Donald Trump has been impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress—and in case there was any doubt he’s guilty, he’s bragging about obstruction. But that’s not enough for Senate Republicans determined to protect him at all cost.
On day one of opening arguments, the House impeachment managers, led by Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff, gave a master class in conveying complicated information clearly and persuasively, while Republicans conveyed their contempt for the proceedings by leaving the room and Chief Justice John Roberts failed to do his job by rebuking their absences. Even before Democrats began to make their case, a majority of Americans believed Trump should be removed from office.
The House impeachment managers—Schiff, Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler, and Reps. Zoe Lofgren, Hakeem Jeffries, Val Demings, Jason Crow, and Sylvia Garcia—continue to make their case in the second day of opening arguments. Daily Kos will be following live.
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 9:55:02 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Zoe Lofgren takes over as Schiff finishes up going over how they can know that Trump was acting only for himself.
If Schiff was focused on the motivation, Lofgren appears to be dealing with the means — including getting Yovanovitch out of the way and putting in the “amigos.”
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 10:12:26 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
By the way, it’s obvious to everyone but Trump that Giuliani was working for at least two masters in this scheme. Oligarch Dmytro Firtash was actually picking up most of the tab and putting Giuliani together with “sources.” The Trump connection was convenient for Giuliani and Firtash, because they both knew that once Trump was defending an action, the original motivation wouldn’t matter.
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 10:17:27 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Lofgren sits down, and Val Demings steps up to continue talking about the scheme directed by Giuliani. McConnell interjects to note there will be a dinner break around 6:30 — which in practice means whenever Rep. Demings sits down.
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 10:31:02 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
I like it every time they come back to Marie Yovanovitch. I can’t believe there’s a living room in America, even in the reddest, Trumpiest America, where someone would side with Rudy Giuliani over Masha Yovanovitch. If there is, please don’t tell me.
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 10:40:48 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Demings completes drawing the line between Giuliani approaching Zelensky as Trump’s personal agent, and Trump forcing the State Department to work through Giuliani — in effect, making U.S. foreign policy subservient to Trump’s personal interests.
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 10:48:12 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Demings delivering a kick-ass finish to her segment, reminding senators of the scale of the effort here. Trump hijacked not just Ukraine funds, but U.S. foreign policy, U.S. national interest, and U.S. national security … all for an edge in the 2020 election.
“A violation of public trust. A failure to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. When it came down to the laws of the country and his own reelection, President Trump chose himself.”
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 10:51:49 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Jeffries: “Whats more American than baseball and apple pie? Perhaps the one thing that falls into that category is the sanctity of the Constitution.”
Jeffries thanks the Senate for preserving the dignity of the occasion, which may not sound like a dig, but it was during his presentation last night that almost half the Republicans walked out of the room.
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 11:35:21 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Jeffries continues doing important work here:
- The things that Ukraine wanted were vital to their existence.
- The pressure to secure U.S. assistance was enormous.
- Zelensky fended off Giulini for months while behind the scenes Ukrainian officials scrambled madly to preserve the U.S. relationship without doing something they knew was wrong.
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- Then Trump made it clear his demands could not be avoided by ordering the “amigos” to join up with Guiliani.
- It was only after Volker and Sondland reinforced the demands that had come through Giuliani that Zelensky folded and agreed.
Thursday, Jan 23, 2020 · 11:40:55 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner
Asked what she heard new today, @ewarren pointed to the presentation by @RepJeffries for how clear it made the pressure that Ukraine experienced.
Warren is right. Jeffries gave a fantastic explanation that genuinely put a new light on events in both Ukraine and U.S.