# The Trump Impeachment Inquiry **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [September 24, 2019, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771 "2019-09-24T20:23:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 128
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2541 "2019-10-11T14:47:16Z")
Yep, Roberts – the guy who engineered the outcome of _Citizens United_ – is now the moderate swing vote! How far the Court has drifted to the far right! At least Roberts is smart enough to know that and likely to act to preserve some semblance of legitimate jurisprudence. ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2542 "2019-10-11T14:49:57Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I know Trump is teh SUXXORS but is that the whole point of your post? Or do you honestly think someone will be arrested for disrespecting Trump? Does America become a fascist dictatorship Monday morning when Hill is arrested before she can testify? If Trump were allowed declare America a fascist dictatorship today do you think he would do it? Do you think today’s Republican Party values democracy and capitalism? ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2543 "2019-10-11T14:53:48Z")
[Congress may seek 8 years of Trump’s business records from his accounting firm, appeals court rules](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2019/10/11/congress-may-seek-8-years-of-trumps-business-records-from-his-accounting-firm-appeals-court-rules/). The actual story right now is only about three sentences, so I don’t think I can quote more. This could be another pretty big blow, though. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2544 "2019-10-11T14:55:27Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > On NPR this morning, they stated that she’s still an employee. I doubt she’ll show up to testify today. Well shut my mouth. It turns out she is testifying, in defiance of State Department orders, even though she remains an employee. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2545 "2019-10-11T14:55:43Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > At least Roberts is smart enough to know that and likely to act to preserve some semblance of legitimate jurisprudence. Maybe we’ll one day be able to read his biography: _Balls and Strikes_: John Roberts, the justice with the guts to strike down tyranny. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2546 "2019-10-11T14:59:50Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > They keep us hangin’ on! I’m not going to be able to go back to a slower cycle of news, whenever it happens. ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2547 "2019-10-11T15:03:04Z")
> [@dgrdfd](#): > > If Trump were allowed declare America a fascist dictatorship today do you think he would do it? Do you think today’s Republican Party values democracy and capitalism? My broader point is that anyone who can look at this administration and today’s Republican Party and say “now that’s a step too far. They’d never do that.” What world do you live in? They are willing to do anything including tearing down the walls of democracy to retain power. To pretend that anything is beyond the walls of what Republicans consider “fair play” is dissociated from reality. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2548 "2019-10-11T15:13:13Z")
“House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) [have both pledged to return thousands in campaign donations](https://www.axios.com/kevin-mccarthy-ron-desantis-campaign-donations-giuliani-4d09f7d3-9a03-480f-a55f-db54f6c72d7b.html)made by 2 foreign-born Trump donors who were arrested this week for allegedly scheming to buy influence with U.S. politicians, Vice News and the Miami Herald report.” I imagine there will be quite a few more Republicans who suddenly discover that they inadvertently accepted campaign donations from these shady characters. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2549 "2019-10-11T15:18:32Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I imagine there will be quite a few more Republicans who suddenly discover that they inadvertently accepted campaign donations from these shady characters. But they will still keep the ‘interest’. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2550 "2019-10-11T15:19:57Z")
I’m a little disappointed that the appeals court ruling was 2-1. I’d be interested to know what the reason for the dissent was. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2551 "2019-10-11T15:24:33Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m a little disappointed that the appeals court ruling was 2-1. I’d be interested to know what the reason for the dissent was. [The article is a little lengthier now](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/appeals-court-rules-against-trump-in-fight-with-congress-over-presidents-accounting-firm-records/2019/10/11/42933894-b9ea-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-low_trumpcourt-records-11a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans): > [@](#): > > In her dissent, Judge Neomi Rao — appointed by Trump — said if the House wants to investigate possible wrongdoing by the president it should do so by invoking its constitutional impeachment powers not its regular oversight powers. > > “Throughout our history, Congress, the President, and the courts have insisted upon maintaining the separation between the legislative and impeachment powers of the House and recognized the gravity and accountability that follow impeachment,” Rao said. “Allowing the Committee to issue this subpoena for legislative purposes would turn Congress into a roving inquisition over a co-equal branch of government.” ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2552 "2019-10-11T15:27:21Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m a little disappointed that the appeals court ruling was 2-1. I’d be interested to know what the reason for the dissent was. The cynics on Twitter claim that Judge Rao is auditioning for the Supremes against Judge Barrett. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2553 "2019-10-11T15:39:47Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > [The article is a little lengthier now](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/appeals-court-rules-against-trump-in-fight-with-congress-over-presidents-accounting-firm-records/2019/10/11/42933894-b9ea-11e9-b3b4-2bb69e8c4e39_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-low_trumpcourt-records-11a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory-ans): This is the damage that Trump judicial appointees will do. Article 1 powers of oversight are delineated in black letter terms. There is no Constitutional restraint on those powers. Here is Trump’s judge trying to limit those powers of oversight to _only_ impeachment proceedings, in their pursuit of the Unitary Executive bullshit. These people are so scary. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2554 "2019-10-11T15:45:14Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m a little disappointed that the appeals court ruling was 2-1. I’d be interested to know what the reason for the dissent was. Dissent was Judge Rao. Appointed by Trump to fill the seat vacated by Kavanaugh. Rao’s dissent: ``` "Investigations of impeachable offenses simply are not, and never have been, within Congress’s legislative power." ``` ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2555 "2019-10-11T15:46:28Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > Dissent was Judge Rao. > > Appointed by Trump to fill the seat vacated by Kavanaugh. > Rao’s dissent: > > ``` > "Investigations of impeachable offenses simply are not, and never have been, within Congress’s legislative power." > > ``` Seriously? ETA Holy shit that was the quote. Unbelievable. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2556 "2019-10-11T15:49:25Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Seriously? Yes. > **[Federal appeals court upholds House subpoena for Trump's financial records](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/11/appeals-court-rejects-trump-appeal-of-subpoena-for-tax-returns.html)** > > The subpoena was issued earlier this year to Trump's accountants at Mazars USA by the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2557 "2019-10-11T15:52:16Z")
To be a bit less batshit insane, she argued that investigations of the President should only be within the framework of an impeachment investigation. Note I said “a bit less”. ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2558 "2019-10-11T15:58:59Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > To be a bit less batshit insane, she argued that investigations of the President should only be within the framework of an impeachment investigation. > > Note I said “a bit less”. She appears to hold the idea that only the Executive Branch can perform any criminal investigation function, so that if Congress comes across evidence of criminal wrongdoing they are limited to 1) initiating impeachment against any wrongdoer(s) and 2) presumably request that the Executive perform the investigation for them - and can’t investigate further under the theory of legislative business. This seems to overlook the basic fact that Congress _makes_ the criminal laws in the first place, and also ignores the concern that the people in charge of criminal investigations may be the ones performing criminal acts in the first place. I believe the majority’s smackdown that this construction “enfeebles” Congress is correct. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2559 "2019-10-11T16:16:47Z")
As I understand, Congress can examine anyone’s returns for the purpose of determining if changes to the tax laws are warranted. They don’t need to be part of a criminal investigation at all. ---
**Author:** ![Skypist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skypist/32/169_2.png) [@Skypist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skypist)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2019, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2560 "2019-10-11T16:21:20Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > As I understand, Congress can examine anyone’s returns for the purpose of determining if changes to the tax laws are warranted. They don’t need to be part of a criminal investigation at all. Tell that to the toadies trump has packed the courts with! I wonder if they just keep bleating it enough can it become a legal precedent? I’m a little surprised they’re pushing the unitary executive so hard since they wouldn’t like it if a Democrat president was operating under the “rules” they want for trump. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=127) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=129)