TRUMP: Trail of impeachment

From various witness reports, it seems that Donald Trump used taxpayer funds in bribing or extorting Ukraine’s president to announce an investigation of Joe Biden.

Someone revealed this conduct which ended the extortion and forced the release of a phone call summary, which Trump falsely claims to be a word-for-word transcript. Although witnesses verified the whistleblower’s report, and the law protects her identity, Trump and most Republicans endanger her by seeking illegal exposure.

Clinton’s campaign paid a private company to investigate her opponent, but Trump did not. He used the Office of the Presidency, the Department of Justice and the State Department to coordinate this Biden-aimed extortion from many fronts over many months. This all is taking place while Ukraine fights Russia in deadly combat. (Trump’s under-examined economic ties best explain his fidelity to Putin over American intelligence agencies.)

Trump had the Ukraine and these departments make contact with Rudy Giuliani, allowing “favors” which bypass Congressional over-sight. When over-sight began anyway, and an impeachment vote passed, Trump directed people to shut up, disobey lawful subpoenas and obstruct the process. That seems like a guilty response under the circumstances.

Remember that Trump did not personally buy anything. He presidentially tried forcing the Ukraine government to announce that it was investigating Biden, which announcement Trump would use in his campaign. For Trump, deceptive smears work better than facts.

This alleged conduct, both corrupt and showing an abuse of presidential power, deserves investigation and if true, removal of Trump from office.

DENNIS REUTER

Coeur d’Alene