# 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:** 160
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3181 "2019-10-23T19:03:54Z")
> **[Judge tells State Dept. to begin producing Ukraine records](https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/judge-orders-state-dept-to-begin-producing-ukraine-records/)** > > WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge on Wednesday ordered the State Department to begin producing within 30 days documents related to the Trump administration's dealings with Ukraine, saying the records were of obvious public interest. The documents were sought... Hmmm… how long until they appeal? ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3182 "2019-10-23T19:05:38Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > (I have great faith in Nancy Pelosi, but I don’t like secrecy much, myself. I hope there’s a good reason for it and that it ends quickly.) > [@JohnT](#): > > There is no secrecy. The Republicans know what’s going on. The issue here is that it’s not the _right_ Republicans who know what’s going on. This. It’s in a SCIF because classified information may be revealed. This shit lands less powerful people in prison or a morgue. ---
**Author:** ![MN\_Maenad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e95f7d/32.png) [@MN\_Maenad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MN_Maenad)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3183 "2019-10-23T19:06:35Z")
Wait, aren’t there Republicans on those committees that are hearing testimony? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3184 "2019-10-23T19:08:09Z")
> [@MN\_Maenad](#): > > Wait, aren’t there Republicans on those committees that are hearing testimony? Yes. They weren’t prevented from taking part if they were on the relevant committee. This was a bunch of non-committee Republican doofuses who wanted to make a point, and gum up the works. ---
**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 23, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3185 "2019-10-23T19:09:47Z")
Matt Gaetz and others of the brave Republican security compromising gatecrashers are now tweeting that Hey, you know those tweets I sent from inside the room? Ha-ha, they were sent by staffers outside the room. Ah, this is cool, right? > **[Omar knocks Republicans for appearing to bring phones into highly-classified...](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/467117-omar-knocks-republicans-for-appearing-to-bring-phones-into-highly-classified/)** > > Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and other Democrats knocked House Republicans on Wednesday for barging into a classified intelligence room in the U.S. Capitol to disrupt the deposition of a top Defense D… ---
**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 23, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3186 "2019-10-23T19:14:34Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > \ > > (I have great faith in Nancy Pelosi, but I don’t like secrecy much, myself. I hope there’s a good reason for it and that it ends quickly.) There are very good reasons for it. This is the _investigation_ phase, not the hearing phase. In prior impeachment proceedings, the investigation was carried out by a special or independent counsel, in secret. Just like Mueller. In this case, however, Bill Barr has refused to appoint a special counsel to investigate the allegations into Trump’s Ukraine conduct. This was inappropriate and wrong, but we are where we are with a corrupt Attorney General acting as Trump’s personal protector. For that reason, the investigation phase of this inquiry has fallen to Congress. It’s being held in secret for the same reasons that Mueller’s investigation was carried out in secret: First, so witnesses can’t coordinate their testimony; second, to protect individuals whose good names may be besmirched if they end up not charged; and third, to keep classified information classified. Once the investigation has concluded, there will be public hearings by the House to lay out their case to vote articles of impeachment. Believe me, Republicans want a public hearing far less than they are pretending they do. If (when) the House votes articles of impeachment, the trial phase of this matter will be held in the Senate, presided over by Chief Justice John Roberts. During the trial phase, Trump will have every opportunity to present his defense to the articles of impeachment. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3187 "2019-10-23T19:14:59Z")
“The private ones always produce better results."–Republican, former congressman Trey Gowdy, who conducted the Benghazi investigation into Hillary Clinton a few years ago and pushed back against criticism that most of the hearings were in private. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3188 "2019-10-23T19:16:46Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > There are very good reasons for it. This is the _investigation_ phase, not the hearing phase. > > In prior impeachment proceedings, the investigation was carried out by a special or independent counsel, in secret. Just like Mueller. > > In this case, however, Bill Barr has refused to appoint a special counsel to investigate the allegations into Trump’s Ukraine conduct. This was inappropriate and wrong, but we are where we are with a corrupt Attorney General acting as Trump’s personal protector. > > For that reason, the investigation phase of this inquiry has fallen to Congress. It’s being held in secret for the same reasons that Mueller’s investigation was carried out in secret: First, so witnesses can’t coordinate their testimony; second, to protect individuals whose good names may be besmirched if they end up not charged; and third, to keep classified information classified. > > Once the investigation has concluded, there will be public hearings by the House to lay out their case to vote articles of impeachment. > > Believe me, Republicans want a public hearing far less than they are pretending they do. > > If (when) the House votes articles of impeachment, the trial phase of this matter will be held in the Senate, presided over by Chief Justice John Roberts. During the trial phase, Trump will have every opportunity to present his defense to the articles of impeachment. Excellent explanation. Thank you for laying it out so clearly. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3189 "2019-10-23T19:17:03Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > My son called me and said this is the Republican version of “Storm Area 51, they can’t stop us all!” After Gaetz got thrown out last week, they teamed up. I needed that laugh, because this is seriously disturbing. I’m totally going to borrow this. It’s brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3190 "2019-10-23T19:20:19Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I’m totally going to borrow this. It’s brilliant. 😁 He’s a sharp man, my son! ---
**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 23, 2019, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3191 "2019-10-23T19:21:32Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > Excellent explanation. Thank you for laying it out so clearly. Most welcome. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3192 "2019-10-23T19:40:13Z")
Does anyone have a list of the House members who crashed the deposition? Id like to know if I need to yell at my congressman. The deposition just finally got underway, incidentally. A five- hour delay because petulant babies who can’t understand the rules. ---
**Author:** ![Pazu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pazu/32/15522_2.png) [@Pazu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pazu)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3193 "2019-10-23T19:41:14Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > My son called me and said this is the Republican version of “Storm Area 51, they can’t stop us all!” After Gaetz got thrown out last week, they teamed up. I needed that laugh, because this is seriously disturbing. It would be worth it if any of their illicit recording devices got footage of Republican congress members “Naruto-running” towards the hearing room. (Not really.) ---
**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 23, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3194 "2019-10-23T19:53:16Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > Does anyone have a list of the House members who crashed the deposition? Id like to know if I need to yell at my congressman. > > The deposition just finally got underway, incidentally. A five- hour delay because petulant babies who can’t understand the rules. > **[GOP Republicans Stage Brooks Brothers Riot 2.0 to Emasculate Their Own Power...](https://www.emptywheel.net/2019/10/23/gop-republicans-stage-brooks-brother-riot-2-0-to-emasculate-their-own-power-of-the-purse/)** > > Over 20 Republican members of Congress are staging a riot so as to be able to trade away the most important authority of the House of Representatives, the power of the purse. I would like to note that 12 of these contemptible criminals _are on the investigatory committees_. ---
**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 23, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3195 "2019-10-23T19:54:23Z")
> [@Pazu](#): > > It would be worth it if any of their illicit recording devices got footage of Republican congress members “Naruto-running” towards the hearing room. > > (Not really.) > ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3196 "2019-10-23T19:55:42Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > I’ve posted this before. It’s from Twitter so take it with a grain of salt. But [this is the best logic](https://twitter.com/blakesmustache/status/1166338399642558465) I have seen for having Democrats go beyond Ukraine and follow the money (note that this thread was made nearly two months ago but the logic doesn’t change:The idea is to make such an overwhelming case that it will be impossible for McConnell to punt in any way and make any Senators who would vote against removal to look really, really compromised themselves. > > Coincidentally, this morning the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral argument on the Manhattan DA’s subpoena to Mazars for Trump’s tax and financial records. On one hand: oh please please please let this happen. I so very much want to see Trump exposed as an international money laundering criminal. On the other: doesn’t any scenario that involves Trump’s tax returns assume that his returns are complete and correct? I mean, if you’re already laundering money for Russian oligarchs, why would you have qualms about not mentioning it on your 1040? ---
**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 23, 2019, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3197 "2019-10-23T20:18:34Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > On the other: doesn’t any scenario that involves Trump’s tax returns assume that his returns are complete and correct? I mean, if you’re already laundering money for Russian oligarchs, why would you have qualms about not mentioning it on your 1040? I’m going with the assumption that there’s more to be learned from Trump’s returns than that he’s not as rich as he claims to be, otherwise he wouldn’t be going to court to prevent them from being released to _anyone_. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3198 "2019-10-23T20:43:25Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > they’ve settled in, refused to leave, and ordered a fricken pizza. Personally I’d like nothing more than to help plan what to do if they pull this again. First - are there bathrooms available without leaving the space? If so, step one is to lock them or otherwise put them out of commission. Step two - “hey, just to prove we can still behave like civilized human beings, we’ve brought a few cases of soda to share. Drink up!” ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3199 "2019-10-23T20:48:35Z")
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman asks sergeant at arms [to “take action” against Republicans who charged into the SCIF](https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1187103342322950145). ---
**Author:** ![MulderMuffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldermuffin/32/2862_2.png) [@MulderMuffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MulderMuffin)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/3200 "2019-10-23T21:11:47Z")
> [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](#): > > House Homeland Security Committee Chairman asks sergeant at arms [to “take action” against Republicans who charged into the SCIF](https://twitter.com/kyledcheney/status/1187103342322950145). Many of the Republicans engaged in the protest were at a White House on Tuesday meeting with Trump, and a person familiar with the matter told CNN that Trump had advance knowledge of the plans to enter the space. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=159) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=161)