It continues to astound me that Republicans, who have yet to find any FACTS revealed by the impeachment hearings that they can dispute, are reduced to the inane argument that a crime could not have occurred because, as soon as he was caught in the act, Trump retreated and stopped the act.
Undercover officers routinely arrest and prosecute would-be murderers trying to hire hitmen for hire or provide fake bombs to would-be terrorists, where there is no danger whatsoever of the undercover “hitman” committing the hit, or the fake “explosives” actually being detonated.
In any case, the initial crime is the SOLICITATION of a foreign power to assist in a U.S. election. It does not require anything in return. It does not require a “quid pro quo.” It is a crime just to ask for that “favor, though” if the favor involves intrusion into our elections.
The fact that Trump DID ask for something of personal value to himself in return for completing an official act of his office takes it beyond mere solicitation to interfere in our elections and elevates it to the level of BRIBERY — one of two crimes actually listed in the Constitutional provision for impeachment (so no one can say it is not an impeachable offense). The request for something of personal value to himself is bribery, as is the offer of something to Ukraine. Both the quid and the quo constitute bribes. A quid pro quo is not necessary for solicitation, but as for bribery there is a quid pro quo, and both the quid and the quo are crimes.
By the way, the hands on that bank robber are drawn way too large.
It continues to astound me that Republicans, who have yet to find any FACTS revealed by the impeachment hearings that they can dispute, are reduced to the inane argument that a crime could not have occurred because, as soon as he was caught in the act, Trump retreated and stopped the act.
Undercover officers routinely arrest and prosecute would-be murderers trying to hire hitmen for hire or provide fake bombs to would-be terrorists, where there is no danger whatsoever of the undercover “hitman” committing the hit, or the fake “explosives” actually being detonated.
In any case, the initial crime is the SOLICITATION of a foreign power to assist in a U.S. election. It does not require anything in return. It does not require a “quid pro quo.” It is a crime just to ask for that “favor, though” if the favor involves intrusion into our elections.
The fact that Trump DID ask for something of personal value to himself in return for completing an official act of his office takes it beyond mere solicitation to interfere in our elections and elevates it to the level of BRIBERY — one of two crimes actually listed in the Constitutional provision for impeachment (so no one can say it is not an impeachable offense). The request for something of personal value to himself is bribery, as is the offer of something to Ukraine. Both the quid and the quo constitute bribes. A quid pro quo is not necessary for solicitation, but as for bribery there is a quid pro quo, and both the quid and the quo are crimes.
By the way, the hands on that bank robber are drawn way too large.