Hasn’t the WH already released transcripts of conversations with reporters, etc that were FILMED and yet the WH still edited the transcripts? Why wouldn’t they just heavily edit this transcript and no one would be any the wiser?
I guess I don’t understand the impeachment process. Does it provide new powers to Congress?
Why isn’t trump going to just refuse all access to documents and claim everyone down to his wig maker has executive privilege?
tRUmp’s entire defense for withholding his taxes involves arguing the request has no legislative merit. Once formal impeachment begins, that’s out the window.
Trump will never turn incriminating things over and that probably goes for the entire federal government. Maybe NY state gets the tax returns. Maybe Trump does some Saturday Night Massacres to keep things from coming out and that’s what finally turns the GOP against him. But, he’s not just turning over stuff because he’s legally obliged to do it.
2 Likes
He successfully got away with arguing non staff have executive privilege a few weeks ago allowing him not to answer questions to Congress. I don’t see why impeachment is different.
1 Like
Sure. So he then moves on to the “fuck you, no” defence which is at least as effective, if not more so.
I see it going 1 of 2 ways.
-
He digs in and continues to obstruct and these things are eventually released to Congress by the courts, which will fast track the rulings because of impeachment.
-
He takes the Nixon way out to assure the pardon from Pence
If the whistleblower complaint has veracity, and involves multiple conversations including disclosing information about our intelligence apparatus and the identity of spies to Putin, I think he resigns.
I really don’t see any scenario where he resigns. It goes against just about everything we know about him.
4 Likes
The lawbro answer is what kre8tive laid out. Once impeachment starts, Congress is taking on more of an investigatory / quasi-judicial role so they should, in theory, be given greater authority to subpoena documents, compel witnesses to testify, etc. The practical problems are (a) the courts haven’t had to make many ruling in this area and, especially given the number of conservative justices on the bench, we can’t be sure about the actual outcome, (b) the issues are novel enough that, even if Trump loses, he can burn a lot of clock, and running out the clock helps him and (c) as you point out, we REALLY don’t know what the enforcement mechanisms look like for a President who just says LOLNO to every other branch of government. Frankly, we can spout a lot of platitudes about how the system should work, but it’s never actually been stress tested in this manner, so everyone is just out here SWAGing and anyone who says they know what will happen should have their take buried in a salt mine.
1 Like
If he resigns, he could be open to criminal prosecution. He’s in the classic dictator situation of not being able to get off the tiger.
1 Like
If he can get a blanket pardon from Pence, it gives him a softer landing.
No. But Accountancy firms, banks, insurance companies, etc may.
Is this true? What prevents the same people from continuing to say lol no and handing nothing over?
Pence can’t pardon his numerous State level crimes, Trump’s plan is POTUS until death.
I sure wouldn’t trust my freedom to Pence pinky-swearing to pardon me.
Announcement of an announcement of an announcement of an angry letter incoming.
1 Like
We’re never getting a satisfying ending here. He’s never being impeached and he’s never quitting. If he loses, he will refuse to leave office and likely cut a deal for total immunity to go away quietly.