,
11 tweets,
3 min read
Read on Twitter
Explicit quid pro quo. Felony bribery.
Zelensky: “We are ready to continue to cooperate... buy more Javelins”
@realDonaldTrump: “I would like you to do us a favor THOUGH.”
This is linguistically the same as “If you do us a favor...” or
“However, you do us a favor...”
Zelensky: “We are ready to continue to cooperate... buy more Javelins”
@realDonaldTrump: “I would like you to do us a favor THOUGH.”
This is linguistically the same as “If you do us a favor...” or
“However, you do us a favor...”
2/ This also strongly suggests felony campaign coordination and bribery conspiracy by Attorney General William Barr.
It is criminal to knowingly solicit foreign campaign contributions (oppo research) and to coordinate.
It is criminal to knowingly solicit foreign campaign contributions (oppo research) and to coordinate.
3/ Folks, this is not hard.
There are two basic elements of bribery.
First, quid pro quo:
A: I would like to you to do me a favor.
B: "I would like you to do us a favor though..."
"Though" creates a conditional.
Check.
There are two basic elements of bribery.
First, quid pro quo:
A: I would like to you to do me a favor.
B: "I would like you to do us a favor though..."
"Though" creates a conditional.
Check.
4/ The 2d element is the "quo" must be "corrupt" "influence," "fraud," or "violation of lawful duty."
Page 4:
Trump: "The other thing, there's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution..."
Unlawful foreign solicitation/coordination (civil or criminal).
Page 4:
Trump: "The other thing, there's a lot of talk about Biden's son, that Biden stopped the prosecution..."
Unlawful foreign solicitation/coordination (civil or criminal).
5/ The quid/quo from p.2 to top p.3 moves immediately to Trump's next point, bottom 3 to top 4:
Zelensky should work with Giuliani and AG Barr "to find out about" "Biden's son" & "Biden."
This is bribery as corrupt influence (18 USC 201b1A) and/or unlawful (18 USC 201b1C).
Zelensky should work with Giuliani and AG Barr "to find out about" "Biden's son" & "Biden."
This is bribery as corrupt influence (18 USC 201b1A) and/or unlawful (18 USC 201b1C).
6/ Key reminder:
"High crimes and misdemeanors" for impeachment ARE NOT limited to felonies.
The Framers purposely used the English phrase for abuse of power, not felonies.
If people argue this transcript is bad but not criminal, they are missing the point and moving goalposts.
"High crimes and misdemeanors" for impeachment ARE NOT limited to felonies.
The Framers purposely used the English phrase for abuse of power, not felonies.
If people argue this transcript is bad but not criminal, they are missing the point and moving goalposts.
7/ The call took place on July 25, with Trump saying AG Barr & Giuliani were in on this plot.
A week before: Trump order Mulvaney to block $391M from Ukraine.
3 days after: Trump forces out DNI Coats for hack Ratcliffe.
Many officials are implicated.
politico.com/story/2019/09/…
A week before: Trump order Mulvaney to block $391M from Ukraine.
3 days after: Trump forces out DNI Coats for hack Ratcliffe.
Many officials are implicated.
politico.com/story/2019/09/…
8/ Three final observations:
A) This bribery transcript is so damning and criminal, and yet the White House just released it without a fight.
It's hard not to wonder what must be in the IG whistleblower report, Trump's tax returns, and Trump's bank records...
A) This bribery transcript is so damning and criminal, and yet the White House just released it without a fight.
It's hard not to wonder what must be in the IG whistleblower report, Trump's tax returns, and Trump's bank records...
9/
B) If Trump, Barr, & Giuliani had to take such risks to press Ukraine to investigate, it suggests the DOJ and FBI resisted their corrupt pressure for a partisan prosecution of the Bidens.
That says a ton about the weakness of Trump's lies & the strength of our rule of law...
B) If Trump, Barr, & Giuliani had to take such risks to press Ukraine to investigate, it suggests the DOJ and FBI resisted their corrupt pressure for a partisan prosecution of the Bidens.
That says a ton about the weakness of Trump's lies & the strength of our rule of law...
10/ Impeach Barr.
C) It is obvious Barr must recuse himself.
It is equally obvious Barr will resist such calls...
But impeaching Barr for such conduct either forces him to recuse or highlights his unethical behavior if he won't.
At least it scrutinizes his conduct.
C) It is obvious Barr must recuse himself.
It is equally obvious Barr will resist such calls...
But impeaching Barr for such conduct either forces him to recuse or highlights his unethical behavior if he won't.
At least it scrutinizes his conduct.
Update on Barr: He won't recuse despite being named in the memorandum of conversation as potentially a co-conspirator.
This is crazy and completely unsurprising in 2019.
This is crazy and completely unsurprising in 2019.
