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(Thread) They Can’t Throw Away Their Shot
(Spoiler: The Whistleblower Case May Be Their Shot)
Ruthie, thank you. I’ve been trying to explain this for a while.
See:
In early May, Pelosi said that Trump was trying to goad the House into impeaching.
(Spoiler: The Whistleblower Case May Be Their Shot)
Ruthie, thank you. I’ve been trying to explain this for a while.
See:
In early May, Pelosi said that Trump was trying to goad the House into impeaching.
1/ @Chrislhayes suggested the idea was insane.
I argued that Trump wanted it all over then, before all the evidence was uncovered⤵️
What do I mean by “all over?”
The process is analogous to a criminal indictment.
I argued that Trump wanted it all over then, before all the evidence was uncovered⤵️
What do I mean by “all over?”
The process is analogous to a criminal indictment.
@chrislhayes 2/ Bonus: This thread will help with the Criminal Law and Constitutional Law portions of your Twitter Bar Exam.
Here’s the 4-step process (criminal):
💠Law enforcement investigates. They gather the evidence.
💠The prosecutor decides whether to prosecute.
Here’s the 4-step process (criminal):
💠Law enforcement investigates. They gather the evidence.
💠The prosecutor decides whether to prosecute.
@chrislhayes 3/ Newsflash: Every crime can’t possibly be prosecuted. Prosecutors decide based on a host of factors. For more on the important institution of prosecutorial discretion, see: criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-proce…
💠If the decision is to indict, the prosecutor files an indictment.
💠If the decision is to indict, the prosecutor files an indictment.
@chrislhayes 4/💠The defendant gets a trial (a chance to prove he's innocent)
Now, for impeachment.
First there’s an investigation. The House gathers the evidence.
(The House started gathering evidence in March, and called it an impeachment inquiry on 9-7-19)
Now, for impeachment.
First there’s an investigation. The House gathers the evidence.
(The House started gathering evidence in March, and called it an impeachment inquiry on 9-7-19)
@chrislhayes 5/ It has been going slowly because Trump is using all the powers of his office to stonewall (the legal term is “obstruct”) the inquiry.
(Bonus: Stonewalling the inquiry is also an impeachable offense. I expect the stonewalling to be included in the Articles of Impeachment.)
(Bonus: Stonewalling the inquiry is also an impeachable offense. I expect the stonewalling to be included in the Articles of Impeachment.)
@chrislhayes 6/ When the Judiciary Committee is ready, the committee members vote on Resolutions (or Articles) of Impeachment.
This is like drafting the indictment.
The Articles of Impeachment are then presented to the full House for a vote.
This is like drafting the indictment.
The Articles of Impeachment are then presented to the full House for a vote.
@chrislhayes 7/ If a majority votes yes, the president is then impeached.
It’s done. Fireworks. It happened.
This is a Big. Deal. It has only happened twice in our entire history. (Nixon resigned before he could be impeached, so count 3)
The matter then goes to the Senate for a trial.
It’s done. Fireworks. It happened.
This is a Big. Deal. It has only happened twice in our entire history. (Nixon resigned before he could be impeached, so count 3)
The matter then goes to the Senate for a trial.
@chrislhayes 8/ When the matter goes to the Senate, the House is FINISHED with its work.
Trump gets a trial in the Senate—a chance to “prove” his innocence. The GOP controls the Senate.
A Senate Trial is a Huge. Big. Deal.
For what to expect, see ⤵️
Trump gets a trial in the Senate—a chance to “prove” his innocence. The GOP controls the Senate.
A Senate Trial is a Huge. Big. Deal.
For what to expect, see ⤵️
@chrislhayes 9/ So far, nothing has come to light that would cause the Republican Senators to remove this president.
The Republicans control the Senate.
Trump owns the GOP.
The Senate would seize the opportunity of a trial to have a national platform to clear the president of wrongdoing. . .
The Republicans control the Senate.
Trump owns the GOP.
The Senate would seize the opportunity of a trial to have a national platform to clear the president of wrongdoing. . .
@chrislhayes 10/ . . . and present their affirmative defense: The real criminality is the Deep State targeting Trump, the Poor Victim.
They'd flood the headlines with their theories and confuse everyone.
"But," you ask "can't the House keep impeaching when they get new evidence?"
They'd flood the headlines with their theories and confuse everyone.
"But," you ask "can't the House keep impeaching when they get new evidence?"
@chrislhayes 11/ As a legal matter, the House can probably impeach each time new evidence emerges.
Imagine this:
💠The FBI investigates.
💠The Prosecutor indicts.
💠There's a trial.
💠The defendant is found innocent.
The prosecutor says, "I have new evidence! I'm filing a new indictment!”
Imagine this:
💠The FBI investigates.
💠The Prosecutor indicts.
💠There's a trial.
💠The defendant is found innocent.
The prosecutor says, "I have new evidence! I'm filing a new indictment!”
@chrislhayes 12/ The person has a second trial.
He’s found innocent again.
The prosecutor says “Wait! I have new evidence!”
What would you think after several trials?
Exactly.
This is what the “Impeach Right NOW” people haven’t understood.
The House really only has one shot.
He’s found innocent again.
The prosecutor says “Wait! I have new evidence!”
What would you think after several trials?
Exactly.
This is what the “Impeach Right NOW” people haven’t understood.
The House really only has one shot.
@chrislhayes 13/ It looks like the Ukraine-Biden-Whistelblower incident could be such a red hot smoking gun that it will be all they need to topple Trump.
But they have to make sure.
Because they can’t throw away their shot.
But they have to make sure.
Because they can’t throw away their shot.
@chrislhayes 13/ end of thread.
I may add questions and comments.
Prof. Helen, did this thread explain why the Republican Senators would hold a trial?
@tribelaw suggested that the House impeach but not send the matter to the Senate avoid such a circus.
I may add questions and comments.
Prof. Helen, did this thread explain why the Republican Senators would hold a trial?
@tribelaw suggested that the House impeach but not send the matter to the Senate avoid such a circus.
@chrislhayes @tribelaw Ha ha ⤵️ Yeah, I get it.
I think the Impeach Right Now people are divided into a few camps.
People in pain who want the pain to end.
…
People who don't understand the process.
Pro-Trump bots trying to goad the House into impeaching. . .
I think the Impeach Right Now people are divided into a few camps.
People in pain who want the pain to end.
…
People who don't understand the process.
Pro-Trump bots trying to goad the House into impeaching. . .
@chrislhayes @tribelaw . . . before they have their hands on the most damning evidence on Trump.
That way Trump can:
💠cruise for the next year declaring himself acquitted (it will actually be true)
💠be the Strongman who bested the Libs
💠and be the victim. ⤵️
That way Trump can:
💠cruise for the next year declaring himself acquitted (it will actually be true)
💠be the Strongman who bested the Libs
💠and be the victim. ⤵️
@chrislhayes @tribelaw I think, if true, this incident could be enough to bring even McConnell to his knees⤵️
It's all here: Corruption, abuse of power, etc., etc.
No need to connect dots.
But the House has to see the evidence.
You don't indict before you see the evidence.
It's all here: Corruption, abuse of power, etc., etc.
No need to connect dots.
But the House has to see the evidence.
You don't indict before you see the evidence.
@chrislhayes @tribelaw I mentioned a few "camps" of Impeach Right Now people.
Consider this group: Those who want to (1) rid of Trump and (2) discredit and weaken the Democratic Party.
There are people who want a reactionary agenda without Trump.
They think the GOP was perfect until 2016 . . .
Consider this group: Those who want to (1) rid of Trump and (2) discredit and weaken the Democratic Party.
There are people who want a reactionary agenda without Trump.
They think the GOP was perfect until 2016 . . .
@chrislhayes @tribelaw . .. as they see it, the only problem with the GOP is Trump.
Get rid of Trump, and all the GOP fools who were led astray & propped him up will come back to their senses and reboard the Newt Gingrich-Evangelical ship, which was blown off course by Trump.
Beware of them.
Get rid of Trump, and all the GOP fools who were led astray & propped him up will come back to their senses and reboard the Newt Gingrich-Evangelical ship, which was blown off course by Trump.
Beware of them.
@chrislhayes @tribelaw Correction in the last tweet:
I think the Evangelicals are happy with Trump, even though he makes them look like hypocrites.
I think the "get rid of Trump and weaken the Democrats" are right wingers unhappy with Trump's economic policies.
They want Paul Ryan purity.
I think the Evangelicals are happy with Trump, even though he makes them look like hypocrites.
I think the "get rid of Trump and weaken the Democrats" are right wingers unhappy with Trump's economic policies.
They want Paul Ryan purity.
@chrislhayes @tribelaw
Correct. Apologies.
That particular tweet was sloppy. Now it has two corrections.
Correct. Apologies.
That particular tweet was sloppy. Now it has two corrections.
@chrislhayes @tribelaw All of my threads are also blog posts. You can view this one here: terikanefield-blog.com/they-cant-thro…
@chrislhayes @tribelaw I also put my threads / blog posts on a Facebook Author page, for people who still prefer Facebook. This one is here: facebook.com/terikanefielda…
