“more than enough proof exists for the House to impeach”
by tristero
No kidding, but it’s important to have the Washington Post say so, and so clearly:
…it is our view that more than enough proof exists for the House to impeach Mr. Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, based on his own actions and the testimony of the 17 present and former administration officials who courageously appeared before the House Intelligence Committee…
We take no pleasure in recommending the president’s impeachment and are aware of the considerable costs and risks: further dividing and inflaming our politics; turning impeachment into one more tool of partisan warfare; perhaps giving Mr. Trump unwarranted aid in his reelection effort. But the House must make its decision based on the facts and merits, setting aside unpredictable second-order effects.
That is particularly true because, unlike any previous president, Mr. Trump has refused all cooperation with the congressional inquiry. He has prevented the testimony of a dozen present or former senior officials and the release of documents by the White House, the Office of Management and Budget and three Cabinet departments.
The House Intelligence Committee’s report rightly warns that “this unprecedented campaign of obstruction” poses a serious threat to U.S. democracy. “The damage to our system of checks and balances . . . will be long-lasting and potentially irrevocable if the President’s ability to stonewall Congress goes unchecked.”
Congress prepared an article of impeachment against President Richard M. Nixon for a less comprehensive refusal to cooperate. Mr. Trump’s actions demand that Congress again act to protect a foundation of U.S. democracy.
I too take no pleasure that, as with Nixon, the United States has a criminal for president (and who has turned so many members of his administration into his criminal accomplices). However, I am unapologetically glad and relieved that Trump will be held accountable for at least a portion of the many, many crimes he has committed while in office.
Personally, I wish he was also being impeached for the cagings, for the denial of healthcare to sick children, for the pardons of Arpaio and the war criminals, and for the obstruction/coverup of the Russia investigation — all of which clearly rise to the level of impeachable offenses.
To Republican enablers of Trump in Congress who still, somewhere, have something resembling an ember of decency left:
If you think this is the worst Trump has done (or will do) and that the rest of it won’t come out, you are sorely mistaken.
He will take you down with him. So get out now. Vote to impeach.