It's Trump's argument that there was "no quid pro quo" that convinces me. If it were a legitimate "favor" he was asking for, then "quid pro quo" is legitimate. That "quid pro quo" would be illegitimate means the favor was illegitimate.
If asking Ukraine to dig up dirt on his political opponents were in the national interest, then threatening or bribing the Ukraine is totally appropriate. In fact, that's pretty much how all foreign policy works.
Would it be legitimate for Trump to say 'Can you do me a favor and send $100,000 to my bank acount? There's no quid pro quo here, I'm promising nothing in return.".
Of course not. And what he's asking is worth more than $100,000 to him -- dirt on Biden.
Of course not. And what he's asking is worth more than $100,000 to him -- dirt on Biden.
So the only question here is the legitimacy of the favor, whether it's a big personal favor or one in the national interest. And Trump makes it clear: it's a big personal favor he asked for.
