Quip pro quo6/28/2023 ![]() Just ask disgraced former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. If a quid pro quo was proven, it would be self-dealing and an abuse of public office, and that can be a crime. The closest viable claims are his payments to alleged former mistresses that are in the criminal plea agreement of his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. Past suggested impeachable offenses either have been facially ridiculous, like the comments Trump made about Charlottesville or his criticism of national anthem protest kneelers, or legally flawed, like the Russia intervention or obstruction theories. Unlike the prior impeachable offenses suggested by Democrats, this allegation of self-dealing could be both an impeachable offense and a federal crime, though neither would be easy to prove. That does not mean a case for impeachment or criminal prosecution cannot be made. While he discusses the aid, he never suggests he will not send it. ![]() Trump never connects the investigation with the roughly $400 million in military aid. The transcript lacks a critical element needed for impeachment, which is evidence of a quid pro quo. Yet for those hoping to find a dead promise or a live Russian in the transcript, they will be disappointed again. It is breathtaking to read Trump trying to convince Zelensky to do him a “favor” by going after the Bidens and suggesting meetings with Attorney General William Barr and his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. The infamous Louisiana governor once bragged, “The only way I can lose this election is if I’m caught in bed with either a dead girl or live boy.”Įven after the July appearance of Robert Mueller before Congress to discuss his findings as the special counsel, Trump apparently felt no qualms about calling Zelensky the following day to press him about investigating his main political opponent, Joe Biden, and son Hunter Biden. The transcript of the call from President Trump to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is enough to make Edwin Edwards blush. So, if you want impeachment, find the quid. Otherwise, Trump can argue that he had been the victim of leaks about diplomatic calls and they took the step to better control access to such information. If you establish the basis for such a crime, then the use of the separate server becomes a serious problem as covering up a crime. The testimony yesterday and release of the information on the complaint still lacks the critical nexus needed for a public corruption crime. Below is my column in the Hill newspaper on the implications of the still developing Ukraine story.
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