1. A thread from me on the Senate trial of Trump.
Pelosi was right to delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate till after the holiday recess, because she’s created space for a total focus on procedure for A FAIR TRIAL.
Pelosi was right to delay sending the articles of impeachment to the Senate till after the holiday recess, because she’s created space for a total focus on procedure for A FAIR TRIAL.
2. Trump screamed ‘I did Nothing Wrong’, ‘Unfair, Rigged’ since he was caught. He said he looks forward to a Fair Trial in the Senate, and has put up a witness list, including the Whistleblower, Hunter Biden & Adam Schiff. His base, believing GOP bullshit, wants a real trial too!
3. FAIR is a big word in real democracies. It means EVERYTHING something in the legal systems of real democracies, essential to ‘The rule of law, not men’.
A fair trial means Trump’s conviction, or acquittal as bad but not enough for removal. All players bar Trump know this.
A fair trial means Trump’s conviction, or acquittal as bad but not enough for removal. All players bar Trump know this.
4. How do they know? Trump transcript a confession that he asked a foreign Govt to criminally investigate a US citizen, & a political rival to boot. Compelling evidence Ukraine was prepped for the demand. WH refused to reveal even to to a worried McConnell, why aid was stopped.
5. This is Trump’s guilty man defence.
1. Perfect call. The big lie.
2. Refuse to give any WH documents to Congress, order Defence & State Depts, & OMB, to do the same. Obvious illegality of that shown by Court FOI orders releasing some to the people!
1. Perfect call. The big lie.
2. Refuse to give any WH documents to Congress, order Defence & State Depts, & OMB, to do the same. Obvious illegality of that shown by Court FOI orders releasing some to the people!
6.
3. Order that no WH official or Cabinet Secretaries with knowledge - Pompeo and Energy Sec Perry - even turn up to impeachment hearing after being subpoenaed. Unprecedented non-cooperation already determined by a judge to be illegal (politico.com/news/2019/11/2…)
3. Order that no WH official or Cabinet Secretaries with knowledge - Pompeo and Energy Sec Perry - even turn up to impeachment hearing after being subpoenaed. Unprecedented non-cooperation already determined by a judge to be illegal (politico.com/news/2019/11/2…)
7. Democrats want to call the still official head of OMB, Mulvaney, & 2 OMB officers, to shed light on the black hole Trump has created with his obstruction. A junior OMB officer has given evidence that two colleagues had resigned during the aid hold.
google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theg…
google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theg…
8. Democrats also want to call Boulton, an icon in the GOP who evidence has called the Ukraine sting a “drug deal”. Boulton says he has lots of new info, but would not testify in the House due to Trump orders.
If the Senate called him he would comply.
If the Senate called him he would comply.
9. So here we are.
To my mind McConnell announced that he & Trump would be as one on trial procedure to force Trump to agree to no witnesses so McConnell could save him.
How?
He would break with Trump if he insisted on calling witnesses.
Why?
To my mind McConnell announced that he & Trump would be as one on trial procedure to force Trump to agree to no witnesses so McConnell could save him.
How?
He would break with Trump if he insisted on calling witnesses.
Why?
10. Reason 1 - He knows Democrats witnesses would destroy Trump’s claims of innocence.
Reason 2. GOP Senators do not want Whistleblower, Hunter Biden Schiff called.
Whistleblower: As GOP said at the time complaint released, it’s all hearsay, since proven by direct evidence
Reason 2. GOP Senators do not want Whistleblower, Hunter Biden Schiff called.
Whistleblower: As GOP said at the time complaint released, it’s all hearsay, since proven by direct evidence
11. Biden’s son: Trump or GOP produced no evidence he did anything wrong. He’s sleazy, sure, got a sinecure because of his last name, but Biden’s actions endorsed by the GOP, IMF, Europe - all wanted action on corruption and chief prosecutor was taking bribes to not prosecute...
12. The Senate allowing Trump to call a witness to an impeachment trial without evidence he has anything to do with it is a real witch-hunt. Not to mention the precedent it sets for politician’s children. Remember Biden is a respected former Senator.
13. Shiff: What an extraordinary precedent to set - calling the head of a Congress committee for cross examination on his investigation is wild. Just wild. So the Senate would be investigating the investigator. And, of course, the Dems could retaliate by calling Nunes.
14. To save Trump, and his Senators’ crippling choices if there’s a fair trial, McConnell effectively says he’ll lie when he takes the Senators’ oath as ‘jurors’.
Yet Trump’s lawyer Guilliani now says he has amazing new evidence that Joe Biden is corrupt (won’t reveal it)
Yet Trump’s lawyer Guilliani now says he has amazing new evidence that Joe Biden is corrupt (won’t reveal it)
16. Guilliani is throwing red meant to the base - HE’S conducting the witch-hunt, building base demands for ‘the trial of the century’
How must most GOP Senators feel?
The Senate is supposed to be “the world’s greatest deliberative body”.
google.com.au/amp/s/www.vox.…
How must most GOP Senators feel?
The Senate is supposed to be “the world’s greatest deliberative body”.
google.com.au/amp/s/www.vox.…
17. Thus, McConnell wants a quick no docos no witnesses trial to give his Senators the least possible patriotic angst in acquiring a President they all know is guilty.
Pelosi gives him articles now & he spends the holidays getting his Senators onboard for an official coverup.
Pelosi gives him articles now & he spends the holidays getting his Senators onboard for an official coverup.
18. I see 3 big advantages in Pelosi’s delay:
1. Shiff keeps investigating hoping new docos and witnessed emerge before trial.
2. Pelosi keeps control for now, encouraging robust debate on what a fair trial & ‘impartial justice’ means. Puts pressure on principled Senators.
1. Shiff keeps investigating hoping new docos and witnessed emerge before trial.
2. Pelosi keeps control for now, encouraging robust debate on what a fair trial & ‘impartial justice’ means. Puts pressure on principled Senators.
19. Most importantly maybe, Pelosi could dare Trump, after his 6 page letter to her, to negotiate a fair trial direct with her, woman to man. And call him a snivelling coward, and unAmerican, if he refuses to agree to a fair fight.
ENDS.
ENDS.
20. PS: As it happens, scandal has seen Trump unravel US and bipartisan Congress policy to support Ukraine against Russia, as Trump claims it was really Ukraine, not Russia, who interfered in 2016 election.
It’s now official: The USA is a Russian ally.
It’s now official: The USA is a Russian ally.
