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THREAD ON IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL IN THE NEW YEAR. The conventional wisdom is that the Republicans in the Senate will rush to acquit Trump. I outline here why I think that overstates the case, and that the process has any number of variables in which things may change.
1.Trump wants you to believe that the outcome is preordained. But it’s not. Particularly when he acts the way he does.

In short, he acts like a guilty man.
2. First, the facts. Trump has done something no one has done, not even Nixon. Categorically blocked all witnesses&documents in impeachment. That’s how a guilty man behaves. Nixon’s support looked strong through the start of impeachment, but it crumbled

nytimes.com/2019/11/12/opi…
3. Trump has outed the whistleblower by name. Is that how an innocent man behaves?

4. Trump has never been able to come up with a coherent story for why the aid to Ukraine was suspended. I don’t have space to detail all of that here, but my book with @SammyKoppelman goes through all his shifting explanations in detail.

amazon.com/Impeach-Case-A…
@SammyKoppelman 5. Now, why should any of those pesky facts matter to a Senate, particularly one controlled by Mitch McConnell who has publicly pledged to move in lockstep with the White House and acquit the President? #CanIGetAWitnessMitch ?

6. First, because even McConnell has no appreciation for our system of law, others do. His statements blatantly violate his Oath, which requires him to do impartial justice. And our Constitution puts the Chief Justice in charge of the impeachment trial.
7. Chief Justice Roberts will strive to do impartial justice, even if McConnell won’t. His New Year’s Eve Statement was characteristic.

8. Second, the case for blocking the witnesses is a really hard one. McConnell looks like he’s protecting a guilty man with something to hide. This weekend’s revelations in the @nytimes make McConnell’s position increasingly untenable.

washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/…
9. Third, Dems are giving Trump what he wanted. During House proceedings, Trump said he wanted witnesses to testify, just in Senate not the House. Dems have called him on it. Bait&switch now? Trump is acting even more like a guilty man b/c he is afraid.

10. It is no surprise @lisamurkowski raised concerns about McConnell & @SenatorCollins announced she is open to witnesses. I expect pressure to build. @MittRomney will be critical. Ultimately, I can see a resolution leaving these questions to CJ Roberts.

@lisamurkowski @SenatorCollins @MittRomney 11. Trump’s actions, which look, smell, and sound like that of a guilty man are just the start. He is becoming increasingly erratic, stumbling into lawbreaking like revealing the whistleblower identity and the like.
12. And that is why you see Trump’s support cracking in quarter after quarter. Christianity Today. Influential conservatives like @RameshPonnuru.

nationalreview.com/magazine/2019/…
@RameshPonnuru 13. Apart from witnesses, longstanding Senate impeachment rules say that the President is summoned to appear in the Senate when impeached. Trump should testify. If he thinks he did nothing wrong, #SayItUnderOath. That’s what innocent people do, day in and day out.
14. I have never felt the case for impeachment is political, it’s based on the rule of law. Whether it hurts Dems or helps Republicans is beside the point. It’s our duty. People like me just want process – a real trial where both sides make their case.
15. And the thing that gets me the most, is that Trump is behaving like a guilty man. If this were such an easy case, as he claims, he should do what every other American does – face justice and tell his story. The fact that he is afraid to do that speaks volumes.
16. Trump is afraid of the truth.
And he is afraid of you and me knowing the truth.
There is hope that our Senate will see that.

END
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More from @neal_katyal see all

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Neal Katyal
@neal_katyal
Or @SpeakerPelosi could just send Article 2 (Obstruction of Cong) to Senate since Bolton doesn't necessarily have info on that

And then subpoena Bolton, who obv has info relevant to Article 1(Ukraine). He has even said he has new info. Then 1st trial could focus on obstruction
@SpeakerPelosi Again, none of this is ideal. But when the Senate Majority Leader says the stuff he has said about total coordination with the WH and predetermining the outcome, the House has to react to ensure the truth comes out and that a real trial takes place....
If actions like this look irregular, it's because they are a reaction to a tremendous irregular (indeed constitutional abdication) process led by Senator McConnell
Read 3 tweets
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Neal Katyal
@neal_katyal
I think House should subpoena Bolton b/c McConnell wont guarantee witnesses
He claims that happened w/Clinton,but there SenMaj leader didnt say “there will be no difference between the president’s position and our position” nor “There’s no chance president is going to be removed”
McConnell is angling for a sham trial. No one (besides Trump) benefits from that. The whole point of a trial is to provide the public w/reassurance that the truth has been ferreted out. That's always impt, never more so than now, given Trump's Iran action washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/0…
@SpeakerPelosi has been absolutely right in her urgency around impeachment. But given that McConnell cant commit to even the most basic of truth-seeking (e.g., testimony from a witness whom the deft gagged, who now wants to testify),the need for truth > expediency of a sham trial
Read 3 tweets
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Neal Katyal
@neal_katyal
The @washingtonpost review of my book is now out: IMPEACH "offers as concise&evenhanded a summation of the accusations ...as one can find between two covers. Read this if undecided, and as promised you will be far better prepared" washingtonpost.com/outlook/still-…
@washingtonpost "The book, when read comprehensively and not merely ravaged for political talking points, makes a persuasive case."
@washingtonpost amazon.com/Impeach-Case-A…
Read 3 tweets

Related threads

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Chris Winters
@TheChrisWinters
(Thread 1/15) Some thoughts on today’s #impeachment news, which I wrote about @yesmagazine here: yesmagazine.org/opinion/2019/1…
Start with the basics: the House will likely vote to impeach Trump and the Senate will vote to acquit. Is there a point to this process? I argue yes, for two reasons. (2/15)
One: moral. The impeachment clause in the Constitution was created by the framers to avoid an entirely foreseeable consequence: a ruler who is corrupt, criminal, and/or subject to foreign influence. (3/15)
Read 15 tweets
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Peter Daou
@peterdaou
THREAD - THE #IMPEACHMENT CHARADE

(Note: If you're offended by someone refusing to cheerlead for #Pelosi and Dem leaders, I'd suggest you avoid this thread.)

Let's break it down. We've had weeks of #ImpeachmentHearings to "inquire" about what Trump FREELY admitted on October 3.
THE #IMPEACHMENT CHARADE

And these hearings came after months of Dem leaders refusing to #ImpeachTrump for:

Torturing migrant kids.

Violating the #EmolumentsClause.

Assaulting the First Amendment.

Obstructing justice with #Mueller.

Inciting #WhiteSupremacist terrorism.
THE #IMPEACHMENT CHARADE

Apparently #Pelosi's brilliant "long game" was to give Trump a pass on ALL his numerous egregious abuses of power, and to wait for a #whistleblower to magically appear.

And the ultimate offense was not kidnapping brown children, but coming for #Biden.
Read 6 tweets
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G. Elliott Morris
@gelliottmorris
#NEW Polling on impeachment from The Economist and YouGov:

- 50% of registered voters support impeaching POTUS. 39% oppose. !! +11 is up from -12 in July. !!
- 36% of Indies and 11% of Reps support impeachment

- 51% of RVs support impeachment AND removal from office, 39% oppose
- 67% of registered voters say that “abuse of power” warrants removal from office
- 68% of RVs say the same about obstruction of justice
- 71% of RVs say that perjury warrants removal
- 59% of registered voters say they believe it is illegal for the president “to threaten withholding foreign aid to a country if that country refuses to take action that benefits the president”
- 69% of RVs say it would be inappropriate for a president to do this
Read 5 tweets
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Peter Daou
@peterdaou
THREAD: DEBUNKING ANTI-IMPEACHMENT ARGUMENTS

I wrote a piece taking apart the specious arguments against #impeachment

You know, things like "the Senate won't convict..." "It's too divisive..." "Trump is goading Dems..." and so on.

peterdaou.com/no-good-argume…
SPIN: The Senate won’t convict so there’s no point impeaching in the House.

FACT: It doesn't matter what the Senate does. The Constitution demands impeachment.
SPIN: Democrats need to gather more evidence to make an airtight case for impeachment.

FACT: We don't need more evidence.
Read 12 tweets
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Tyson Nagler
@tysonnagler
Thread: My thoughts on Donald Trump.

I voted for H.W. Bush in my first election. I bought "Art of the Deal" while heading off to college in the late 80's. Impressed me. I was a Berkeley College Republican. I wanted safe borders, strong economy. I received a business degree, and
2/
went to work on Wall Street through the 90's. There I learned @realDonaldTrump is a low-life scumbag self-promoting loser. A laughingstock. Disappointed, but I found respectable leaders to look up to. Then I watched the first season of The Apprentice. Unexpectedly fresh; a
3/

new Donald? Great opportunity, wondered if I should try out. I watched the last episode with Trump on, and l thanked god I chose to stay out of his staged theater. Ignorant maniac. I watched him start conspiracy theories against a President, and demolish the competition in
Read 10 tweets
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Dr. Dena Grayson
@DrDenaGrayson
🔥THREAD on #impeachment🔥

I said last year that Trump would be out this year, but he won't be impeached by then. If he goes👉🏼he resigns. 1/
There are several events that would send a STRONG signal to Congress & the WH that Trump is DOOMED and WOULD BE impeached‼️ 2/
1) Congress subpoenas WH. Senate already threatening subpoeanas b/c the WH refuses to turn over documents re: Flynn, #Comey firing, etc🤔 3/
Read 13 tweets

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