House Democrats on Saturday unveiled an extensive outline of their legal case heading into the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, lending a preview of the arguments — both substantial and procedural — underlying the central assertion that the president abused his office and should be removed.
In the 111-page brief, Democrats argue that Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors — charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — and lay out the evidence and legal analysis they intend to present.
And while they buckle down on their allegations that Trump is guilty of pressuring a foreign power to investigate a 2020 political rival, they say the only lingering question they have is whether the Senate will be a fair arbiter of justice.
“The evidence overwhelmingly establishes that he is guilty of both. The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths,” the brief reads. “History will judge each Senator’s willingness to rise above partisan differences, view the facts honestly, and defend the Constitution.”
[…]
In the first legal filings for the Senate impeachment trial that opens in earnest on Tuesday, the dueling arguments from the White House and the House impeachment managers previewed a politically charged fight over Mr. Trump’s fate, unfolding against the backdrop of the presidential election campaign.
They presented the legal strategies both sides are likely to employ during the third presidential impeachment trial in American history. They also vividly illustrated how the proceeding is almost certain to rekindle feuding over the 2016 election that has barely subsided during Mr. Trump’s tenure, and reverberate — whether he is convicted or acquitted — in an even more brutal electoral fight in November.
In a 46-page trial memorandum, and additional 60-page statement of facts, the House impeachment managers asserted that beginning in the spring, Mr. Trump undertook a corrupt campaign to enlist a foreign government to help him win the 2020 election. He did so, the Democrats argued, by pressuring Ukraine to publicly announce investigations of his political rivals, withholding as leverage vital military aid and a White House meeting for the country’s president.
The president then sought to conceal those actions from Congress, they said, posing “a serious danger to our constitutional checks and balances” by ordering administration officials not to testify or turn over documents requested by a House impeachment inquiry.
“President Trump’s conduct is the framers’ worst nightmare,” wrote the seven Democratic managers, led by Representative Adam B. Schiff of California.
In a six-page filing formally responding to the House impeachment charges submitted shortly after and filled with partisan barbs against House Democrats, Mr. Trump’s lawyers denounced the case as constitutionally and legally invalid, and driven purely by a desire to hurt Mr. Trump in the 2020 election.
“The articles of impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president,” they said in the response, which was Mr. Trump’s first legal submission in the impeachment proceeding, ahead of a fuller brief that is due on Monday. “This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away.”
The president’s lawyers did not deny any of the core facts underlying Democrats’ charges, conceding what considerable evidence and testimony in the House has shown: that he withheld $391 million in aid and a White House meeting from Ukraine and asked the country’s president to investigate former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son, Hunter Biden.
But they said Mr. Trump broke no laws and was acting entirely appropriately and within his powers when he did so, echoing his repeated protestations of his own innocence. They argued that he was not seeking political advantage, but working to root out corruption in Ukraine.
“President Trump categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both articles of impeachment,” wrote Pat A. Cipollone, the White House counsel, and Jay Sekulow, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer.
[continues]
liked this headline by carl Hiaasen at Miami herald yesterday:
When you’ve got Larry, Moe, Curly, Rudy and Rob on your side, what could go wrong? | Opinion
Beautiful Jack and poignant
The concerto was begun in 1800, but not premiered until 1803; these were critical years for Beethoven who was struggling to come to terms with poor health and an increasing awareness that his hearing may be irretrievably damaged. When the rest cure at Heiligenstadt didn’t work, the composer appeared almost suicidal but – in a famous letter to his brothers – he revealed that it was only music that prevented him from killing himself. Knowing how the composer was suffering seems to put all the dark drama of the C minor Piano Concerto into context.
from those folks who used to drive Democrats crazy, the members of the Lincoln group have a new ad out. Now if they just have the money to effectively distribute it.
Jamie thank for the research, interesting. I didn’t time to do more than link to the video I had found earlier in the week.
And Craig/Pat thanks for adding the sheet music image, glad you have my back.
Jack
Ya know, if Steyer, Yang and Bloomberg would get off the vanity presidential run and hire a few of the pissed off Republican operatives they would be much more productive and maybe accomplish something.
Oh well
Jack
jack, it must have been dear leader who embellished your lily. not I, but thanks for the kind words.
oh and thanks for the Lincoln project vid. I think it’s best that the dems don’t conspire with them but stay completely away so that it doesn’t hurt whatever credibility they have with run-of-mill gopers.
I was just playing, wasn’t even sure it was the right sheet music but thought it looked cool. That’s some complicated notes!
Craig like you I have no clue, but as an image I thought it was a perfect addition. Thanks.
Pat as the afore mentioned billionaires really aren’t democrats or at least are Johnny come latelys. I don’t think it will sully their reputation to be associated with the Never Trumpers.
Jack
saw somewhere on twitter yesterday that Biden had canceled a large ad buy in Nevada. Is he running out of money and are we seeing peak Biden?
Jack
Can’t help with the sheet music aspect….onliest things I can read are called “chord charts”. I think the Beet would look askance at chord charts. But hey, to paraphrase Elvis, he’s got his show and I got mine.
Jack, a wonderful selection. I’m tempted to bring my brand new cello over to the breakfast table, but maestro Franck would undoubtedly smack me over the gourd if I even moved toward it.
Jack… LOVE Beethoven… thanks!
Bink… also loved those 2 songs you left at the end of the last thread!
no politics today…. just football…
It is beautiful day here in KC , It is one of those bright sunny clear crisp cold day. the kind of day that lets you know you are alive. And speaking of the cello. Here is the perfect piece for a morning like this. Yo Yo Ma and Allison Krauss playing Simple Gifts. Hope Jace is listening
renee
It was 12 degrees the sun was just rising and there were already people lined up waiting for the gates to open. Some had their popup tents out along the access road and were starting the party.
It should be a fun day.
Jack
above anti-mitch ‘toon was in Lexington paper today
George Conway: Why Trump had to hire this legal odd couple
This is what happens when you don’t pay your legal bills.
[…good stuff re specific lawyers…]
Any litigator will tell you that adding to your legal team on the eve of trial most likely will not produce better lawyering but, rather, chaos. In that sense, at least, Trump will be getting the representation he deserves.
best lines from above which hopefully will move some gopers to at least think twice are:
Clinton’s core offense was to obstruct a private civil action about pre-presidential conduct and cover up sexual misconduct — none of which had involved abuse of presidential power. From a constitutional standpoint, that’s a trifle compared with extorting a foreign nation by cutting off federal military funds in an effort to interfere with an upcoming U.S. presidential election. As if that were not enough, in the Clinton case, Starr argued that Clinton had committed an impeachable offense by blocking witness testimony and documents. Oops.
Jack, from Ludwig van to Mahomes in one day. Good luck. I like that Mahomes kid, but Derek Henry is a tough guy to stop.
Putin and Medvedev are interchangeable.
Nunes is on the Putin payroll along with Moscow Mitch and Graham. Lock them all up!
Barring a miracle comeback by TN, KC is headed for the Super Bowl. Congrats, Jack. Great game.
Woooo-hoooo! Chiefs!
Trumpsky is in Austin, feeding BS to farmers.
SF’s off to a strong start. Good luck to both.
Texas has been looking for someone to replace Stephen Austin—they’ve found him in Trump.
OK. KC VS SF. I C SF.
Nope, I made a mistake. When I noticed a reset button I clicked on it and the 270 map map changed. Dammit.
Congrats to SF & KC. Should be a great Super Bowl.
Looking forward to the Super bowl. Rooting for SF
I’m getting blowback about copying and pasting copyrighted content. A few sentences ok but not entire articles, please.
One thing I noticed in rereading “Stranger In A Strange Land” after 50 years was how homophobic it is. It isn’t cruel just very slighting in being totally oriented toward heterosexuality. Not sure why that didn’t register with me back in the 1960s.
mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. looks like I fell off that wagon again on over posting, but promise (again) to restrain my copy/paste addiction in the future.
jack, exquisite! thank you. even the tuning-up of the orchestra at the beginning was a thing of beauty in its own right.
from the hill:
House Democrats on Saturday unveiled an extensive outline of their legal case heading into the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, lending a preview of the arguments — both substantial and procedural — underlying the central assertion that the president abused his office and should be removed.
In the 111-page brief, Democrats argue that Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors — charging him with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — and lay out the evidence and legal analysis they intend to present.
And while they buckle down on their allegations that Trump is guilty of pressuring a foreign power to investigate a 2020 political rival, they say the only lingering question they have is whether the Senate will be a fair arbiter of justice.
“The evidence overwhelmingly establishes that he is guilty of both. The only remaining question is whether the members of the Senate will accept and carry out the responsibility placed on them by the Framers of our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths,” the brief reads. “History will judge each Senator’s willingness to rise above partisan differences, view the facts honestly, and defend the Constitution.”
[continuing]
.
NY Times:
[…]
In the first legal filings for the Senate impeachment trial that opens in earnest on Tuesday, the dueling arguments from the White House and the House impeachment managers previewed a politically charged fight over Mr. Trump’s fate, unfolding against the backdrop of the presidential election campaign.
They presented the legal strategies both sides are likely to employ during the third presidential impeachment trial in American history. They also vividly illustrated how the proceeding is almost certain to rekindle feuding over the 2016 election that has barely subsided during Mr. Trump’s tenure, and reverberate — whether he is convicted or acquitted — in an even more brutal electoral fight in November.
In a 46-page trial memorandum, and additional 60-page statement of facts, the House impeachment managers asserted that beginning in the spring, Mr. Trump undertook a corrupt campaign to enlist a foreign government to help him win the 2020 election. He did so, the Democrats argued, by pressuring Ukraine to publicly announce investigations of his political rivals, withholding as leverage vital military aid and a White House meeting for the country’s president.
The president then sought to conceal those actions from Congress, they said, posing “a serious danger to our constitutional checks and balances” by ordering administration officials not to testify or turn over documents requested by a House impeachment inquiry.
“President Trump’s conduct is the framers’ worst nightmare,” wrote the seven Democratic managers, led by Representative Adam B. Schiff of California.
In a six-page filing formally responding to the House impeachment charges submitted shortly after and filled with partisan barbs against House Democrats, Mr. Trump’s lawyers denounced the case as constitutionally and legally invalid, and driven purely by a desire to hurt Mr. Trump in the 2020 election.
“The articles of impeachment submitted by House Democrats are a dangerous attack on the right of the American people to freely choose their president,” they said in the response, which was Mr. Trump’s first legal submission in the impeachment proceeding, ahead of a fuller brief that is due on Monday. “This is a brazen and unlawful attempt to overturn the results of the 2016 election and interfere with the 2020 election, now just months away.”
The president’s lawyers did not deny any of the core facts underlying Democrats’ charges, conceding what considerable evidence and testimony in the House has shown: that he withheld $391 million in aid and a White House meeting from Ukraine and asked the country’s president to investigate former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and his son, Hunter Biden.
But they said Mr. Trump broke no laws and was acting entirely appropriately and within his powers when he did so, echoing his repeated protestations of his own innocence. They argued that he was not seeking political advantage, but working to root out corruption in Ukraine.
“President Trump categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both articles of impeachment,” wrote Pat A. Cipollone, the White House counsel, and Jay Sekulow, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer.
[continues]
liked this headline by carl Hiaasen at Miami herald yesterday:
When you’ve got Larry, Moe, Curly, Rudy and Rob on your side, what could go wrong? | Opinion
Beautiful Jack and poignant
from those folks who used to drive Democrats crazy, the members of the Lincoln group have a new ad out. Now if they just have the money to effectively distribute it.
Jamie thank for the research, interesting. I didn’t time to do more than link to the video I had found earlier in the week.
And Craig/Pat thanks for adding the sheet music image, glad you have my back.
Jack
Ya know, if Steyer, Yang and Bloomberg would get off the vanity presidential run and hire a few of the pissed off Republican operatives they would be much more productive and maybe accomplish something.
Oh well
Jack
jack, it must have been dear leader who embellished your lily. not I, but thanks for the kind words.
oh and thanks for the Lincoln project vid. I think it’s best that the dems don’t conspire with them but stay completely away so that it doesn’t hurt whatever credibility they have with run-of-mill gopers.
I was just playing, wasn’t even sure it was the right sheet music but thought it looked cool. That’s some complicated notes!
Craig like you I have no clue, but as an image I thought it was a perfect addition. Thanks.
Pat as the afore mentioned billionaires really aren’t democrats or at least are Johnny come latelys. I don’t think it will sully their reputation to be associated with the Never Trumpers.
Jack
saw somewhere on twitter yesterday that Biden had canceled a large ad buy in Nevada. Is he running out of money and are we seeing peak Biden?
Jack
Can’t help with the sheet music aspect….onliest things I can read are called “chord charts”. I think the Beet would look askance at chord charts. But hey, to paraphrase Elvis, he’s got his show and I got mine.
Jack, a wonderful selection. I’m tempted to bring my brand new cello over to the breakfast table, but maestro Franck would undoubtedly smack me over the gourd if I even moved toward it.
Jack… LOVE Beethoven… thanks!
Bink… also loved those 2 songs you left at the end of the last thread!
no politics today…. just football…
It is beautiful day here in KC , It is one of those bright sunny clear crisp cold day. the kind of day that lets you know you are alive. And speaking of the cello. Here is the perfect piece for a morning like this. Yo Yo Ma and Allison Krauss playing Simple Gifts. Hope Jace is listening
renee
It was 12 degrees the sun was just rising and there were already people lined up waiting for the gates to open. Some had their popup tents out along the access road and were starting the party.
It should be a fun day.
Jack
above anti-mitch ‘toon was in Lexington paper today
by George, another op ed in wapo:
George Conway: Why Trump had to hire this legal odd couple
This is what happens when you don’t pay your legal bills.
[…good stuff re specific lawyers…]
Any litigator will tell you that adding to your legal team on the eve of trial most likely will not produce better lawyering but, rather, chaos. In that sense, at least, Trump will be getting the representation he deserves.
best lines from above which hopefully will move some gopers to at least think twice are:
Clinton’s core offense was to obstruct a private civil action about pre-presidential conduct and cover up sexual misconduct — none of which had involved abuse of presidential power. From a constitutional standpoint, that’s a trifle compared with extorting a foreign nation by cutting off federal military funds in an effort to interfere with an upcoming U.S. presidential election.
As if that were not enough, in the Clinton case, Starr argued that Clinton had committed an impeachable offense by blocking witness testimony and documents. Oops.
Jack, from Ludwig van to Mahomes in one day. Good luck. I like that Mahomes kid, but Derek Henry is a tough guy to stop.
Putin and Medvedev are interchangeable.
Nunes is on the Putin payroll along with Moscow Mitch and Graham. Lock them all up!
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/19/opinions/national-archives-womens-march-history-corruption-perry/index.html
Barring a miracle comeback by TN, KC is headed for the Super Bowl. Congrats, Jack. Great game.
Woooo-hoooo! Chiefs!
Trumpsky is in Austin, feeding BS to farmers.
SF’s off to a strong start. Good luck to both.
Texas has been looking for someone to replace Stephen Austin—they’ve found him in Trump.
OK. KC VS SF. I C SF.
Nope, I made a mistake. When I noticed a reset button I clicked on it and the 270 map map changed. Dammit.
Congrats to SF & KC. Should be a great Super Bowl.
Looking forward to the Super bowl. Rooting for SF
I’m getting blowback about copying and pasting copyrighted content. A few sentences ok but not entire articles, please.
One thing I noticed in rereading “Stranger In A Strange Land” after 50 years was how homophobic it is. It isn’t cruel just very slighting in being totally oriented toward heterosexuality. Not sure why that didn’t register with me back in the 1960s.
craig,
mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. looks like I fell off that wagon again on over posting, but promise (again) to restrain my copy/paste addiction in the future.
NEW THREAD