May I offer an optimistic thread to end what was a year of continued Trump corruption, as a way to catapult us into 2020 - that being the last year of a Trump administration? The recent @nytimes article is a game-changer or, as I called it yesterday, a "stop-the-presses" moment.
The Times reported that there was an Oval Office meeting in August, well after corrupt phone call between Trump and President Zelensky in which Trump tried to bribe/extort/strong-arm Zelensky into announcing a bogus investigation into the Bidens. During the August meeting,
some of the highest ranking officials in our government, Defense Secretary Esper, Secretary of State Pompeo and National Security Advisor Bolton, told President Trump that withholding money that Congress designated to go to Ukraine to defend itself against
unlawful Russian aggression was not in best interests of the United States. Let's say that again, top Republican administration officials told Trump that withholding the Ukrainian defense funds WAS AGAINST AMERICA'S INTERESTS. This is the equivalent of Esper, Pompeo and Bolton
telling Trump, 'You are abusing the power of your office by acting in your own personal interest and AGAINST the interests of United States.' This leads to the inescapable conclusion that not only did Trump abuse his power and his office, but he did so
knowingly, intentionally & after being informed by his own Republican appointees that he was abusing his office. This is hard evidence, direct evidence, evidence proving beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump abused his power exactly as stated in Article of Impeachment #1.
Now, I would call this a game changer but that assumes the Republicans in the Senate are willing to play a fair game. Thus far, the McConnells and Grahams of this sad affair have announced that they will continue trying to cook up a rigged Senate trial.
Given that the House of Representatives has concluded (as evidenced by it impeachment vote) that Trump abused his power, and given that we know there is hard evidence that proves Esper, Pompeo and Bolton AGREE with that conclusion - having told Trump
he was acting against America's interests by withholding the Ukrainian funds, there is no question but that Trump should be convicted & removed from office. Moreover, Bolton, Pompeo and Esper (and others) should testify at the Senate trial (indeed, I like witnesses who testify).
If Bolton, Pompeo & Esper refuse to testify, they'll be big-ticket co-conspirators in the coverup of Trump's crimes & abuses. Given that #JusticeIsComing I can't imagine they want to remain co-conspirators. We The People deserve the truth about this dangerously corrupt president.
