“She’s going to go through some things”
by digby
Trump reached out during the hearing this morning to virtually tap Marie Yovanavitch on the shoulder and remind her that he has the power to make sure she “goes through something.”
….They call it “serving at the pleasure of the President.” The U.S. now has a very strong and powerful foreign policy, much different than proceeding administrations. It is called, quite simply, America First! With all of that, however, I have done FAR more for Ukraine than O.— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 15, 2019
Even some Trump TV hacks were taken aback by that. Via C&L:
Chris Wallace on @foxnews just now, on the GOP defense that ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the President:
“If that’s the best they can do, I guess they’re in some trouble."— Mo Elleithee (@MoElleithee) November 15, 2019
Even Fox News is admitting what an unmitigated disaster Trump's tweet attacking Yovanovitch was. He is incapable of not sinking himself.pic.twitter.com/LCcNDSuiEm— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) November 15, 2019
That was a turning point in this hearing so far. She was already a sympathetic witness & the President’s tweet ripping her allowed Schiff to point it out real time characterizing it as witness tampering or intimidation -adding an article of impeachment real-time. https://t.co/HSCkGMIqmH— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) November 15, 2019
Former independent counsel Ken Starr criticizes Trump's tweets attacking Yovanovitch: "I must say that the president was not advised by counsel in deciding to do this tweet. Extraordinarily poor judgment … obviously I think this was quite injurious." pic.twitter.com/BFTwqX12AD— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) November 15, 2019
None of that will matter in the long run. The new line among Trump defenders is that if it isn’t explicitly mentioned in the constitution, it’s not illegal. At least if the president does it:
Fox News Senior Capitol Hill producer: "Now, when we look at the U.S. Constitution and look at Article 2, Section 4, it doesn't say anything about witness intimidation." pic.twitter.com/Q5T5Bnlbo0— Lis Power (@LisPower1) November 15, 2019
Forget it, Jake. It’s Fox News ….
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