Bribery is Well Defined in the Constitution as Impeachable

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Ari Melber: Donald Trump's statements and actions with regard to Ukraine appear to fit one of the few offenses the Constitution specifically lists as impeachable: Bribery. The legal case would be that Trump offered a bribe. He encouraged Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky "to do us a favor" and look into, among other things, the Biden family.

Posted by tonyroma at 07:32 PM | 8 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Evidence and testimony from inside the Trump administration, meanwhile, suggests that the sought after benefit " an investigation of Trump's rival " was conditioned on U.S. government action: Administration officials have referenced apparent conditions on both a coveted White House meeting between the two leaders, and on disbursement of millions in military aid, pending Ukraine's government announcing an investigation of the Bidens.

Even though the process would likely call for additional evidence and detail, that's the logical thrust of the argument that Trump offered a bribe: corruptly soliciting something of value "in exchange for official action." As it stands, the case appears straightforward, and, unlike most legal or political issues, several key underlying facts aren't even in dispute.

#1 | Posted by tonyroma at 2019-10-19 01:58 PM | Reply

Remember when Trump and his sycophants said Trump would be immune to bribery because he's already so rich?

That was when sensible people knew a President Trump would be open to bribery.

#2 | Posted by snoofy at 2019-10-19 03:21 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

It doesn't seem like any member of the government is reading so well these days.

#3 | Posted by arthurmann at 2019-10-20 02:46 AM | Reply

Bribery is Well Defined in the Constitution as Impeachable

Yes! Great! Fantastic!

Now, can you well define "bribery"? After all, one man's (House of Representatives) "bribery" is another man's (Senate)... fill-in-the-blank ("goodwill gesture", "business as usual", "just an appearance of impropriety", "nothingburger...")

#4 | Posted by CutiePie at 2019-10-20 07:01 AM | Reply

All this cacophony over the meaning of "favor."

Trump said to Kerensky, "I want you to do me a favor."

If Trump said "please," would it have made a difference? What about "pretty please"? What about "pretty please with a cherry on top"?

To rabid dogs, the answer is no!

#5 | Posted by Ray at 2019-10-20 07:13 AM | Reply | Funny: 1

That is called creative reading.

#6 | Posted by Sniper at 2019-10-20 11:48 AM | Reply

Imagine Obama doing the same thing and be honest, at least with yourself. It's bribery. OK, I get it, politics is involved but be honest with yourself. You won't like yourself though. To actually like yourself, you'll have to be honest with the rest of us too, but you cowards don't have the courage for that.

#7 | Posted by danni at 2019-10-20 01:02 PM | Reply

If Trump said "please," would it have made a difference? What about "pretty please"? What about "pretty please with a cherry on top"?

To rabid dogs, the answer is no!

#5 | Posted by Ray

Ummm maybe because he was still holding foreign aid approved by Congress hostage for personal benefit.

Doesn't matter how he words it if that's the end goal.

You anti-government stooges are idiotic. This guy should be the worst case nightmare for somebody who loathes government but you idiots just justify and rationalize.

#8 | Posted by jpw at 2019-10-20 01:48 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 3