It is only illegal if the “quid” or the “quo” is illegal. If both the “quid” and the “quo” are legal — a legal exchange, such as a trade deal — no problem. But if either the “quid” or the “quo” are ILLEGAL, big problem.
In the current object of newsworthiness, the “quid pro quo” regarding the Ukraine, the “quid” is Trump asking Ukraine to investigate a political rival. This is illegal. Even without a “quo,” the simple act of asking a foreign nation to interfere in our elections is a felony (which Mueller should have charged Trump with simply for when he said, “Russia if you’re listening…”
The “quo” doubles down on the illegality. It goes beyond the ask (the “quid,” the illegal solicitation) to raising the severity to the level of extortion. So the “quo” is also a crime. It is not merely asking a foreign government to interfere, it is backing it up with a threat: “If you don’t give me the ‘quid’ I asked for, I’m going to withhold aid that has already been appropriated by Congress (and thus illegal for me to withhold) that you need to prevent Russia from invading and taking over your country, and deny you other things you want.”
In the case of Ukraine, both the “quid” and the “quo” are illegal: Two crimes for the price of one.
“Quid pro quo” just means “this for that.”
It is just an exchange of value.
It is not necessarily illegal.
It is only illegal if the “quid” or the “quo” is illegal. If both the “quid” and the “quo” are legal — a legal exchange, such as a trade deal — no problem. But if either the “quid” or the “quo” are ILLEGAL, big problem.
In the current object of newsworthiness, the “quid pro quo” regarding the Ukraine, the “quid” is Trump asking Ukraine to investigate a political rival. This is illegal. Even without a “quo,” the simple act of asking a foreign nation to interfere in our elections is a felony (which Mueller should have charged Trump with simply for when he said, “Russia if you’re listening…”
The “quo” doubles down on the illegality. It goes beyond the ask (the “quid,” the illegal solicitation) to raising the severity to the level of extortion. So the “quo” is also a crime. It is not merely asking a foreign government to interfere, it is backing it up with a threat: “If you don’t give me the ‘quid’ I asked for, I’m going to withhold aid that has already been appropriated by Congress (and thus illegal for me to withhold) that you need to prevent Russia from invading and taking over your country, and deny you other things you want.”
In the case of Ukraine, both the “quid” and the “quo” are illegal: Two crimes for the price of one.