Thread by @alexdschiller

The facts of an impeachable offense by Trump - A Thread:

Col. Vindman testified that he witnessed EU Amb. Sondland informing Ukrainian representatives that a White House meeting would be predicated on the announcement of "investigation into 2016, the Bidens, & Burisma."

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Acting Ukraine Ambassador, William Taylor, testified to witnessing EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland report that Trump insisted Zelinsky "go to a microphone and say he is opening investigations of 'Biden and 2016 election interference.'"

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EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland did not dispute these claims, when asked under oath.

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These claims are all substantiated by the "transcript" of the 2nd Ukraine call released by the WH, in which Trump - directly after Pres. Zelensky stated, "We are ready to cooperate for the next steps," & mentioned purchasing weapons - replied...

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..."I would like you to do us a favor though..."

Col. Vindman further testified that Trump told Zelinsky, on that same call, that there were tapes of Biden discussing Ukraine corruption (which has not been substantiated), and that Zelinsky specifically mentioned by Burisma-

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-by name - but those details were omitted from the call "transcript."

Additionally, we know that Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, who also serves as the director of the OMB (the agency tasked with distributing congressionally approved funds to Ukraine) publicly stated...

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...that aid was tied to political favors, before retracting that statement. Mulvaney was responsible for delaying the aid.

We know that the Pentagon determined that the conditions for releasing those funds had been met in May.

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We know that Ukraine was aware of the delay as early as August. And we know the aid was mysteriously released, without an official reason for the delay or the release, within days of the WH being briefed on the whistleblower report...

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...and the announcement of a House investigation into the matter.

Republican Senator Ron Johnson also told the press that when he asked Trump if he could let Zelinsky know the aid would be released, Trump declined and asked "What about 2016? What about 2016?"

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Nobody has refuted any of these claims under oath. Nobody who is in a position to refute these claims under oath has agreed to testify, or complied with a subpoena.

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These are statements made by a Republican Senator, a career service member (under oath), and three Trump appointees (two under oath).

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Now, based on this info (& only this info) it is more than clear that Trump predicated official acts of office on Ukrainian actions that would benefit him personally. It is supported by statements under oath, public statements by Trump allies & the documentation of the call-

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- provided by the White House.

Either Trump is lying, or all of the people mentioned here - who directly witnessed or participated in the relevant incidents - are lying.

There is no third option.

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Nobody is willing to go on the record and call these witnesses liars. Nobody is willing to challenge these witnesses claims with perjury charges.

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Any action by those seeking to defend Trump that do not include opposing testimony provided under oath, or Trump appointees being charged with and convicted of perjury, is nothing more than a distraction or a deflection.

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President Trump attempted to solicit a bribe from a foreign government in order to benefit his potential reelection. He did so while acting against the United States' foreign interests.

He has committed an impeachable offense.

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Nobody has claimed otherwise in a legally binding statement. Nobody has agreed to testify to support an alternative version of events or explanation. Trump's legal team has repeatedly declined to offer a defense.

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There is no logical reason for anyone who has reviewed these facts to draw the conclusion that Trump has not committed an impeachable offense.

There is only distraction, obfuscation, deflection and complication.

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Claims that Zelensky said "no pressure," irrelevant.
Claims that "us" meant the country, irrelevant.
Claims that Biden's son was corrupt, irrelevant.
Claims that there is no documented proof, irrelevant.
Claims that Trump has unilateral authority, irrelevant.

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Claims that Ukraine interfered in 2016, irrelevant.
Claims that the funds were later released, irrelevant.
Claims that Trump said "no quid pro quo," irrelevant.

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GOP Trump defenders in congress must now refute the testimony given under oath, prosecute those who have perjured themselves, provide exonerating evidence, or accept the reality of these accusations and stop obstructing justice in order to protect their party and President.

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Anything less is an absolute violation of their oaths of office.

"If you have the facts on your side, pound the facts. If you have the law on your side, pound the law. If you have neither on your side, pound the table."
- Legal proverb

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"Otherwise, it's time to pound sand."
- Alex

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#ImpeachmentInquiry #impeachment #TrumpBribery #GOPCorruptionOverCountry #GOPCorruption #ImpeachAndRemove
#FactsMatter #LiarInChief #Ukraine