Democrats, forget Mueller. Here's what could really impeach Trump

[Poiuyt]

When I was a new Justice Department prosecutor preparing for one of my first trials, a supervisor gave me a valuable piece of strategic advice: Go for the jugular, not every capillary. Don't get bogged down trying to prove every detail of every last bad act or misdeed. Instead, pick out the subject's worst conduct, offer up your strongest proof and make it hit hard.

I'd offer the same advice to the House Judiciary Committee as it considers a resolution to define the substance and scope of its impeachment inquiry. The Judiciary Committee reportedly will focus on a wide range of topics, including four pillars: (1) involvement by Trump associates in Russian interference in the 2016 election, (2) Trump's alleged role in illegal hush money payments to two women who claim they had affairs with him, (3) Trump's alleged dangling of pardons to immigration officials who might break the law to get a border wall built and (4) Trump's potential Emoluments Clause violations and use of the presidency for personal profit.

snip--

Sure, Trump has opened many doors by his norm-defying -- and potentially illegal -- conduct. But, strategically, Democrats won't get far if they try to tackle everything Trump may have done wrong all at once.

The Judiciary Committee should focus primarily on the issue of emoluments and Trump's alleged use of the presidency for personal enrichment. First, the notion of elected officials using public office to line their own pockets carries visceral appeal; people care and will not be apt to simply brush it aside. The Constitution prohibits a president from receiving any income or gift (beyond his regular government salary) from a foreign government, the US government or any state. And it is inherently offensive to fundamental notions of democracy for a president to profit from his office. Even Trump's ideological supporters will have a hard time justifying profiteering.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/11/opinions/trump-impeachment-resolution-judiciary-committee-emoluments-honig/index.html

Good article with practical, sensible advice. I'd like to add that the Democrats need to partake in a blistering PR campaign to call attention to Trump's impeachable offenses. Most Americans do not follow politics like we do. Something needs to be done to ensure that people are informed and persuaded that impeachment is for the good of the country.

[elleng]

2. Yes, a blistering PR campaign.

Ensure that people are informed and persuaded that impeachment is for the good of the country.

[RKP5637]

3. Definitely this is what is needed. There have been so many ups and downs ... and sideways

I would imagine many are a bit confused by it all ... especially after Mueller and Barr. Exactly!!! ... need to be "... informed and persuaded that impeachment is for the good of the country." And building up the momentum of public pressure.

[elleng]

4. Many are 'confused,' many are simply IGNORANT,

and will stay that way, unless we AND the Dem PARTY take ACTION!

[2naSalit]

5. ++++++!!!

And everything you said above too.

[RainCaster]

6. We must not forget DFT's involvement with the Russians for the 2016 election

That was treason, pure and simple. That gives the Orange Pus Stain the possibility of a death sentence, and the biggest baggage hung on the shoulders of the GOP who will never vote to conflict.

[FakeNoose]

7. Yes it certainly was treason, but also much harder to prove

... and much harder to get a conviction. I think that was the point of the OP, go for what you know you can prove and what you're sure you can get a favorable ruling on. The treason is far more serious, but there are many ways for Chump to weasel out of it. When we only have one shot, go for the sure one that will bring him down.

[NewJeffCT]

8. i tend to agree with a narrow scope

Focusing on every scandal and every piece of corruption was what got us Trump in 2016 - there were so many that each new scandal pushed the scandals from yesterday and two days ago aside. Scandals from last week were long forgotten and two weeks ago were ancient history (Remember, exactly 2 weeks ago, Donny fired his long-timer assistant Westerhout because she told some people that Donny thought Tiffany was too fat)

And, it was Trump's latest scandal weighted against the ONE big scandal from Clinton, and late deciders broke heavily to Trump because of that ONE Clinton scandal and the "late" news about it (Comey letter)

[usaf-vet]

9. Hit him were it is likely to hurt the most. Ask yourself where that would be... Ivanka!

Go after her make her the secondary target after Trump himself.

He will absolutely freak out. Remember he said do not go after the kids. That translates to Ivanka.

[wiggs]

10. Obstruction might be the strongest. They potentially could ultimately,formally choose 5 pathways to

impeachment but in reality talk about a bunch of others that are impeachable but not included. Why not having hearings on everything but only choose a smaller number to go forward with? Why ignore the money laundering? Tax evasion? Compromise by several foreign countries? Deceiving the american people on a daily basis? Blatant scorching unfitness? Failure to defend our nation against cyber attack?

The WHOLE case should be discussed and if the evidence warrants a smaller number can be formally pursued. I call for 24/7 discussion of misdeeds of any and all types...then in that context and when ready focus on the worst of the worst.

Two purposes: 1) strengthens the impeachment case and 2) makes it clear how guilty and complicit the gop party is for allowing this to happen without a peep from them

This is a red alert...bring it all on.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

11. Election impropriety charges should be brought because....

that has the most negative impact on the Rethug Party. Their corruption of our system of elections must not be passed over.

Emoluments, sexual dalliances and pardons will be passed off as tRump's personal issues and not the Party's although all are serious.

So, my thinking is to go after election corruption and emoluments if we had to set priorities.

KY.........

[Oppaloopa]

12. Take this man's advise and just hit # 4 and hit him hard

[bucolic_frolic]

13. Teaching the public to spell emoluments and understand their meaning

is a tall order. It won't hit home until they figure out Trump's making money and everyone else is not. It needs a catchy phrase.

Trump emptied my wallet!

[Fritz Walter]

14. Let us see the tax returns

If tax fraud was good enough to put Al Capone behind bars (not sexy, but it sticks), that’s a good start. Otherwise, why would the Pussy Ass Bitch so adamantly refuse to release his returns? Clearly, he’s been laundering vast sums of money from Vladdy’s baddies, especially in dubious real estate deals.

The emoluments have been — and continue to be — the icing on that nasty cake.

And let’s not stop with the PABOTUS. His spawn and others in his close circle are chin-deep in tax fraud. Witness the comment about not needing domestic banks when the Russians are bankrolling the Drumpf Organization. Junior should be compelled to testify — under oath, and the threat of perjury penalties — to explain exactly which Russian “investors” have been propping up this white-collar crime family.

I’d be willing to re-connect to cable/satellite TV just to watch Beevis (or is he “Butthead”?) squirm in the witness box.

[wiggs]

15. Bottom line reason is per Abramson

part of a larger twitter thread:

1/ The President of the United States is a national security threat. Not because he's a Russian "spy" or "asset"—two things I do not believe—but because he acts with his own, not America's, interests at heart. Always. And that is *staggeringly* dangerous.