House Democrats tap impeachment gusher

[brooklynite]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Omaha Steve (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Axios

The White House is tense — and some aides are frantic — as Democrats on Capitol Hill tap a gusher of revelations that paint an increasingly vivid portrait of President Trump's unrestrained conduct of foreign policy.

Why it matters: Democrats are moving fast. Letters to potential witnesses reveal the breadth and speed at which the inquiry is unfolding, a stark contrast to the Mueller report which stretched over nearly two years.
* The probe now reaches into the Pentagon, with Democrats sending a letter demanding the appearance of Acting Assistant Defense Secretary for International Security Affairs Kathryn Wheelbarger.

Fiona Hill, Trump's former National Security Council senior director for Europe and Russia, testified yesterday that then-national security adviser John Bolton told her to notify the NSC's chief lawyer about a rogue effort by EU ambassador Gordon Sondland, Rudy Giuliani and acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, the N.Y. Times reports.
* "I am not part of whatever drug deal Sondland and Mulvaney are cooking up," Bolton instructed Hill to tell White House lawyers, according to the Times.
* "Giuliani’s a hand grenade who’s going to blow everybody up," Hill, during 9+ hours behind closed doors at the House Intelligence Committee, quoted Bolton as saying.

Some White House officials are demoralized, amid unusual chaos and uncertainty, even for this West Wing, according to a former top Trump official.

Read more: https://www.axios.com/ukraine-investigation-trump-impeachment-house-democrats-9cd05e69-c5ec-457c-b7dc-44423da3fab7.html

[Lonestarblue]

1. Can't wait for the day the House votes to impeach!

There is some hope that the Senate could convict unless McConnell is unable to prevent a trial. If a trial happens, it is Chief Justice Roberts who presides. The first thing he should do (though I have no assurance that he will) is obtain the transcripts of Trump’s calls with foreign leaders that have been put on a secret server. I suspect that Trump has committed treason and even open trading of US foreign policies for future investments in his business. Senators would have a hard time not voting to remove if the transcripts show criminal acts. May not happen, but I can dream.

[packman]

19. Can't wait for the day Rudy is sent off to prison

He's giving Trump a real run for the money as "People I would like to see jailed".

[ananda]

2. So even John Bolton had a scruple.

Wow

[Amimnoch]

3. Really.. when something repulses HIM,

you KNOW you've hit rock bottom.

[aggiesal]

5. I'll say he has a scruple if ...

he’s the whistle blower, otherwise I think he’s just protecting his a$$!

[efhmc]

13. Protection and I think he HATES RG.

[aggiesal]

20. Who doesn't? ...

He's taken that America's Mayor BS, beyond its expiration date.
Very annoying.

Tried to leverage that during his presidential campaign, but didn't go too far.

I'm no prince charming, but it looks like Rudy hit every branch down, when he fell out of the ugly tree.

[DeminPennswoods]

7. Bolton's a warmonger, but he's not stupid

nt

[riversedge]

8. ONE scruple

[dalton99a]

10. Bolton really believes Putin is an enemy and up to no good.

[PatSeg]

11. Yeah

For a nano second I actually admired him. I suppose everyone has a shiny moment now and then, except Donald Trump that is.

[paleotn]

12. Yep. This is that bad.

[calimary]

4. Blow, baby, blow!

[gab13by13]

6. Public opinion is growing for impeachment,

when Trump becomes a liability to Republican Senators they will convict.

[orangecrush]

9. Bolton?!?

Sounds like he knew there would be legal jeopardy, and he wanted no part of it.

[patphil]

18. I'd say that's a pretty accurate characterization of Bolton.

He's an asshole, but he's still an American, and still a patriot in his own way.
Not clean enough to blow the whistle on this whole mess himself, but not corrupt enough to be a part of it.

[IronLionZion]

14. "Democrats are moving fast."

"Giuliani’s a hand grenade who’s going to blow everybody up,"

[NewJeffCT]

15. Hey White House officials

if you're demoralized, you can get back some self-respect and salvage your reputation by flipping on Trump and testifying to Congress. Be a patriot and not a co-conspirator.

[H2O Man]

16. Recommended.

This is a good thing.

[Mc Mike]

17. Then one day he was shootin at some food...

Cue the banjos.

[Bayard]

21. So when does Bolton get his subpoena?

I'm sure supposed presidential privilege will be all over that, but what are they going to do to him now?

[bucolic_frolic]

22. The mood in the country is greatly improving

since impeachment inquiry began. You can feel a sigh of relief that says 'sometime, perhaps soon, this nightmare is going to end.' I think it's because while they can still wreak havoc, they do not have the power of popular support and force comparable to the German Nazi party in the 1930s.

[Omaha Steve]

23. After a review by forum hosts....LOCKING

Analysis. Can be posted in GD.

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