General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsSo, just in case somebody asks what those impeachable offenses are...
I see this in the comment-sections of RT all the time.
"They are talking about impeachment but never mention what they would impeach him for! They got nothing!"
1. In a fit of rage, Trump openly called into question the legitimacy of a sitting judge by calling him a "so-called judge". That's an attack on the separation of powers and unbecoming of somebody holding the office of President of the United States.
2. Trump has said that he fired Comey to stop the FBI-investigation that's supposed to find out whether he had colluded with Russia to manipulate the 2016 election. That's obstruction of justice.
3. Though he has abandoned all leadership-roles in corporations in which he owns shares, nothing has changed with respect to the income he makes from his shares in these corporations: The money is still going directly into his pocket, just as before. Now, when members of a foreign government e.g. stay in one of his hotels, Trump is receiving a direct financial benefit from that. And that is illegal under the emoluments clause.
4. Many positions in the administration are appointees. Trump is refusing to even nominate people for institutions such as the State Department and the EPA, because he cannot find people who meet his criteria of personal loyalty to him. Without these workers, the US-government is severely understaffed and hardly capable of carrying out its work and Trump is thereby weakening the US. That's dereliction of duty.
5. Trump's oath of office states that he would "faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States". That includes enforcing the laws of the US. Such as the Affordable Care Act. But Trump is openly sabotaging the ACA by withholding subsidies. (The insurance-companies are getting really pissed because he is destabilizing the healthcare-market...) He has also voiced his intention to sabotage the ACA and to use the ensuing chaos for political leverage. That's in direct opposition to the spirit of his oath of office. As long as the ACA exists, he is oath-bound to enforce it.
And we haven't even gotten into stuff that's still being investigated. (And, Yes, a President can be impeached for stuff he did before entering office.)
Like whether or not he and/or his aides colluded with Russia.
Or whether he knew that he was doing business with the russian mob for the Trump Soho-project. (If he did, well, that's racketeering.)
Whether or not russian investors used their connections to him for money-laundering.
Or why one of his servers was regularly communicating with a server from the russian Alfa-Bank.
Whether or not that empty Trump Hotel in the middle of nowhere in Azerbaijan was a money-laundering venture for the ruling family.
Whether or not his blabbing about code-word level intelligence has damaged the trust of US-allies and therefore endangered national security.
BSdetect
(8,994 posts)ginnyinWI
(17,276 posts)He's done two of them now. Has not gone to Congress for authorization, which is an impeachable offense.
https://www.thenation.com/article/donald-trump-committed-another-impeachable-offense-this-week/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily%2005222017&utm_term=daily
JoeStuckInOH
(544 posts)be impeachable at that moment in history. Evidently, requirements to satisfy any impeachment proceedings in the House and (any relevant) trials in the senate are completely unique to the state of the nation at that time. It is not like a trial by jury with rules and regulations where the congress must vote in accordance with jury instructions.
If a majority of the house decides they want to impeach him, then it can happen for whatever reason they deem is relevent. The everyday comparison would be thinking of the HoR as the grand jury voting to go trial and the Senate to be the actual trial. Impeachment is really only analogous to an indictment. Alone, impeachment does not equate to removal from office. To actually remove him from office, the senate has to vote a supermajority on the charges brought up on the impeachable offenses.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,548 posts)Articles of impeachment can be whatever Congress has the political will to pursue. I'm guessing this Congress would not pursue impeachment if Trump were to lie u dear oath about his sex life, but the acts listed in the OP, along with others being investigated will force the GOP to choose between country and party, as well as retaining their majority.
JoeStuckInOH
(544 posts)Did he lie "under oath"? Sure. But it was about getting a blowjob from a WH staffer. They knew it was never going to get to the Senate for pursuing criminal charges . I think the GOP just knew they could get egg on his face based on a technicality.
TalenaGor
(1,104 posts)I would love it if this could be kept updated
also - permission to repost as needed w/proper credit of course