Politics The Probe

So Sondland says quid pro quo was common knowledge.

Yet he says he never got a clear answer as to why the payment to Ukraine was withheld. I'm not buying it.

Is he again telling only part of the story?

 

Republicans for the Rule of Law released its first ad, featuring footage of EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland implicating Trump during his congressional testimony, online Wednesday. The spot will air on Fox News’ flagship morning show “Fox & Friends,” which Trump often tunes into, on Friday.



“In the hearings this week, the American people have heard damning testimony from credible, patriotic witnesses that the president of the United States abused his power,” Republicans for the Rule of Law executive director Sarah Longwell said in a statement.

“Rather than fulfilling his oath to defend the Constitution, he tried to use the power of the government to strong-arm a friendly government into interfering on his behalf in the 2020 election,” Longwell added. “If the Republican Party claims to stand for national security, law and order, the rule of law, and accountable government, they can’t let this abuse stand.”

 

Three key people very close to Trump were blocked from appearing: Michael Pompeo, John Bolton, & Mick Mulvaney.

I'm not sure how Trump is able to block former employee Bolton from appearing.

Pompeo, IMO, is the one most likely to lie, or employ selective memory (lying by omission), in hopes his loyalty would be rewarded with a pardon.

Mulvaney has already put his foot in his mouth, leaving him in the tough position of being able to deny or "explain" his previous comments.

If charges are filed against all or any of them, can that be delayed until after Trump is removed (moot, that most likely won't happen), or doesn't get reelected?

If a Republican other than Trump is elected POTUS in 2020, would they and/or the GOP risk one-term-and-done by issuing pardon(s)?

 

This could expand the impeachment inquiry when the House Judiciary Committee begins drafting Articles of Impeachment in the coming weeks to include Obstruction of Justice based on the ten incidents cited in the Mueller Report. McGhan was at the very heart of Trump's attempts to kill the Mueller investigation (Trump calling McGhan at home and directing him to have Mueller removed, among other obstruction that McGhan could address).

Judge will rule by Nov. 25 in Don McGahn subpoena fight

If the judge enforces the subpoena next week that would compel White House attorney Don McGahn to appear under oath, the White House would likely appeal and the House could request that it be expedited to the Supreme Court for an immediate decision.

Precedent is on the side of House Democrats. The only question if they get a favorable ruling next week is if they want to extend the impeachment process for another month or more.

 

Typical political & legal crap: War(s) of Attrition.

A SCOTUS ruling saying the WH must obey all of the subpoenas would be nice.


Simultaneous posting; I'll need to read some of what @rogue49 posted.

 

In a covert operation--esp one that is unethical at best and illegal at worst-- just how many people should be involved? It reminds me of the saying/cliche, two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead.

 

The latest from Rudy: It was Trump's constitutional duty to attempt to pressure a foreign government to interfere in the US election by investigating a Trump political rival.


View: https://twitter.com/RudyGiuliani/status/1202934501027930112


Text of Article 2, Section 3:
He shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, on extraordinary Occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in Case of Disagreement between them, with Respect to the Time of Adjournment, he may adjourn them to such Time as he shall think proper; he shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers; he shall take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed, and shall Commission all the Officers of the United States.

 

A Ukraine newspaper is is thinking the same thing....

Ukraine Newspaper Trolls Giuliani By Resurfacing Front Page Of Trum's 'Shady Cast Of Characters, Engineers of Trump-Ukraine Scandal'

The Ukrainian newspaper, Kyiv Post, continued its blistering coverage of Rudy Giuliani's "dirt-digging" visits to the country's capital city this week, even trolling Donald Trump's lawyer by reposting on Twitter Friday an October headline, which put him atop the U.S. president's "shady cast of characters."

Ukraine's oldest English-language newspaper, the Kyiv Post highlighted its October 18 headline, which called out "Washington Players" in the quid pro quo Ukraine scandal. The "Shady Cast of Characters" includes reporting on how Giuliani, acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, former U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker and former Energy Secretary Rick Perry were all involved in allegedly coercing the Ukrainians into investigating the Bidens. The Kyiv Post's in-depth coverage of the Ukraine scandal also zeroed in on the "Dirt diggers & intermediaries" including Giuliani associates Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman.

On December 4, Giuliani arrived unannounced at Kyiv's Zhuliany airport after flying in on the low-cost Wizz Air airline, the Kyiv Post reported ...(more)
​

View: https://twitter.com/KyivPost/status/1202906889278889984