Trump at brink of impeachment as U.S. House committee approves charges

[rooster59]

Trump at brink of impeachment as U.S. House committee approves charges

By Susan Cornwell

 

U.S. President Donald Trump talks to reporters about impeachment as he meets with Paraguay's President Mario Abdo Benitez in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 13, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday took Republican President Donald Trump to the brink of impeachment by approving two charges against him over his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic political rival Joe Biden.

 

A badly divided House Judiciary Committee voted 23-17 along party lines to approve articles of impeachment charging Trump with both abusing the power of his office over the Ukraine scandal and obstructing House Democrats' attempts to investigate him for it.

 

Trump is expected to become the third U.S. president to be impeached when the full Democratic-led House votes on the charges, likely next week, setting up a trial in the Republican-controlled Senate. The Republicans have shown no signs of wanting to remove Trump from office.

 

In congressional hearings that have gripped Washington, Democrats have accused the president of endangering the U.S. Constitution, jeopardizing national security and undermining the integrity of the 2020 election by asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July phone call to investigate Biden.

 

"Today is a solemn and sad day,” said Representative Jerrold Nadler, the committee's Democratic chairman. “For the third time in a little over a century and a half, the House Judiciary Committee has voted articles of impeachment against the president."

 

Republicans have defended Trump and accused Democrats of a politically motivated farce aimed at overturning his surprise 2016 presidential election victory.

 

"Impeachment is a hoax. It's a sham," Trump told reporters at the White House after the committee's vote. "There was nothing done wrong. To use the power of impeachment for this nonsense is an embarrassment to this country."

 

If impeached, Trump will go on trial in the Senate in January just as the 2020 presidential campaign begins to pick up speed.

 

Biden, a former U.S. vice president, is a leading Democratic candidate to face Trump in the Nov. 3 election. Trump has alleged that Biden was involved in corruption in Ukraine and should be investigated by authorities there, but the president has offered no evidence. Biden has denied any wrongdoing.

 

ABUSE CHARGE

 

The abuse of power charge also accuses Trump of freezing nearly $400 million in U.S. security aid to Ukraine and offering a possible White House meeting to Zelenskiy to get him to publicly announce investigations of Biden and his son Hunter, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

 

Trump also asked Ukraine to investigate a debunked theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 U.S. election.

 

The obstruction charge against Trump is based on his directives to current and former administration officials such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo not to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry, even if that meant defying subpoenas.

 

A senior Democratic aide said the tentative plans are for a debate on Wednesday on the floor of the House followed by a vote the same day on whether to approve the articles of impeachment and send Trump for trial.

 

Republicans say the president did nothing improper in his call with Zelenskiy, and that there is no direct evidence he withheld aid or a White House meeting in exchange for a favor. Democrats say Trump stopped top aides from testifying.

Signaling investors' lack of concern at the upheaval, U.S. stocks hit fresh record highs on Friday on optimism over a possible trade deal between China and the United States before paring gains.

 

Trump is running for re-election in 2020 in what is expected to be a bitter contest with the Democratic nominee.

 

No U.S. president has been removed as a direct result of impeachment. Republican Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached for the Watergate scandal, and Democrats Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached by the House but not convicted by the Senate.

 

Twenty Republican senators would have to join all 45 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the Democrats to vote to oust Trump from office.

 

The trial would be presided over by U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts. The length of the proceedings would depend on whether witnesses were called, a decision that is up to a majority vote in the chamber.

 

Trump has signaled an interest in calling many witnesses, including Biden and Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, believing a big trial would be good for Republicans.

 

A lengthy trial would eat up weeks of time ahead of the first Democratic presidential nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire in early February.

 

Influential Republican senators have said they want to keep any trial as short as possible.

 

"This needs to come to a quick end," Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, a Republican who is a staunch defender of Trump, wrote on Twitter.

 

Trump said on Friday he was open to either a short or long process in the Senate.

 

"I'll do whatever I want ... So I'll do long or short," he said.

 

"I wouldn't mind a long process, because I'd like to see the whistleblower, who's a fraud," Trump said, referring to the anonymous intelligence official who set off the House impeachment investigation by raising a flag about Trump's call with Zelenskiy in a whistleblower complaint.

 

A Democratic lawmaker called on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, to recuse himself from the trial after he said on Thursday he was coordinating his approach with the White House counsel.

 

"He has effectively promised to let President Trump manage his own impeachment trial. The Senator must withdraw," Representative Val Demings said in a statement.

 

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell; Additional reporting by David Morgan and Lisa Lambert, Jeff Mason and Susan Heavey; Writing by Alistair Bell; Editing by Jonathan Oatis, Paul Simao and Sonya Hepinstall)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-14

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

[Samui Bodoh]

I am not really sure what to say on this matter anymore.

 

The facts of the case are essentially uncontested, and if they do not meet the test of Impeachment, I cannot see what ever will. Any future US President, never mind the current one, will be able to use monies allocated as a tool for personal benefit, then stonewall any subsequent investigation rendering themselves above and beyond accountability.

 

This time it is Trump. How will Trump supporters feel if next time it is a (hypothetical) President Warren? President Biden? President Chelsea Clinton? President Malia Obama?

 

History will not be kind to today's Republican party; they will forever be known as the group that gave up Congressional power/oversight in favour of fleeting partisan advantage. The votes that they cast in favour of Trump's action will follow them throughout their political lives; Hillary Clinton's vote in favour of the Gulf War cost her the Presidency in 2008 and votes in Trump's favour now will have an equally detrimental effect on the future of whoever casts them.

 

Sad, sad days for the US, the Republican party and the planet.

 

 

 

[Puchaiyank]

The Dems have had Trump on the verge of impeachment ever since he took office.  They finally found the nerve to go forward with a cadre of fellow Trump haters willing to go before the Congress and express their opinions...

 

The Senate will at least give him a fair hearing.  US Government is broken...

[Sujo]

3 minutes ago, Puchaiyank said:

The Dems have had Trump on the verge of impeachment ever since he took office.  They finally found the nerve to go forward with a cadre of fellow Trump haters willing to go before the Congress and express their opinions...

 

The Senate will at least give him a fair hearing.  US Government is broken...

Trump haters? Sondland was a hater?

 

Thats an interesting view.

[TooBigToFit]

If you don't understand Trump's abuse, just imagine next time you go to get your visa extension the officer there says "We'll give you your visa extension. I would like you to do us a favor, though." Then he waits for your answer. 

[Tippaporn]

"Trump also asked Ukraine to investigate a debunked theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 U.S. election."

 

An absolutely false statement and one that is constantly being perpetuated by fake journalism.  Trump is not claiming that it was Ukraine and not Russia.  He's claiming that Ukraine interfered as well.  And that claim is not debunked.  To the contrary, evidence of Ukrainian interference is abundant.

 

Given that this is a blatantly false statement how can you trust anything else this article says?

 

But it's what Trump haters want to hear.  So not only will they ignore the fact that a statement like this is false, they will mindlessly jump on repeating it and will argue it despite it being factually incorrect.

[HuskerDo]

To be clear, in the 240+ years of the existence of the USA only two Presidents faced impeachment and NEITHER was removed from office due to it. The Senate will vote it down so it is in its last stages of meaning anything anyway. The Dems will face the wrath of Trump over this so look out Pelosi and Schumer.

 

Now that Johnson is set to leave the EU and there will be hurt feelings in Europe look for a massive trade deal between the US and Britain.

 

 

[rabas]

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Trump is expected to become the third U.S. president to be impeached when the full Democratic-led House votes on the charges, [...] The Republicans have shown no signs of wanting to remove Trump from office.

He will also become the first ever president to be impeached by a hyper-partisan vote, no Republicans and not even all Democrats vote to impeach. Looks very bad. Boris Johnson type revolution coming to America in 2020.

 

[sunnyboy2018]

42 minutes ago, TooBigToFit said:

If you don't understand Trump's abuse, just imagine next time you go to get your visa extension the officer there says "We'll give you your visa extension. I would like you to do us a favor, though." Then he waits for your answer. 

Cool.  Whats the favour?

[Sujo]

11 minutes ago, rabas said:

He will also become the first ever president to be impeached by a hyper-partisan vote, no Republicans and not even all Democrats vote to impeach. Looks very bad. Boris Johnson type revolution coming to America in 2020.

 

All democrats voted to impeach.

[Tippaporn]

11 minutes ago, rabas said:

He will also become the first ever president to be impeached by a hyper-partisan vote, no Republicans and not even all Democrats vote to impeach. Looks very bad. Boris Johnson type revolution coming to America in 2020.

 

He will also be the first ever president impeached without a provable crime existing.

[Tug]

So I guess we let foreigners elect or at least influence the more gullible amongst us it is indeed a sad day for republicans I haven’t seen any defense of trump the republicans will want it over quick to much exposure other wise very sad day

[Sujo]

47 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

"Trump also asked Ukraine to investigate a debunked theory that Ukraine, not Russia, interfered in the 2016 U.S. election."

 

An absolutely false statement and one that is constantly being perpetuated by fake journalism.  Trump is not claiming that it was Ukraine and not Russia.  He's claiming that Ukraine interfered as well.  And that claim is not debunked.  To the contrary, evidence of Ukrainian interference is abundant.

 

Given that this is a blatantly false statement how can you trust anything else this article says?

 

But it's what Trump haters want to hear.  So not only will they ignore the fact that a statement like this is false, they will mindlessly jump on repeating it and will argue it despite it being factually incorrect.

Every agency debunked it. Expert fiona hill debunked it. But if you want to believe trump and giuliano thats a matter for you.

 

The fact is that the intelligence agencies and those that investigated debunked it.

 

As for saying you cant believe anything else. Well how you believe trump after all his lies is strange.

[Kelsall]

"Impeachment must be bipartisan" - Nancy Pelosi.

 

Some Dems won't vote for it and are even attending a Trump party LOL.

 

https://www.axios.com/house-dems-trump-ball-impeachment-c3c3006b-59fc-47d0-92fb-b260bffaed19.html

[Sujo]

4 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

He will also be the first ever president impeached without a provable crime existing.

Impeachment is an investigation. They dont need to prove a crime. They found enough evidence to warrant a trial.

 

[Cryingdick]

6 minutes ago, Sujo said:

All democrats voted to impeach.

 

He means the main vote not the vote to approve voting to impeach. 

[Sujo]

1 minute ago, Kelsall said:

"Impeachment must be bipartisan" - Nancy Pelosi.

 

Some Dems won't vote for it and are even attending a Trump party LOL.

 

https://www.axios.com/house-dems-trump-ball-impeachment-c3c3006b-59fc-47d0-92fb-b260bffaed19.html

All dems voted for impeachment.

[HuskerDo]

1 hour ago, Puchaiyank said:

The Dems have had Trump on the verge of impeachment ever since he took office.  They finally found the nerve to go forward with a cadre of fellow Trump haters willing to go before the Congress and express their opinions...

 

The Senate will at least give him a fair hearing.  US Government is broken...

"US Government is broken".... this has been true for a looong time due to know-nothing career politicians. That's why Trump was hired to big his broom to Washington to sweep out the garbage. 

[Sujo]

1 minute ago, Cryingdick said:

 

He means the main vote not the vote to approve voting to impeach. 

I think u may find some repubs in the senate vote to convict.

[Sujo]

Just now, HuskerDo said:

"US Government is broken".... this has been true for a looong time due to know-nothing career politicians. That's why Trump was hired to big his broom to Washington to sweep out the garbage. 

Is that why some of his close advisors are doing time in jail.

 

Rudy is looking a bit shaky lately.

[Cryingdick]

5 minutes ago, Sujo said:

I think u may find some repubs in the senate vote to convict.

 

Any other guesses? I am guessing you will see the main vote on impeachment will have some dems against it. The vote in the senate is going to be to dismiss with no trial. 

[HuskerDo]

2 minutes ago, Sujo said:

Is that why some of his close advisors are doing time in jail.

 

Rudy is looking a bit shaky lately.

Many of those in the political "machine" over the years/decades deserved jail time but they were imbedded with the so-called Washington elite that kept that from happening. Trump is an outsider else none of his advisors would have had any issues. The so-called "elite" will never get over his stunning election win. So be it but win he did and he'll do it again next year.

[Boon Mee]

20 minutes ago, Sujo said:

All democrats voted to impeach.

Final vote isn't until next Friday. By then there will be so many Democrats bailing on this crock of <deleted> it'll be even more meaningless 555 ???? 

 

MAGA 

[Tippaporn]

11 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

Any other guesses? I am guessing you will see the main vote on impeachment will have some dems against it. The vote in the senate is going to be to dismiss with no trial. 

I want a trial.  No trial and all of the Dem misdeeds get swept under the rug.  I want Schiff and the whistle blower to testify.  There's more here than meets the eye.  At least for some.

[atyclb]

18 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

24 minutes ago, Sujo said:

All democrats voted to impeach.

 

He means the main vote not the vote to approve voting to impeach. 

 

why do you continue to post such abstract difficult concepts here???

[HuskerDo]

20 minutes ago, Sujo said:

I think u may find some repubs in the senate vote to convict.

"I think you may find"......

 

I believe this statement is the Dems mantra these days. No facts. Just "I think you may find"..... THINK and MAY. Not a particularly compelling comment. 

[Kelsall]

 

 

"Freshman Dem who led impeachment charge: Let me get back to you next week on how I’m going to vote, okay?"

 

https://hotair.com/archives/allahpundit/2019/12/13/freshman-dem-led-impeachment-charge-let-get-back-next-week-im-going-vote-okay/

[spidermike007]

Right now, as this debate rages on, he is considered to be the 44th best president in history, (or the second worst) amongst a mix of nearly 200 democratic and republican political historians. He deserves impeachment. He brought it on himself. He is a career criminal, and got caught in the act. Criminologists say the only thing that separates men who commit crimes, and live prosperous lives, and the ones who are brought down, is getting caught. He got caught. If you do not think the evidence is there, you are not thinking objectively. What more would it take? Being caught murdering folks? Being caught having sex with minors? Would either of those crimes even disturb the GOP leadership at this point? 

[Cryingdick]

17 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I want a trial.  No trial and all of the Dem misdeeds get swept under the rug.  I want Schiff and the whistle blower to testify.  There's more here than meets the eye.  At least for some.

 

I would prefer an electoral landslide. A mere dismissal would show that there isn't the urgency of desperation the dems exhibit day in and day out. Maybe we could just win without looking like a bunch of fixated stalkers. 

 

Leave it alone and go for the main prize. After that retaliate. The dems had better pray to God (lots of bigly prayerfulness) they don't lose Pelosi as speaker. Can you even imagine what is going to happen if they do? 

 

Go for the bigger gains WH and house. Show the public you are above these attacks.

[phantomfiddler]

And here was me thinking that the entire point of politics was getting the dirty on your opponent ! What a bunch of hypocrites the democrats are ! Sore losers with no agenda !