The Return of the Mulvaney Defense?

[AmusedObserver]

@DougBH

First, the “jig is up” if you are willing to trust Parnas over Zelensky.

Second, yes. It is a reasonable argument that Trump did X but that X doesn’t reach the level of impeachment. Indeed, that was the basis for not convicting Clinton…it was perjury but perjury about sex.
It doesn’t reach the level of impeachment.

In this case, “x” = Trump using our tax dollars illegally (per the GAO) in an attempt to extort/bribe a foreign country for his personal benefit.

How that “doesn’t reach the level of impeachment” to any objective, rational observation is absolutely beyond my understanding.

[Covfefe]

@DougBH

I have no opinion right now.

So in the future you will have no opinion if a president withholds military aid that is congressionally approved without notifying Congress. Just checking if that is your final answer.

[DougBH]

GAO is not the decider of fact or conclusion in this case…though I’m sure their opinion will be considered by the Senate.

[sikofit]

@DougBH

I have not read it, but no one has been able to say what the penalty for noncompliance is.

Yes you have, you just keep ignoring it. The penalty is the same as it is for any other law a President might break; impeachment

[NebraskaFootball]

@Smyrna

@NebraskaFootball

3rd Impeached President of the United States

Did you get a pen too…Maxine did?

Tradition for historic events. This has only happened 3 times in the history of the country. I am one of the few around here who can brag that I never voted for a President who went on to be impeached. That feels good.

[DougBH]

@Covfefe

@DougBH

I have no opinion right now.

So in the future you will have no opinion if a president withholds military aid that is congressionally approved without notifying Congress. Just checking if that is your final answer.

I see no reason for me to have an opinion on that as of the current time. Congress can decide what they want to do. Do I think that any delay resulting in a minor non damaging delay should result in the impeachment of a President, even when there is no negative result of the delay? No, that is extreme.

[DougBH]

@sikofit

@DougBH

I have not read it, but no one has been able to say what the penalty for noncompliance is.

Yes you have, you just keep ignoring it. The penalty is the same as it is for any other law a President might break; impeachment

That is not a penalty of the statute. A congress can impeach any President for any reason. Can someone be indicted under that law? If not, it is simply false to say non compliance was a crime.

[Covfefe]

@DougBH

I see no reason for me to have an opinion on that as of the current time

Amazing- Trump was warned by internal staff multiple times that this was illegal. The GAO says it was illegal. And you have no opinion and certainly have not suggested there should ever be a consequence. I’ll remember that when Sanders does not send money ahead to Israel that has been approved by Congress.

[Kelby]

@NebraskaFootball

@Covfefe

@Smyrna

Ambassador Sondland said, " I don’t want anything. No quid pro quo…just do the right thing".

Except there is no record of that call ever happening…

Exactly. AND Ambassador Sondland said…

“I know that members of this Committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a “quid pro quo?” As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.”

Furthermore, the claim that Trump* allegedly told him no QPQ, was only AFTER all of the abuses of power were revealed by the Whistleblower and the Trump* administration was notified of it. Of course this is what Trump* would say after he was already caught. It is an absurd defense.

*3rd Impeached President of the United States

Read from a script to Sondlund on the phone call in quesiton, and to reporters a couple of days later. Donny even provided us a look at it:

[NebraskaFootball]

@Kelby

@NebraskaFootball

@Covfefe

@Smyrna

Ambassador Sondland said, " I don’t want anything. No quid pro quo…just do the right thing".

Except there is no record of that call ever happening…

Exactly. AND Ambassador Sondland said…

“I know that members of this Committee have frequently framed these complicated issues in the form of a simple question: Was there a “quid pro quo?” As I testified previously, with regard to the requested White House call and White House meeting, the answer is yes.”

Furthermore, the claim that Trump* allegedly told him no QPQ, was only AFTER all of the abuses of power were revealed by the Whistleblower and the Trump* administration was notified of it. Of course this is what Trump* would say after he was already caught. It is an absurd defense.

*3rd Impeached President of the United States

Read from a script to Sondlund on the phone call in quesiton, and to reporters a couple of days later. Donny even provided us a look at it:

Exactly!!!

[ImRightYoureWrong]

@NebraskaFootball

Furthermore, the claim that Trump* allegedly told him no QPQ, was only AFTER all of the abuses of power were revealed by the Whistleblower and the Trump* administration was notified of it. Of course this is what Trump* would say after he was already caught. It is an absurd defense.

They know this. They don’t care. Just like they don’t care about deficits or family values anymore. Must protect Trump at all costs. TDS indeed.