Trump poised this week to become third U.S. president impeached

By Susan Cornwell, Arshad Mohammed

 

U.S. President Donald Trump stands during the playing of the national anthem, during the annual Army-Navy collegiate football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA, U.S., December 14, 2019. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Donald Trump is likely this week to become the third U.S. president to be impeached when the Democratic-led House of Representatives votes on charges stemming from his effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden.

 

Trump faces one charge of abusing his power by asking Ukraine to investigate Biden, a leading Democratic contender to oppose him in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and one of obstructing Congress’ investigation into the matter.

 

The president has denied wrongdoing.

 

“Impeachment is a hoax. It’s a sham,” Trump said on Friday. “There was nothing done wrong. To use the power of impeachment for this nonsense is an embarrassment to this country.”

 

The House is likely to take up the issue on Wednesday, setting the stage for a vote this week on whether to approve the charges and send the matter to the Republican-led Senate to hold a trial on whether to remove him from office.

 

Democrats, who enjoy a 36-seat majority in the House, are expected to win an impeachment vote, which requires a simple majority.

 

Republicans hold 53 of the 100 seats in the Senate, where they appear likely to prevail in any trial against Trump, which would require a two-thirds majority to remove him from office.

 

Seeking to shape any trial, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer called on Sunday for testimony from White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, former national security adviser John Bolton, Mulvaney aide Robert Blair and budget official Michael Duffey.

 

Schumer made his appeal in a letter to Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who said last week he was coordinating with the White House and has raised the prospect of a short impeachment trial in which no witnesses would be called.

 

House Democrats also sought testimony from the four men in their inquiry, but they did not appear.

 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Schumer letter.

 

A McConnell spokesman did not directly address Schumer’s requests, but said the Senate majority leader “plans to meet with Leader Schumer to discuss the contours of a trial soon.”

 

‘MISCONDUCT HASN’T STOPPED’

 

No U.S. president has been removed as a direct result of impeachment.

 

Richard Nixon resigned in 1974 before he could be removed, while Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached by the House, respectively in 1868 and 1998, but not convicted by the Senate.

 

The House Judiciary Committee voted 23-17 on Friday along party lines to approve the two charges against Trump and to send the matter to the full chamber.

 

Senior House Democrats expect to win any impeachment vote, albeit with the possibility of some defections from moderates facing tough re-elections next year in Trump-leaning districts.

 

In congressional hearings, Democrats have accused Trump of endangering the U.S. Constitution, jeopardizing national security and undermining the integrity of the Nov. 3, 2020, election by asking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a July phone call to investigate Biden and his son Hunter Biden, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

 

“It’s a clear and present danger ... to our democracy,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, whose panel spearheaded the investigation into Trump’s actions, told ABC’s “This Week” program on Sunday.

 

“The misconduct hasn’t stopped,” Schiff added, saying that Trump has still urged Ukraine, as well as China, to investigate the Bidens, and that Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, recently travelled to Ukraine to conduct a “sham” investigation.

 

Republicans have defended Trump and accused Democrats of a politically motivated effort aimed at overturning his upset 2016 victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

 

Trump has alleged the Bidens were involved in corruption in Ukraine and should be investigated there, but has offered no evidence. Biden, a former vice president, has denied wrongdoing.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-12-16

Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking Thailand news and visa info

Good!

Well done Donald! This will rank high on your list of achievements, probably right below not being even close to making Mexico pay for that big, beautiful wall.

I'll give you one thing though, you've made your handler in Moscow a very happy man!

Too many people don't understand, once he's impeached, that part is over. Finished. Full stop. Impeached forever in history. What is Bill Clinton most remembered for? The oral impeachment. Trump will be remember for the Ukraine phone call impeachment. The defining moment of his legacy.

The way I understand it, Trump could be impeached but the action not ratified or imposed, so he wouldn't be sent packing. If fact, I've heard that he could actually be "impeached" by the Dems but still re-elected in 2020 (God forbid!!!!)  

In other news...

 

With 2020's arrival, the President Of The United States, Donald J. Trump, is poised to become the Eighteenth U.S. President to be re-elected to serve a second term in office.

 

Now, back to your regularly-scheduled program.

 

SIT

7 minutes ago, Somewhere In Time said:

In other news...

 

With 2020's arrival, the President Of The United States, Donald J. Trump, is poised to become the Eighteenth U.S. President to be re-elected to serve a second term in office.

 

Now, back to your regularly-scheduled program.

 

SIT

That's "news" to you?

Smells more like fan fiction. 

The road to this penultimate process is clearly confined  to the application of (supposedly) the  protections and  definitions contained in the  acclaimed  Constitution of the USA. Yet it is of interest  to the  informed  world due to the fact that it is  not  simply an internal challenge to a  sitting POTUS on partisan grounds  as so many of  his  supporters  would  declare  in defence but  is a  measure  of  the assumed  validity of the  intent that that Constitution  has long  been  heralded as purest Democratic definition.

That  global interest is  based  on the measure of genuine  accord to that definition.

What has been  clearly  demonstrated  is  a  denial of  accord  to the process by the refusal by the  current "regime"  to  submit requested  evidence and prevention of  witness under  oath to  provide evidence. And  that  in  defiance of  subpoenas which in ordinary  circumstance  would  incur prosecution.

It  would  be therefore obvious  that should such evidence be  revealed honestly  under  oath it would  be in contradiction  of the  denials  of  events basic to the question of  cause to impeachment.

That  it is  obvious to the wider  minded is  of concern  because  if  there is  no outcome to  curtail  the devolving assumption of democratic principles it  will encourage  many  other  to  adopt  or  abandon any  pretence  of  such  democratic  governance.

Perhaps  just  another indication that the  world  is  going to  hell in a  hand cart.

 

1 minute ago, Dumbastheycome said:

the  world  is  going to  hell in a  hand cart.

 

This is only real truth (bar none), and that's a fact.

2 hours ago, Becker said:

Well done Donald! This will rank high on your list of achievements, probably right below not being even close to making Mexico pay for that big, beautiful wall.

I'll give you one thing though, you've made your handler in Moscow a very happy man!

More conspiracy theories,moscow hoax was made up!  Time to move on

2 hours ago, J Town said:

Too many people don't understand, once he's impeached, that part is over. Finished. Full stop. Impeached forever in history. What is Bill Clinton most remembered for? The oral impeachment. Trump will be remember for the Ukraine phone call impeachment. The defining moment of his legacy.

 IMOP,The POTUS will be  acquitted on both counts as neither will  receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote of the senators present for conviction and removal from office!.

 

Many say the impeachment will backfire and lead way to re election. It's time for the GOP to step up and fight for the future office holders ,time to fight against this hatred spewed lack of evidence radical dem hoax .

Thank goodness the founders thought to oversee the peoples house  and institute a senate just for situations like the radical dems have shown

32 minutes ago, Dumbastheycome said:

The road to this penultimate process is clearly confined  to the application of (supposedly) the  protections and  definitions contained in the  acclaimed  Constitution of the USA. Yet it is of interest  to the  informed  world due to the fact that it is  not  simply an internal challenge to a  sitting POTUS on partisan grounds  as so many of  his  supporters  would  declare  in defence but  is a  measure  of  the assumed  validity of the  intent that that Constitution  has long  been  heralded as purest Democratic definition.

That  global interest is  based  on the measure of genuine  accord to that definition.

What has been  clearly  demonstrated  is  a  denial of  accord  to the process by the refusal by the  current "regime"  to  submit requested  evidence and prevention of  witness under  oath to  provide evidence. And  that  in  defiance of  subpoenas which in ordinary  circumstance  would  incur prosecution.

It  would  be therefore obvious  that should such evidence be  revealed honestly  under  oath it would  be in contradiction  of the  denials  of  events basic to the question of  cause to impeachment.

That  it is  obvious to the wider  minded is  of concern  because  if  there is  no outcome to  curtail  the devolving assumption of democratic principles it  will encourage  many  other  to  adopt  or  abandon any  pretence  of  such  democratic  governance.

Perhaps  just  another indication that the  world  is  going to  hell in a  hand cart.

 

The outcome will be a trial by the senate which is the way the founders framed it. It is just as constitutional as the impeachment in fact more revealing as it deals with evidence and facts not political accusations ,heresay,opinions ,presumptions and second hand accounts .Impeachment is political!

 

2 minutes ago, riclag said:

The outcome will be a trial by the senate which is the way the founders framed it. It is just as constitutional as the impeachment in fact more revealing as it deals with evidence and facts not political accusations ,heresay,opinions ,presumptions and second hand accounts .

 

But  devoid  of  with held  information legally and constitutionally requested  but dictatorially denied  by the  accused for  reason  it  may  confirm the  accusations  etc ?

IMO the world in general does and  will continue have the  opinion any farce  belongs  to  the regime rather than the legitimate Constitutional cause  to challenge.

 

The real question, of course, is what is the Senate going to choose to investigate?  Once in a Senate trial, they have absolute authority to decide what avenues merit investigation, and no court can overrule them. Even the Supreme Court can not intervene unless they do something specifically forbidden by the Constitution. During an impeachment trial, the Senate is the highest court in the land for that proceeding.

 

The Senate, controlled by the Republicans, may very well decide that all the actions of Hunter Biden need to be investigated and exposed in the process of investigating Trump, and spend most of the time on that area. And there is nobody that the Democrats will be able to appeal to in order to stop such a tangent.

 

This impeachment by the House was completely expected of course. But a conviction is nearly impossible, and the depth of filth that can be dug up on both sides of this controversy seem to make this a highly risky maneuver for the Democrats. I'm not sure I would have made the choice to give my opponents that kind of ammunition during an election year. Will be very curious to see how this game plays out.

 

I would take it serious if it were anyone other than Schiff and Nadler.

However, given the latest comments by James Comey, I think it is more important to pay attention to the AG investigations!

I wish I could be as hopeful as some of you guys.

A rogue, self-serving president compromised by a foreign power, who thinks he's king, and a true-red rabble who shares his belief.

A sycophantic, dishonest attorney general.

A corrupt Senate majority leader, beholden to the same adversarial foreign power.

A partisan Supreme Court, in his favor.

An opposition party whose idea of success is "hey, we didn't lose by that much this time."

 

I'm not saying this to be a downer, you folks on here know where my sympathies are, but after watching one of the Dem debates a few months ago I was down in the dumps afterwards because I didn't think any of them stood a chance against this guy and the hand of cards he's holding.

Where is the hope?

A "third force" is emerging: there are non-DT Republicans that are taking a pro-impeachment stand.  He's an embarrassment to them.  Do not forget he's not really a Republican, he chose to run as one because he's thinks the Fox News Republicans are easy marks. 

Another possibility is intervention by the defense sectors of the government.  If you have to ask what they would have against him never mind, go on to the next post.

And lastly there's the good ol' Act of God, no elaboration necessary.

 

 

8 hours ago, riclag said:

 IMOP,The POTUS will be  acquitted on both counts as neither will  receive the necessary two-thirds majority vote of the senators present for conviction and removal from office!.

 

Many say the impeachment will backfire and lead way to re election. It's time for the GOP to step up and fight for the future office holders ,time to fight against this hatred spewed lack of evidence radical dem hoax .

Thank goodness the founders thought to oversee the peoples house  and institute a senate just for situations like the radical dems have shown

I agree with your first sentence.

 

There are many who believe that impeachment will backfire as you say, but many who believe the opposite. Time will tell.

 

What I find interesting though is the next sentence, where you claim this is a fight for future office holders. I do hope that you will maintain your consistency when a Democrat bad guy gets into office (while I'm a leftie, I've no illusions about the sort of folk who tend to get to the top of any political heap of any stripe) and starts breaking the law and using his position for personal and political benefit. Because the precedent being set is that a President can ignore subpoenas and forbid testimony from direct witnesses then use the lack of direct witness testimony as a "get out of jail free" card. This is despite overwhelming testimony under oath by the people being instructed by those direct witnesses who had the authority of the President and clear corroborating evidence. If this is the standard from now on, then you no longer have a President who is in any way constrained by Congress, the Constitution or the Law. If that's what you really want, an Imperial Presidency, then that's what you will get. Just remember that the King will one day come from the Left, and you may not be so happy with that.

 

 

There is always 'strings' attached to Foreign Aid. Finding out about Joe Biden now, instead of later, may well be considered in the Nations best interest. So POTUS is once again helping America be Great Again.

Clinton-Trump. Trump-Clinton. These two slimeballs have much more in common than just the coming impeachment for Trump.

13 hours ago, Tug said:

Good!

The Fake News never ends... 

you may say he is poised, i say two thirds of the senate will not vote to impeach which will prove that Pelosi and crew need to be impeached for sedition.

2 hours ago, JCauto said:

I agree with your first sentence.

 

There are many who believe that impeachment will backfire as you say, but many who believe the opposite. Time will tell.

 

What I find interesting though is the next sentence, where you claim this is a fight for future office holders. I do hope that you will maintain your consistency when a Democrat bad guy gets into office (while I'm a leftie, I've no illusions about the sort of folk who tend to get to the top of any political heap of any stripe) and starts breaking the law and using his position for personal and political benefit. Because the precedent being set is that a President can ignore subpoenas and forbid testimony from direct witnesses then use the lack of direct witness testimony as a "get out of jail free" card. This is despite overwhelming testimony under oath by the people being instructed by those direct witnesses who had the authority of the President and clear corroborating evidence. If this is the standard from now on, then you no longer have a President who is in any way constrained by Congress, the Constitution or the Law. If that's what you really want, an Imperial Presidency, then that's what you will get. Just remember that the King will one day come from the Left, and you may not be so happy with that.

 

 

America isn't ruled by a monarchy,never will ! I'm a independent voter,I'm committed to no party.Why would the WH appease the radical dems who have shown no quarter since  even before he was elected! A difference in ideology coupled with a opposing party obsession  of not accepting the election and the Russian hoax narrative  .   You only have to look at passed precedence to see how current dem leaders acted when Clinton was brought up on impeachment charges. Some media outlets show the dems Clinton rebuttals at the time of his impeachment to be the exact opposite and contradicting at present time. 

 

Lastly the dems are abusing their power .There are three branches of the government! When the two don't agree( executive and congress) it is decided by the third,the courts. And if needed appealed to the Supreme Court ! If the dems have a problem with subpoenas they must go through the courts despite their radical ideas of being pressed for time and can't be bothered . 

7 minutes ago, wombat said:

you may say he is poised, i say two thirds of the senate will not vote to impeach which will prove that Pelosi and crew need to be impeached for sedition.

You sound like you don't understand impeachment. 

 

The impeachment vote of 45 will occur on Wednesday in the house. 

 

It will DEFINITELY pass. 

 

So very soon the current president will be the third president impeached in American history. 

 

That infamous distinction will be at the very top of his legacy. 

 

Then if Pelosi sends it to the senate you are correct that the senate will not vote to remove him. 

 

Your sedition comment is silly. 

 

22 minutes ago, wombat said:

i say two thirds of the senate will not vote to impeach

jingthing
without it being passed by the senate impeached will not happen

21 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So very soon the current president will be the third president impeached in American history. 

 

That infamous distinction will be at the very top of his legacy. 

Well yes, but it's becoming petty and more common. Clinton was recently impeached for whatever, now Trump for talking on the phone about Biden. One Democrat representative has suggested impeaching Trump again after 2020.  I suspect future presidents may be impeached often, surely the next Democrat.  It has become political theatre.

 

Which emphasizes that the real problem is the breakdown of our political process, not Trump. All those who don't see this are part of the problem.

 

1 minute ago, wombat said:

jingthing
without it being passed by the senate impeached will not happen

 

I don't normally side with JT but you seem to misunderstand what impeachment is. Trump is most likely going to be impeached in the house and then acquitted in the senate.

I predict Trump will tweet himself to death before November 2020 ????????????

10 minutes ago, wombat said:

jingthing
without it being passed by the senate impeached will not happen

Incorrect.

Impeachment happens in the house.

Removal happens in the senate.

There soon will have been THREE U.S. presidents impeached in the house:

Andrew Johnson

William Jefferson Clinton

The current president

 

NO president as yet has ever been removed from office in the senate.

 

This is BASIC stuff. If you want to discuss these current events, best learn this BASIC stuff. There aren't alternative realities on such BASIC facts.

Just now, Skallywag said:

I predict Trump will tweet himself to death before November 2020 ????????????

 

If that gives you hope so be it. Under any other scenario he will start his second term.

You see Bill Clinton over the past several years on many popular TV shows both late night and daytime, always received quite well. He is almost more popular after leaving the White House. He was impeached but it didn’t really affect his legacy much ( anymore for sure). Many people actually forgot about it until recent times only because you hear ( well especially on TVF over and over by the same posters) about it more in the last few weeks. The first Pres to be impeached is completely forgotten about ( except for a small handful of TVF posters ) as well. So Trump is impeached. It’s just not a big deal anymore. Many more will now be impeached in the house because of this ( If you don’t see this as a HORRIBLE trend then you have on blinders and no one can help you). Possibly this whole system will change because of Trump. That could even be part of his legacy. Can you imagine!  Get what you seek and it backfires.