# 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:** 147
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2921 "2019-10-17T18:06:16Z")
Defending KC a little, if I may … His point wasn’t that the Dems should be \*introducing \*legislation, which they’re demonstrably already doing. It’s that Dems should \*showcase \*a particularly large and impactful legislative agenda. “Infrastructure” was just a random example and I agree it’s a weak one. My nominee would be immigration, so any time Trump or another GOP candidate tries to label Dems as soft on illegal immigration, a Dem can say “Well, here’s our plan. Yours is apparently locking kids in cages. Shall we talk about that?” ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2922 "2019-10-17T18:06:50Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Mulvaney just confirmed during a press conference that money was held up and one of the criteria for releasing it was investigating the Democrats. Quid pro quo. They are openly admitting the crime hoping that by saying it out loud makes it acceptable. I actually read that in a newspaper article recently. That studies have (supposedly) shown that when people admit to stuff out in the open then others think there’s no problem with the act: “Well, they came right out with it so what they did can’t _possibly_ be illegal, right?” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2923 "2019-10-17T18:11:57Z")
> [@racepug](#): > > I actually read that in a newspaper article recently. That studies have (supposedly) shown that when people admit to stuff out in the open then others think there’s no problem with the act: “Well, they came right out with it so what they did can’t _possibly_ be illegal, right?” I mean, Mulvaney came right out and said as much. He said that Trump’s call couldn’t have been bad because they released it. Leaving aside that they released it only after they got caught. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2924 "2019-10-17T18:13:00Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Oh good. Someone fell in the trap. Here, let me give you some homework for the questions Ditka will now present you: > > So you think improving the economy because it will help in the next election should be a crime?!?!? I believe doing it to benefit your campaign rather than to benefit the country is morally questionable. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2925 "2019-10-17T18:42:18Z")
Mulvaney’s money quote: “Did he also mention to me the corruption related to the DNC server? Absolutely. No question about it. But that’s it. That’s why we held up the money…Get over it. There’s going to be political influence in foreign policy.” Yup, quite literally we’ve reached the “we did it, and fuck you” stage. ---
**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 17, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2926 "2019-10-17T18:48:34Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Mulvaney’s money quote: “Did he also mention to me the corruption related to the DNC server? Absolutely. No question about it. But that’s it. That’s why we held up the money…Get over it. There’s going to be political influence in foreign policy.” > > Yup, quite literally we’ve reached the “we did it, and fuck you” stage. I’m sure the Trump supporters will be along shortly to apologize for claiming there was no quid pro quo and now come down firmly on the side of impeachment. Whatever happened to the Rick-Perry-made-me-do-it talking point? That one didn’t even make an impact. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2927 "2019-10-17T18:57:52Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > Actually, it refutes your point. People do know about it. That has been demonstrated. You evidently did not. I’m not sure why you think projecting your ignorance on those who are not ignorant is a point for you, but I don’t think that it is. You cite a story from Time in May and something from the Austin Fricking Statesman to claim people know about it? It needs to be front page news. I thought I made that clear. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2928 "2019-10-17T19:00:27Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Defending KC a little, if I may … > > His point wasn’t that the Dems should be \*introducing \*legislation, which they’re demonstrably already doing. It’s that Dems should \*showcase \*a particularly large and impactful legislative agenda. > > “Infrastructure” was just a random example and I agree it’s a weak one. My nominee would be immigration, so any time Trump or another GOP candidate tries to label Dems as soft on illegal immigration, a Dem can say “Well, here’s our plan. Yours is apparently locking kids in cages. Shall we talk about that?” Agreed. Infrastructure was just a placeholder. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2929 "2019-10-17T19:04:42Z")
> [@KidCharlemagne](#): > > You cite a story from Time in May and something from the Austin Fricking Statesman to claim people know about it? It needs to be front page news. I thought I made that clear. Then talk to the press about this. I agree with you that the press does a poor job of covering issues like this, but you are making it out that it’s the democrat’s fault for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2930 "2019-10-17T19:09:34Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Mulvaney’s money quote: “Did he also mention to me the corruption related to the DNC server? Absolutely. No question about it. But that’s it. That’s why we held up the money…Get over it. There’s going to be political influence in foreign policy.” > > Yup, quite literally we’ve reached the “we did it, and fuck you” stage. Mulvaney admitted to holding up money in exchange for investigation into Trump’s 2016 opponent. He did not admit to doing it with regards to his 2020 opponent. Cuz there’s a big difference. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2931 "2019-10-17T19:15:15Z")
He admitted to doing it with regards to the DNC. The same DNC that’s in charge of the 2020 opponent. Not to mention that the only corruption that Trump discussed on his perfect call was related to his 2020 opponent. The DOJ is [distancing itself](https://twitter.com/ShimonPro/status/1184907117234446337) from the White House in the wake of Mulvaney’s admission. \*"Senior DOJ official, reacting to Mulvaney: "If the White House was withholding aid in regards to the cooperation of any investigation at the Department of Justice, that is news to us.” \* ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2932 "2019-10-17T19:25:04Z")
So is this the part where Mulvaney claims that what he said was not what he said and that the press is mean? ETA: Also, a loophole: _"Senior DOJ official, reacting to Mulvaney: "If the White House was withholding aid in regards to the cooperation of any investigation at the Department of Justice, that is news to us.”_ _Yeah, the investigation was requested of Ukraine, not the Dept. of Justice._ ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2933 "2019-10-17T19:34:05Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > He admitted to doing it with regards to the DNC. The same DNC that’s in charge of the 2020 opponent. Not to mention that the only corruption that Trump discussed on his perfect call was related to his 2020 opponent. > > The DOJ is [distancing itself](https://twitter.com/ShimonPro/status/1184907117234446337) from the White House in the wake of Mulvaney’s admission. > > \*"Senior DOJ official, reacting to Mulvaney: "If the White House was withholding aid in regards to the cooperation of any investigation at the Department of Justice, that is news to us.” \* As I understand it: Trump has asked Ukraine to investigate 2 things, equally stupid and equally illegal: 1) dirt on the Bidens and 2) corroboration of the conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that was behind the hack of the DNC servers in 2016 – and that the server itself may actually physically be in Ukrainian hands. Mulvaney admitted to the quid pro quo for the latter, but not the former. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2934 "2019-10-17T19:35:25Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > He admitted to doing it with regards to the DNC. The same DNC that’s in charge of the 2020 opponent. Not to mention that the only corruption that Trump discussed on his perfect call was related to his 2020 opponent. > > The DOJ is [distancing itself](https://twitter.com/ShimonPro/status/1184907117234446337) from the White House in the wake of Mulvaney’s admission. > > \*"Senior DOJ official, reacting to Mulvaney: "If the White House was withholding aid in regards to the cooperation of any investigation at the Department of Justice, that is news to us.” \* The ass-picking hand doesn’t know what the nose-picking hand is doing? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2935 "2019-10-17T19:36:48Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > As I understand it: Trump has asked Ukraine to investigate 2 things, equally stupid and equally illegal: 1) dirt on the Bidens and 2) corroboration of the conspiracy theory that it was Ukraine, not Russia, that was behind the hack of the DNC servers in 2016 – and that the server itself may actually physically be in Ukrainian hands. Mulvaney admitted to the quid pro quo for the latter, but not the former. “Did he also mention to me the corruption related to the DNC server? Absolutely. No question about it. But that’s it. That’s why we held up the money…Get over it. There’s going to be political influence in foreign policy.” They held up the money to investigate the DNC. Quid pro quo against his political opponent, the DNC. Trump’s people are now d[istancing themselves](https://twitter.com/Acosta/status/1184914782253699072)from Mulvaney: _"Trump outside attorney Jay Sekulow to CNN: “The legal team was not involved in the Acting Chief of Staff’s press briefing.”_ ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2936 "2019-10-17T19:40:12Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > Who are the guys to the right of the Chairman? The guy at the end of the table is Robert C. O’Brien, Bolton’s replacement. Still haven’t ID’d the two in between O’Brien and Gen. Milley. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2937 "2019-10-17T19:46:10Z")
Is it Pence _yet_? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2938 "2019-10-17T19:49:29Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Mulvaney admitted to holding up money in exchange for investigation into Trump’s 2016 opponent. He did not admit to doing it with regards to his 2020 opponent. Cuz there’s a big difference. Right. One is extorting assistance looking into a batshit conspiracy theory about a previous campaign, and the other is extorting assistance looking into a batshit conspiracy theory about a future opponent. Full exoneration! ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2939 "2019-10-17T20:00:25Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > Good lord. Does he not think about how these things will sound before he says them out loud? The world needs to pay the US for protection? Them’s some nice oil wells you’ve got there, guv’ner. Sure would be a shame if one or two of them was to catch fire… ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2940 "2019-10-17T20:07:35Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Mulvaney admitted to holding up money in exchange for investigation into Trump’s 2016 opponent. He did not admit to doing it with regards to his 2020 opponent. Cuz there’s a big difference. [Also Mick Mulvaney, clearing up another matter.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnttBhGVytc) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=146) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=148)