Formal Impeachment Inquiry of Trump Begins

MikeOberly · 2019-10-15T22:21:44.210Z

Frida Ghitis (FridaGhitis)

This seems important twitter.com/fridaghitis/st…

Frida Ghitis @FridaGhitis

Russian intelligence linked to Ukrainian Prosecutor Behind the Dossier Targeting Hunter Biden - The New York Times https://t.co/6GfEeOaTda

10:16 PM - 15 Oct 2019 41 23

MikeOberly · 2019-10-15T22:52:11.179Z

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Sheryl Gay Stolberg (SherylNYT)

Breaking: NO House floor vote on authorizing an impeachment inquiry, per an aide inside Dem caucus meeting. “Consensus is no vote at least right now. Many members do not want to be seen as letting the WH dictate how a separate and equal branch of govt conducts itself”

10:43 PM - 15 Oct 2019 230 71

Which I’m fine with. Also:

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Tom Nichols (RadioFreeTom)

I hope the Democrats don't bother with this. The Republicans are trying to create dilatory process snares that are not required by the Constitution or by common sense. Get on with drafting the articles and send this on to the Senate. twitter.com/BresPolitico/s…

John Bresnahan @BresPolitico

Multiple Dem sources say it’s “very unlikely” that Pelosi will announce an impeachment inquiry vote tonight. Several cmte chairs aren’t in agreement with holding that vote, per sources.

10:44 PM - 15 Oct 2019 340 64

MikeOberly · 2019-10-15T23:02:29.946Z

Rudy, you’ve been a bad boy.

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Jeremy Herb (jeremyherb)

NEW: State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent told lawmakers that he was told by a supervisor to lay low after he raised complaints about Rudy Giuliani’s efforts in Ukraine undermining US foreign policy, according to Rep. Gerry Connolly on House Oversight

10:43 PM - 15 Oct 2019 380 250

kerzain · 2019-10-15T23:07:23.849Z

Sometimes it’s also the little things that I need to happen. I just hope these guys are waking up every night at 3am having panic attacks.

sillhouette · 2019-10-15T23:34:29.014Z

J.Herb:

State Department Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent told lawmakers that he was told by a supervisor to lay low

Reports to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs: The current Under Secretary is David Hale, who assumed office on August 30, 2018.

The Under Secretary for Political Affairs is currently the third ranking position in the United States Department of State, after the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary.

MikeOberly · 2019-10-16T02:44:39.730Z

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George Conway (gtconway3d)

Gosh, it’s as though people think the Cipollone letter is a joke. twitter.com/kaitlancollins…

Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins

There’s frustration inside the White House over the depositions on Capitol Hill. They have no counsel there, don’t see transcripts & learn about what was said from reports. Despite the 8-page letter, they’ve been unable to prevent officials from showing up https://t.co/B2aN7RQhly

12:27 AM - 16 Oct 2019 1.5K 250

HumanTon · 2019-10-16T03:43:02.689Z

But but but … Donnie sent a sternly worded letter. A sternly worded letter! With a law-guy’s signature and everything!

Skipper · 2019-10-16T03:43:32.733Z

He strongly objected.

ravenight · 2019-10-16T04:23:45.855Z

Strenuously

ravenight · 2019-10-16T04:55:21.044Z

nKoan:

he doesn’t even have an active bar license in DC

Does that mean he can’t claim attorney-client privilege?

ShivaX · 2019-10-16T06:05:38.652Z

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HatGuarantee (Popehat)

oh COME ON twitter.com/MiriamElder/st…

Miriam Elder @MiriamElder

Giuliani says he is dropping his lawyer because it is "silly to have a lawyer when I don’t need one” https://t.co/Ix0TwsojiH

7:55 PM - 15 Oct 2019 2.6K 230

jpinard · 2019-10-16T06:50:12.042Z

So Goulashi Gugiliani even know he’s the laughing stock of the country right now?

Tman · 2019-10-16T08:02:58.208Z

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emptywheel (emptywheel)

I think folks are going too far in saying that Fiona Hill's testimony makes Bolton look responsible. He didn't call the FBI, he told her to go leave a paper trail making it clear he didn't approve of the crime. & rather than coming forward, he has floated writing a book.

2:06 PM - 15 Oct 2019 4.1K 830

Ginger_Yellow · 2019-10-16T08:38:03.078Z

On the other hand, he didn’t respond by advocating bombing Iran, so pretty responsible by Bolton standards.

scottagibson · 2019-10-16T11:18:04.554Z

Sure looks like there is an indictment coming for Rudy at some point, doesn’t it?

kerzain · 2019-10-16T11:30:35.462Z

Plzplzplzplz

scottagibson · 2019-10-16T12:24:53.055Z

Very strange answer from Graham.

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NBC News (NBCNews)

Reporter: "20 years ago, you said that not complying with a subpoena was an impeachable offense." Sen. Graham: "Yea. Nothing's changed." https://t.co/sXhx2yugAK

5:00 AM - 16 Oct 2019 1.3K 540

Charlatan · 2019-10-16T12:58:01.587Z

Did he do anything about it 20 years ago or just whine about it? That seems to be the general course of action.

scottagibson · 2019-10-16T12:59:17.259Z

Charlatan:

Did he do anything about it 20 years ago or just whine about it?

Wasn’t he the prosecutor for Bill Clinton’s trial in the Senate? So, yeah, he did something about that.

HumanTon · 2019-10-16T13:48:56.546Z

Gallup, the grand dame of pollsters, finally polls impeachment post-Ukrainegate and finds a majority of Americans in favor.

52% support impeachment, 46% against. This is the opposite of June. Trump’s approval is at 39%; his Gallup low to date was 37% during the government shutdown.

The interesting thing in this poll is support for Congress. It’s up by 7 points since September; 15 points with Dems, 6 points with Independents … and no change at all with Republicans. This is bad news for Trump, since his entire “strategy” depends on demonizing his opponents. It’s great news for Pelosi, since she can point to this with waverers in the House. Going after Trump is politically popular, even with Independents.

(Historical footnote: 58% of the public supported impeaching Nixon when he resigned. No more than 35% of the public supported impeaching Bill Clinton.)