Thread by @KlasfeldReports

Lead impeachment manager, HPSCI Chairman Adam Schiff:

"Senators, we are not enemies but friends. We must not be enemies."

"It is midnight in Washington."

Schiff:

Somewhere in the bowels of Trump's Justice Department, Main Justice acknowledged 24 emails showing the president's thinking on Ukraine.

Schiff points out that admission released the midnight after Senate blocked witnesses.

ICYMI: latimes.com/world-nation/s…

Schiff skewers Dershowitz argument that abuse of power isn't impeachable: "Trump could offer Alaska to the Russians in exchange for support in the next elections."

He adds later: "Of course this would be absurd. More than absurd, it would be dangerous."

Schiff calls Dershowitz argument that using government power for naked political gain could be in the public interest so extreme other White House lawyers distanced themselves from it.

Schiff addressed the argument: "He's guilty as sin, but can't we just let the voters decide?"

The congressman diplomatically avoids noting this is Senator Lamar Alexander's argument.

Schiff sums it up as: "Why not just let the voters clean up this mess?"

Schiff notes the new AG in charge of the Justice Department: "Donald Trump had no more Jeff Sessions. He had just the man he wanted in Bill Barr."

The congressman cites Barr's view of the "imperial presidency."

Schiff refers to Rudy Giuliani as Trump's "personal emissary," a phrase pithier and more accurate than "personal attorney" often used in news copy.

Schiff on White House claims of immunity: "Every single court to hear Mr. Philbin's arguments has rejected them."

Schiff on difference between Nixon and Clinton impeachments: "What then accounts for the disparate results in bipartisan support for his removal? What has changed? The answer is: We have changed. The members of Congress have changed."

Speaking of the pattern of accepting misconduct from one's own party, Schiff says: "That is a trend most dangerous for our country."

Listing Trump attacks on democratic guardrails, Schiff cites: "The press portrayed as the #enemiesofthepeople."

"Does none of that matter any more, if he's the president of our party?"

Schiff adds he hopes and prays that Democrats never have a president like Donald Trump.

Schiff: "It is said that a single man or woman with courage makes a majority."

He asks whether there is one Senator who will say: "Enough!"

Returning to the themes of his #RightMatters speech, Schiff thunders: "Decency matters!"

Schiff to senators: "Truth matters to you. Right matter to you. You are decent. He is not."