Thread by @KDbyProxy

FUN FACT: There is a *bribery article* in the impeachment articles against President Trump.

It's Article I.

"But, Ira – Article I is titled 'ABUSE OF POWER', not 'BRIBERY', so how can you say that?"

Because it's not the title. It's the acts alleged.

B/c history…

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As we know, Article II of the Constitution states an official may be impeached for "Bribery".

But when the House has impeached officials for having committed bribery, has the House actually impeached them verbatim for "Bribery"? 🤔

Let's look at two cases...

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In 1988 the House impeached Judge Alcee Hastings for having committed bribery, but they didn't impeach him verbatim for "Bribery."

Here's Article I which has been called the "bribery" article, yet note: The word "bribery" never appears.

Puzzling, huh?

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In 1876 the House impeached "late Secretary of War" William Belknap for committing bribery – that is, because he'd taken huge bribes from people to appoint them to run trading posts at western Army forts.

But did the House impeach him verbatim for "Bribery"? No.

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Now a third case – not as broadly notorious as Hastings' & Belknap's, but the most recent one.

In 2010 the House impeached Judge Thomas Porteous for committing bribery.

But verbatim for "Bribery"? No.

Here's how Article I voted against Judge Porteous begins and ends…

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Judge Porteous "[A] engaged in a pattern of conduct that [B] is incompatible with the trust and confidence placed in him as a Federal judge".

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While the pending Article I against President Trump finds:

His "[A] course of conduct [including the commission of bribery as alleged in Section 2]" is "[B] grossly incompatible with self-governance and the rule of law... [and] thus warrants impeachment".

In other words...

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Hastings, Belknap, Porteous and Trump each engaged in at least one act of bribery…

For which each of them was/is being impeached…

Even if none was/is accused verbatim of "Bribery"…

B/c bribery constituted/s impeachable "Abuse Of Power" of their offices by each of them.

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"Yes, Virginia, there is a bribery clause."

While certain law profs & others have been saying Trump's impeachment articles don't charge him w/ bribery, I've been saying otherwise… and now, per the ppl who wrote those articles, seems I've been right.

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rules.house.gov/sites/democrat…

And…

"Yes, Virginia, there is a wire fraud clause."

Which is how I read this part of the House Judiciary Cmte's report (and if I momentarily assume my name is Virginia), because I've been saying "wire fraud" for 2+ months, while the response has been… crickets. 'Til now.

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