Pelosi announces impeachment inquiry of Trump

As MSNBC's Ari Melber said today, Emperor Trump has always hired people to do his "dirty work." Trump's "fixers" have included Roy Cohn, Keith Schiller, James Comey, Rod Rosenstein, Rudy Giuliani and many others. The aides and associates who actually have a conscience and refuse to do Trump's dirty work wind up quiting or being fired. Michael McKinley, until last week the senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, spent five hours today giving testimony before the House. He is one of several diplomats and administration officials who have corroborated the whistleblower's report of Trump and Giuliani pressuring Ukraine to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and of Trump removing ambassador Marie Yovanovitch for refusing to help Giuliani. William Taylor, a top US diplomat to Ukraine, will testify next week.

Former top State Department aide Michael McKinley tells impeachment investigators he quit over Ukraine

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ine/ar-AAISxw3

Richard Nixon declared, "I am not a crook." Donald Trump repeatedly declares, "I've done nothing wrong." Draw your own conclusions .

Donald Trump's plan to stonewall impeachment will see him go 'down in flames' like Richard Nixon, says Supreme Court lawyer Neal Katyal

https://www.newsweek.com/trump-stone...-nixon-1465596

As the ongoing Watergate investigation revealed more and more details of the break-in at DNC headquarters and Richard Nixon's cover-ups and secret tape recordings, and as Nixon disobeyed subpoenas and ordered the firing of Special Prosecutor Archibald Cox, public support for Nixon's impeachment grew dramatically. Articles of impeachment charged Nixon with abuse of power, obstruction of justice and contempt of Congress. Facing impeachment, Nixon resigned. Emperor Trump is also guilty of abuse of power, obstruction of justice and contempt of Congress. Support for Trump's impeachment and removal from office is growing. Unlike Nixon, though, Trump will never resign. He would never want to be thought of as a "loser." I've got news for you, Donald: Most of us already think that.

Gallup poll: Majority of Americans now support Trump's impeachment and removal

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...val/ar-AAISTIZ

Donald Trump said he woud surround himself "with the best people." If Gates, Flynn, Cohen, Manafort, Stone, Barr, Perry, Pompeo, Volker, Conway, Sanders, Giuliani, Mulvaney, Rosenstein, Lewandowski and Papadopoulos are the "best," I shudder to think what the worst would be like!

Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney emerges as a key facilitator of the effort to pressure Ukraine

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ine/ar-AAIPStZ

A new television ad features Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declaring that the only way an impeachment will end will be with him. That certainly sounds as though McConnell knows the outcome of an impeachment trial will be acquittal. Emperor Trump has such a strong grip on the Republican party, it is very likely that no Republicans – none – will vote to remove him from office. Abuse of power? Contempt of Congress? Obstruction of justice? Collusion? Conspiracy? Interfering with investigations? Seeking election help from foreign countries? Abandoning our Kurdish allies and letting them be slaughtered by Turkish troops? Nope, sorry, Emperor Trump is above the law. By their votes, Senate Republicans will show that to be true. Trump and the Republican party come first. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the rule of law, our nation's safety and security and our nation's system of checks and balances are unimportant.

And in November 2020, voters will remember.

Several diplomats and officials have testified that Emperor Trump and Rudy Giuliani pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Joe Biden, who could be Trump's political opponent in 2020. All agree that it is wrong, illegal and unconstitutional for Trump to seek election help from a foreign country. Call them "witnesses for the prosecution." Who are the "witnesses for the defense," you ask? Trump, who insists he's "done nothing wrong," and Giuliani, who claimed, "I didn't know I was being investigated." The Wall Street Journal has obtained a copy of the prepared testimony of Gordon Sondland, who is speaking today to House impeachment investigators:

Gordon Sondland, ambassador to EU, criticizes Trump over efforts to pressure Ukraine

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ine/ar-AAIVRNt

Emperor Trump keeps insisting there was no "quid pro quo" involved in his efforts to pressure Ukraine into launching investigations of his opponents. Emperor Trump is lying about that, just as he lies about almost everything. Today his top aide told reporters there was indeed a quid pro quo – and I expect Trump will soon fire him for his failure to lie to protect the Emperor.

White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney acknowledges Ukraine aid was withheld to boost political probe

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/1...6-probe-050156

Today, Mick Mulvaney acknowleged a quid pro quo: Trump held up military aid and pressured Ukraine to investigate his opponents. Mulvaney told reporters, "Get over it. There's going to be political influence in foreign policy. It's not illegal. It's not impeachable." CNN's Sunlen Serfaty said Mulvaney "co-signed Trump's confession." Trump's legal team is reported to be "stunned" by Mulvaney's announcement. Adam Schiff said Trump's troubles "have gone from bad to much, much worse."

So what did Mulvaney do next? Minutes ago, he issued a statement saying, "Let me be clear: there was absolutely no quid pro quo." Yes, after telling the truth and admitting there was a quid pro quo, he's now lying and saying there wasn't. Sorry, Mick, we all heard you admit there was. By the way, Richard Nixon said to tell you hello.

McRaven said Trump has "embarrassed us, humiliated us on the world stage and divided us as a nation." Trump's response was to call McRaven a "Hillary Clinton fan" and "Obama backer" and mock him for not getting bin Laden sooner. Attacking a Navy Admiral who fought in three wars and led six commands is further proof that the pompous, narcissistic, egotistical, orange-skinned draft dodger is indeed an embarrassment.

William McRaven, former Navy Admiral who oversaw bin Laden raid, says the US is 'under attack from the President'

https://www.businessinsider.com/will...-trump-2019-10

Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski is one of a very small number of Republicans who are denouncing Trump's "quid pro quo" offer to Ukraine. The vast majority are steadfastly adhering to their longstanding policy: "See no evil in Trump, hear no evil about Trump, speak no evil about Trump."

Republicans worried by Mulvaney's confirmation Trump sought exchange of favors with Ukraine

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/10/17/pol...ion/index.html

Mick Mulvaney told reporters Trump will not profit from hosting next year's G7 at his Doral resort – which is a lie – and then said Trump made a "quid pro quo" offer to Ukraine – which is true. CNN's Stephen Collinson states the obvious: Trump is becoming increasingly brazen and incorrigible and his Presidency is "blazing with abuses of power, conflicts of interest and unhinged behavior."

Analysis: The guardrails are off the Trump Presidency

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/10/18/pol...ney/index.html

Trump's move to host the next G7 at his Doral resort takes self-dealing to new levels
The corruption is becoming more and more brazen.

https://www.vox.com/2019/10/17/20919...-2020-mulvaney

Emperor Trump keeps insisting he did nothing wrong by asking Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and the Democrats. Trump says he just wanted to "root out corruption." Quick, somebody hand Trump a mirror!

'This is corruption, plain and simple': Democrats and media respond to announcement that G-7 summit will be held at Trump's Doral resort

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ort/ar-AAIWlzC

Cooper, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine and Eurasia, has served with the Department of Defense since 2001. She spent many months trying to get Congress to provide $250 million in military aid to Ukraine. Congress had approved the aid in 2018 but it was held up and we now know why. Emperor Trump was using it as a quid pro quo to get dirt on Joe Biden and the Democrats. Cooper will testify next week before House impeachment investigators. She will be the first Pentagon official to do so.

Pentagon expert Laura Cooper could reveal key details in Ukraine probe

https://news.yahoo.com/pentagon-expe...111708723.html

Republicans, who value their party far above the safety, security and well-being of our nation, have repeatedly insisted there is not enough evidence to call for an impeachment of President Trump. There is certainly enough evidence now – and Emperor Trump's Republican support is slowly starting to erode.

Former Ohio Governor John Kasich calls for Trump's impeachment
Kasich said the 'final straw' was acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney's statement that there was a quid pro quo with Ukraine's President.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/18/polit...ent/index.html

Donald Trump says his administration is "the most transparent in the history of the United States." Really? I've lost count of all the White House officials who are refusing to comply with subpoenas.

Energy Secretary Rick Perry won't comply with subpoena in impeachment probe

https://www.politico.com/news/2019/1...achment-051335

Mick Mulvaney declared yesterday, "There's always going to be political influence in foreign policy. It's not illegal. It's not impeachable." Yes, but Donald Trump's attempt to get dirt on Joe Biden was not part of any foreign policy, nor, if it had been successful, would it have benefitted Ukraine or the United States. It would have benefited only Donald Trump. That is an abuse of power and it is illegal and impeachable. Today we learn Rudy Giuliani's "aiding and abetting" went farther than was initially reported.

Exclusive: Giuliani pushed Trump administration to grant a visa to a Ukrainian promising dirt on Biden

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/10/18/pol...ent/index.html

Mick Mulvaney admitted that Trump withheld Congressionally approved military aid to Ukraine in an effort to get dirt on Joe Biden. "Get over it," Mulvaney told reporters. CNN's Don Lemon said tonight, "We can't 'get over it.' It's criminal activity." CNN's Lauren Dezenski concurs. The Ukraine quid pro quo, the abandonment of our Kurdish allies and the hosting of the G-7 summit at a Trump resort are way too much for anyone to "get over."

What if Republicans can't 'get over it'?
Acting chief of staff Mulvaney said it after confirming there was a quid pro quo, but it's the administration's answer to any number of issues swirling around.

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/10/18/pol...iew/index.html

A few Congressional Republicans, including Mike Simpson, Francis Rooney and Lisa Murkowski, are finally finding the courage to acknowledge the wrongness of Trump's self-serving actions. Trump's stranglehold on the Republican party is starting to weaken as some of its members are beginning to realize they can no longer "defend the indefensible."

Growing number of Congressional Republicans struggle to defend Trump over G-7 choice, Ukraine and Syria

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...ria/ar-AAJ1kh4

Opinion: Forget Donald Trump, Republicans. Save the GOP for the sake of your party's future.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opini...es/3979356002/

Emperor Trump and Mick Mulvaney continue to insist Trump has "done nothing wrong." If that is the case, then why is the White House ordering diplomats and officials to not testify before House impeachment investigators and why are are Rudy Giuliani, Rick Perry, Mike Pence, the Pentagon, the State Department, the Defense Department and the Office of Management & Budget refusing to comply with subpoenas to turn over documents relating to Ukraine? Many diplomats and officials are testifying, though: Fiona Hill, George Kent, Gordon Sondland, Michael McKinley, Marie Yovanovitch and, next week, Laura Cooper and William Taylor Jr. – and the noose is tightening.

White House stone wall crumbles. Now what?
Its initial strategy toward the House impeachment investigation was to try to block witnesses from testifying while labeling the probe "illegitimate." Now that’s failed. What’s Plan B?

https://www.latimes.com/politics/sto...mbles-now-what

Emperor Trump attacks everyone who dares to criticize him, from "Crazy Bernie," "Crooked Hillary" and "Shifty Schiff" to "dishonest" reporters, the "failing" New York Times and "pompous ass" Mitt Romney. Francis Rooney yesterday said he hadn't yet decided if Trump has committed an impeachable offense. "Let's wait for the facts," Rooney said, suggesting he could be open to impeaching Trump. He told Fox News he is not afraid of what Trump might do to him. I don't believe him. Today, saying "I've done what I came to do," Rooney announced he will not seek re-election. I think he's just afraid of retribution from Emperor Trump.

One day after suggesting he could be open to impeaching Trump, GOP Rep. Francis Rooney announces retirement

https://www-m.cnn.com/2019/10/19/pol...ent/index.html