there’s not full-blown panic—but there’s worry. “A lot of Republicans think the Democrats have done a very good job,” a prominent Republican who is close to Trump’s legal team told me. False and Misleading Claims at Impeachment Trial. White House lawyers distorted the facts on the impeachment process and other issues during the Jan. 21 Senate trial: White House counsel Pat Cipollone falsely suggested Republicans were barred from the closed-door depositions conducted by the House intelligence committee.
But members of three committees — both Democrats and Republicans — participated.Jay Sekulow, President Donald Trump’s attorney, falsely said, “During the proceedings that took place before the Judiciary Committee, the president was denied the right to cross-examine witnesses … the right to access evidence and … the right to have counsel present at hearings.” The committee chair invited Trump and his lawyers to participate, but they declined.Cipollone claimed Rep.
Adam Schiff, the House intelligence committee chairman, “manufactured a false version” of the July 25 phone call between Trump and the Ukrainian president and “he didn’t tell” the American people “it was a complete fake.” Sekulow, Jan. 21: Mr. Section 2 of H. Twitter Erupts After Trump Rage-Tweets Threats To Adam Schiff. Donald Trump is up and rage-tweeting early on this Sunday morning. Today's target is impeachment manager Rep. Adam Schiff, since he is the one who presented a solid, airtight case for impeachment and removal. After retweeting his friends Mark Levin and others, Trump turned his rage on Adam Schiff: Ah, the "illegally making up" his phone call. Apparently parody is a crime now. Trump impeachment defense team may be forced to change tactics to hold off GOP defections: report. Chief Justice Roberts Indulges Lying, But Draws The Line At Naming The Liar. We are ALL Elie Mystal's mom.
I don't mean in the sense that we're all allowed to send him to his room. (We're not.) I mean, well, here's the tweet. Sorry, GOP, the whole ‘my witness for your witness’ thing isn’t the law — it only casts doubt on you: Ex-prosecutor. In an op-ed for the Washington Post, former federal prosecutor Joyce White Vance explained that the idea of “witness reciprocity” that Republicans seem to think exists, isn’t actually a thing. The 'Answer of President Donald J. Trump' Raises Questions.
Were Trump trying to make a traditional legal argument, he’d have picked the wrong legal counsel. But that’s not what the president is trying to do. Trump: No President Can Be Impeached for Any Abuse of Power. How Lev Parnas worked his way into Trump’s world — and now is rattling it - Attention to the Unseen. The Washington Post reports: Here are 7 stunning new pieces of impeachment evidence just released by the House. House Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, dropped a new slate of deeply revealing evidence Tuesday night in the impeachment case against President Donald Trump.
George Conway and Neal Katyal advise Pelosi on how to trip up McConnell’s impeachment plans. On Friday, conservative attorney George Conway and law professor Neal Katyal wrote an op-ed in the Washington Post suggesting a key way that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) could get the upper hand on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Specifically, they argued, Pelosi should “split up” the articles of impeachment — submitting the article of obstruction of Congress, but holding onto the article of abuse of power for further investigation. “Separating the two articles — our preferred approach — would make perfect sense,” they wrote. Trump timed Suleimani’s death to have maximum impact before his Senate impeachment trial. Nancy Pelosi lost the impeachment standoff.
An Impeachment Trial Is Finally Coming — and It Could Be Exciting after All. Donald Trump is behaving like the guiltiest man alive. Trump’s threat to commit war crimes against Iran could push GOP lawmakers towards impeachment ouster: CNN analyst. Pelosi has McConnell over a a barrel as she delays impeachment trial: ‘This is working beautifully for her’ 2020 predictions: Trump will lose — if not in the Senate, then with the voters. Here’s how Nancy Pelosi can psychologically wreck Trump by stalling impeachment for 36 days. Legal expert makes the case for Trump to resign — but why have so few others demanded he step down? How Chief Justice Roberts could ruin Mitch McConnell’s plan for a sham impeachment trial.
This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers. Not a subscriber? Try us and go ad-free for $1. Prefer to give a one-time tip? Click here. And Constitutional Scholars Push for 12 Articles of Impeachment. The A to Z of Things Trump Should Have Been Impeached For. Democrats approve two articles of impeachment against Trump in Judiciary vote. ‘Trump was caught’: Every major GOP excuse for president’s conduct destroyed by ex-prosecutor. Here are 5 terrible moments for Trump from IG Horowitz’ Senate Judiciary testimony. Trump’s Congressional Defenders Deny Reality. ‘Jaw dropping’: Libertarian explains how Trump’s congressional defenders are gaslighting America. House Republicans Show They Don't Care If Trump Withheld Ukraine Aid. Here are the Senate Republicans who could vote to convict Trump. NPR Choice page. House report on Trump-Ukraine scandal is also a damning indictment of Pence and Nunes involvement.
Turley.Testimony.Impeachment.Final. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Dear President Trump: The Ultimate Impeachment Deal Is To Abdicate Right Now. Independents souring on impeachment underscores risk for Democrats. Democrats intend to present Mueller findings in next round of impeachment hearings. Viewers astonished as Fiona Hill rips apart the falsehoods spread by ‘bloody nitwit’ Devin Nunes on live TV.
Gordon Sondland revealed something huge that hardly anyone noticed: CNN commentator. Here are 7 stunning moments from this morning’s impeachment testimony. Alexander Vindman Decries ‘Callow and Cowardly’ Attacks on Witnesses in Impeachment Inquiry. Adam Schiff and Devin Nunes Opening Statements at Impeachment Hearings Say It All. Forget the politics — for now: Follow the flowing money in the Ukraine scandal. Three GOP senators could force a rule change leading to Trump’s impeachment — here’s why McConnell might go for it. The GOP’s Case Against Impeachment Is (Scarily) Principled.
Key Witness in Impeachment Inquiry Asks Federal Court to Rule Over Testifying. Here's a copy of Ambassador Taylor's opening statement (updated) ‘Do It in Public’: Here Are 7 Explosive Details from Bill Taylor’s Impeachment Inquiry Testimony. READ: Pelosi's 'fact sheet' on Trump impeachment. Diplomat tells investigators he raised alarms in 2015 about Hunter Biden’s Ukraine work but was rebuffed. Maggie Haberman details the insane few hours Trump had an impeachment lawyer — before he was basically out.
Senate Republicans 'might not vote as a bloc' on impeachment, Wall Street Journal warns McConnell. Trump's disastrous impeachment polling sends shock waves through GOP. Trump could get impeached, re-elected — and then impeached again: legal experts. Why Trump is too arrogant to be impeached and will probably resign. CIA's top lawyer made 'criminal referral' on complaint about Trump Ukraine call. Do Americans Support Impeaching Trump? If Republicans Ever Turn On Trump, It’ll Happen All At Once. Ex-White House official drops bomb on Trump over new poll: He ‘won’t survive Election Day’ Gordon Sondland Blocked From Testifying Before Congress on Trump Ukraine Texts. Trump's impeachment poised to be biggest ever, ensnaring more people than Nixon, Clinton inquiries.
Trump Blocks Sondland Testimony, and the Cover-up Begins. Scoop: Trump says he worries about the stain impeachment will leave on his legacy - Axios. Treasury Inspector General to Review Handling of Trump’s Tax Returns. CIA's top lawyer made criminal referral on whistleblower's complaint about Trump conduct. An ex-Republican impeachment skeptic explains why he flipped — and how the Democrats should proceed to win. Impeachment frenzy rattles Trump as the out-of-control president goes to war with the CIA. White House prepares formal objection to impeachment probe. Inherent contempt is the only response that can halt Trump's misuse of executive privilege. No Good Reasons to Avoid Impeaching Trump. Former Ukrainian president destroys Trump’s conspiracy claims against Biden. Now you know how weird this whole Ukraine thing really is.
Read the Full Whisteblower Complaint Here - Paste. Jeffrey Toobin Shocked By White House Document: 'Quid Pro Quo Is Not In Code' Impeachment may die in the Senate — but forcing embattled Republican senators to defend Trump could pay off. Trump: I’d Like To Change My Ukraine Plea to ‘Not Guilty’ House Judiciary Committee Set To Vote On Impeachment Inquiry. Articles of Impeachment Against President Donald J. Trump. Bill Barr’s DOJ won’t indict Trump while he’s in office — but 27 Democratic AGs can: Ex-Obama lawyer.
Unfinished Business: What Mueller Didn’t Cover, But Congress Can. Mueller’s punt keeps looking worse. Marcy Wheeler: Trump Tried To Shut Down The Russia Investigation. Trump Docket – FiveThirtyEight. How Two Arcane Clauses In The Constitution Could Expose Trump’s Businesses. The Second Act Begins. A CAMPAIGN TO DEFRAUD. Trump’s Defense: Can’t Investigate Because Too Many Crimes.