# 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:** 150
**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 18, 2019, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2981 "2019-10-18T14:06:42Z")
The latest talking points seem to be: Get over it. Elections have consequences. Next up in the rotation: “Fuck you, that’s why.” ---
**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 18, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2982 "2019-10-18T14:08:28Z")
I’m a little curious about the super secret server too. What happens on Jan 21, 2021 when Joe Biden wakes up after the inaugural balls and says, “okay, let’s have a look”. Does he get everything that the previous administration left there? That would be the first thing I’d do, assign someone to look for dead bodies in that server. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2983 "2019-10-18T14:37:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m a little curious about the super secret server too. What happens on Jan 21, 2021 when Joe Biden wakes up after the inaugural balls and says, “okay, let’s have a look”. Does he get everything that the previous administration left there? That would be the first thing I’d do, assign someone to look for dead bodies in that server. Yeah, but let’s have Americans do the digging this time. Instead of offshoring, let’s bring those jobs back to decent, hard-working, American spooks. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2984 "2019-10-18T16:05:04Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Well, I’ll certainly admit that it’s possible they think that’s a strategy and they’re going for it. > > I personally think Mulvaney might just be clueless. Here’s the thing: Biden’s brag about forcing the prosecutor’s firing in exchange for funding, is undeniable quid pro quo. The US puts contingencies on money all the time. So I think this was an uninformed “if they can do it, so can we!” ie. sometimes a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The only thing wrong with that theory is that Mulvaney almost instantly took back his comments. Who told him to, and why? ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2985 "2019-10-18T16:06:19Z")
> [@Cardigan](#): > > What additional steps do you think will be taken to walk back Mulvaney’s ‘damn right I ordered that code red’ moment? We’ve now heard Mulvaney say that he didn’t say what millions heard him say yesterday. Is the new claim going to become it was just a slip of the tongue? This is why I keep track of Fox. Richard Ray on Ingraham last night said that a press conference was the “wrong place” for taking statements like that seriously. At the end of the segment, after the guests had polished tirnps bishop enough about how it was all fake, the final word from both guests was “They wil impeach” Got to love Fox. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2986 "2019-10-18T16:08:24Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I admit to being a bit fixated on this point but has anybody asked any of the witnesses why, if everything was perfect and it happens all the time, the record of the infamous phone call was placed on the super secret server? And who ordered it? And what other stuff is hidden there that isn’t related directly to national security? I want to see someone, anyone, try to tap dance around those questions. THey tapdance around MT McKinley. I see this as an easy one. But I’m with you. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2987 "2019-10-18T16:19:46Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > I admit to being a bit fixated on this point but has anybody asked any of the witnesses why, if everything was perfect and it happens all the time, the record of the infamous phone call was placed on the super secret server? And who ordered it? And what other stuff is hidden there that isn’t related directly to national security? I want to see someone, anyone, try to tap dance around those questions. That question came up with Mulvaney, and he said there’s no way he’s going to discuss national security issues like that with the press. ---
**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 18, 2019, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2988 "2019-10-18T16:44:50Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’m a little curious about the super secret server too. What happens on Jan 21, 2021 when Joe Biden wakes up after the inaugural balls and says, “okay, let’s have a look”. Does he get everything that the previous administration left there? That would be the first thing I’d do, assign someone to look for dead bodies in that server. That stuff is all going to be destroyed/deleted unless someone stops trump and co from doing that. Maybe has already been destroyed. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2989 "2019-10-18T18:14:57Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > That stuff is all going to be destroyed/deleted unless someone stops trump and co from doing that. Maybe has already been destroyed. Fortunately, there’s a good chance the Clueless Crew doesn’t know how to completely wipe their fingerprints. ---
**Author:** ![Modesty\_Blaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Modesty\_Blaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modesty_Blaise)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2990 "2019-10-18T18:20:03Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > That stuff is all going to be destroyed/deleted unless someone stops trump and co from doing that. Maybe has already been destroyed. I’m not sure, but I thought that once something is on the server, it can’t be removed. And any changes are recorded and stamped with the ID of who did the changing. Does anyone know how this top secret server stuff works? Can they really just delete what they don’t like? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2991 "2019-10-18T18:29:04Z")
I don’t know the process but I would be very damned surprised if a Trump loyalist can just go erase shit off the ultra secure server. ---
**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 18, 2019, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2992 "2019-10-18T18:38:51Z")
I don’t know and would be relieved if they can’t just erase it. But it’s worrisome to me since apparently the president is the decider for what is top secret or not and even who can be granted the highest level of security clearance in the land. So I’m concerned he can delete whatever he damn well wants. If anyone knows I would love to hear. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2993 "2019-10-18T18:46:30Z")
Changing classifications is not the same thing as destroying records. ---
**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 18, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2994 "2019-10-18T18:54:46Z")
What is stopping him, though? Does the server itself have protections that disallow deletion and cannot be circumvented, or is it just a “tradition” that we don’t delete documents from the super secret server? Or maybe he could order the classification downgraded and then delete it? I’m just spitballing and would love for this not to be possible, but this administration has made me realize that this country really has its pants down so to speak and was just trusting that we would not get a batshit crazy, vengeful, resentful loon as president. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2995 "2019-10-18T19:00:30Z")
Meta Data. Data about data. Who, what, where, why. Now it may be possible for some one to delete it, but I suspect they would leave breadcrumbs. Not that that is very comforting. Another one goes under the bus. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2996 "2019-10-18T19:02:53Z")
I was going to suggest asking Rose Mary Woods, but she died in 2005.☹ ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2997 "2019-10-18T19:04:01Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > What is stopping him, though? Does the server itself have protections that disallow deletion and cannot be circumvented, or is it just a “tradition” that we don’t delete documents from the super secret server? > > Or maybe he could order the classification downgraded and then delete it? > > I’m just spitballing and would love for this not to be possible, but this administration has made me realize that this country really has its pants down so to speak and was just trusting that we would not get a batshit crazy, vengeful, resentful loon as president. Deleting records of a presidential conversation is just illegal though, regardless of the classification. So yeah, someone could try to do that but the Trump loyalist would undoubtedly require normal functionaries to be complicit in an illegal act. > **[Presidential Records Act](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Records_Act)** > > The Presidential Records Act (PRA) of 1978, 44 U.S.C. §§ 2201–2209, is an Act of the United States Congress governing the official records of Presidents and Vice Presidents created or received after January 20, 1981, and mandating the preservation of all presidential records. Enacted November 4, 1978, the PRA changed the legal ownership of the President's official records from private to public, and established a new statutory structure under which Presidents must manage their records. The The... ---
**Author:** ![steatopygia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steatopygia/32/3132_2.png) [@steatopygia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steatopygia)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2998 "2019-10-18T19:08:19Z")
There are designated procedures and rules relating to the recordings. [Presidential Records Act](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_Records_Act) The thing is they don’t matter. Trump both doesn’t know the rules and won’t follow them when they are pointed out. But we are getting to the point ( I can’t believe it took 3 years ) where the chickens come home to roost. I believe that the reason Trump et al are melting down in public, releasing damaging transcripts, publicly acknowledging crimes, is they have no competent staff left to save them from themselves. ETA ninja’d ---
**Author:** ![Modesty\_Blaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Modesty\_Blaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modesty_Blaise)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/2999 "2019-10-18T19:18:37Z")
> [@Skypist](#): > > What is stopping him, though? Does the server itself have protections that disallow deletion and cannot be circumvented, or is it just a “tradition” that we don’t delete documents from the super secret server? > > Or maybe he could order the classification downgraded and then delete it? > > I’m just spitballing and would love for this not to be possible, but this administration has made me realize that this country really has its pants down so to speak and was just trusting that we would not get a batshit crazy, vengeful, resentful loon as president. Scary shit. This whole country seems completely unprepared to deal with someone this crazy/stupid/corrupt. We need many, many new laws put in place after this clusterfuck. ---
**Author:** ![Modesty\_Blaise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Modesty\_Blaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Modesty_Blaise)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3000 "2019-10-18T19:20:36Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I was going to suggest asking Rose Mary Woods, but she died in 2005.☹ I think they would need delete a lot more than 18 1/2 minutes.🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=149) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=151)