# 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:** 237
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4721 "2019-11-15T18:46:27Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > She just testified that her official State duties now consist of a fellowship at Georgetown University (teaching one class of about 14 students); and that her compensation has not been affected by her recall from Ukraine; that her colleagues at State still hold her in high regard (in her opinion). > > I’m not yet making a judgement on witness tampering or intimidation but the door is open if the President threatens to retaliate against Ms. Yovanovitch for her testimony. > > ~Max So her public reputation means nothing? And she doesn’t have to worry about harassment or violence from right wing fanatics, that’s good to know. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4722 "2019-11-15T18:51:32Z")
I am laughing that every time one of the Republicans starts questioning Ambassador Yovanovitch, they start off by praising her. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4723 "2019-11-15T18:53:24Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > So her public reputation means nothing? And she doesn’t have to worry about harassment or violence from right wing fanatics, that’s good to know. Respectfully, I do not endorse that conclusion. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4724 "2019-11-15T18:57:51Z")
Ms. Speier advanced a bribery argument that I haven’t heard before - if it was laid out here, I missed it. She is implying that a certain Mr. Parnas directly bribed the President to remove Ambassador Yovanovitch, and the bribe was a significant monetary contribution to the President’s re-election campaign. That’s quite an allegation, to be differentiated from the soliciting-a-bribe-by-asking-for-an-investigation charge from the July 25 phone call. It is much easier to understand in plain language, and certainly impeachable if true. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4725 "2019-11-15T19:01:39Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Respectfully, I do not endorse that conclusion. > > ~Max Do you think she has grounds to file a workplace harassment case against the President and his agents? I realize “workplace harassment” may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things. But it’s something that the federal government does [del]take seriously[/del] have a formal legal process for. I wonder if that’s something that carries weight in the impeachment process. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4726 "2019-11-15T19:01:49Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Ms. Yovanovitch is still a federal employee under the State Department, she was only recalled from her post as Ambassador. This was mentioned during today’s hearings, and I only listened during the ten minute drive to work this morning. > > It follows that the President did not fire her, but only demoted her. Witness intimidation is still possible with regards to Ms. Yovanovitch. > > ~Max Thanks for the correction. I thought she was [working at Georgetown](https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/amb-marie-l-yovanovitch/). Is her new position one of those “at the pleasure of the President” gigs or one of those almost-impossible-to-fire [fed.gov](http://fed.gov) career positions? ---
**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:** [November 15, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4727 "2019-11-15T19:11:26Z")
As a government employee, I’d certainly feel like there was an attempt to intimidate me, if I was criticized publicly by the President while I was testifying with information that might be damaging to him. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4728 "2019-11-15T19:11:31Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Thanks for the correction. I thought she was [working at Georgetown](https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/amb-marie-l-yovanovitch/). Is her new position one of those “at the pleasure of the President” gigs or one of those almost-impossible-to-fire [fed.gov](http://fed.gov) career positions? Why the concern of her employment status? She was already removed from her previous position at the president’s behest. Do you believe that she should have no reason of fear of further reprisals because she’s managed to find a soft landing at [FedForLife.gov](http://FedForLife.gov) gig? ---
**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:** [November 15, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4729 "2019-11-15T19:13:43Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > As a government employee, I’d certainly feel like there was an attempt to intimidate me, if I was criticized publicly by the President while I was testifying with information that might be damaging to him. And your post just reminded me of something I’ve been thinking for quite some time: if while under the employment of the Federal government, if I had a phone call in which I engaged in anything like what Trump said, I would 100% expect to be fired and prosecuted. There isn’t even a tiny speck of me that would expect to get away with it. Not in a million years. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4730 "2019-11-15T19:14:53Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Do you think she has grounds to file a workplace harassment case against the President and his agents? > > I realize “workplace harassment” may seem trivial in the grand scheme of things. But it’s something that the federal government does [del]take seriously[/del] have a formal legal process for. I wonder if that’s something that carries weight in the impeachment process. I’m not going to make a judgement right now because I don’t know enough about federal workplace harassment procedures, etc. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4731 "2019-11-15T19:18:41Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > And your post just reminded me of something I’ve been thinking for quite some time: if while under the employment of the Federal government, if I had a phone call in which I engaged in anything like what Trump said, I would 100% expect to be fired and prosecuted. There isn’t even a tiny speck of me that would expect to get away with it. Not in a million years. Not unless you had one of those cushy almost-impossible-to-fire fed [president.gov](http://president.gov) positions. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4732 "2019-11-15T19:19:13Z")
‘Yes, yes. I know you have the body. And the murder weapon. And multiple eyewitnesses. But my client is INNOCENT because we don’t know who called 9-1-1.’ ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4733 "2019-11-15T19:29:07Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > ‘Yes, yes. I know you have the body. And the murder weapon. And multiple eyewitnesses. But my client is INNOCENT because we don’t know who called 9-1-1.’ No, we DO know who dialed 911. But we need to get him out in the public to prove to potential jurors that he talked to a cop friend before calling 911. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4734 "2019-11-15T19:30:58Z")
Impossible to fire federal employees? [Really?](https://work.chron.com/can-fired-civil-service-jobs-19492.html) The Houston Chronicle seems to disagree. With facts and everything. It seems the article is “facts” heavy and “feels” light. ---
**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:** [November 15, 2019, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4735 "2019-11-15T19:31:46Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > No, we DO know who dialed 911. But we need to get him out in the public to prove to potential jurors that he talked to a cop friend before calling 911. And maybe get the boys to have a “chat” with him so that any other snitches get the message. I’m waiting for the Trump tweet: “Don’t forget - snitches get stitches” ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4736 "2019-11-15T19:34:26Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Thanks for the correction. I thought she was [working at Georgetown](https://isd.georgetown.edu/profile/amb-marie-l-yovanovitch/). Is her new position one of those “at the pleasure of the President” gigs or one of those almost-impossible-to-fire [fed.gov](http://fed.gov) career positions? I am not sure whether she is still considered a “principle officer” that the President can fire at will. Nonetheless Mr. Trump is still her nominal boss. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4737 "2019-11-15T19:35:39Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > Impossible to fire federal employees? [Really?](https://work.chron.com/can-fired-civil-service-jobs-19492.html) > > The Houston Chronicle seems to disagree. With facts and everything. It seems the article is “facts” heavy and “feels” light. If you go back and read the original post, you might notice that it uses the word “almost”. That word was included for a reason. Your fact-heavy article notes: > [@](#): > > Since government employees, as compared to private sector employees, are vested with additional constitutional procedural rights before they may be terminated, firing a civil servant is more difficult and takes more time. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4738 "2019-11-15T19:36:49Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > Impossible to fire federal employees? [Really?](https://work.chron.com/can-fired-civil-service-jobs-19492.html) > > The Houston Chronicle seems to disagree. With facts and everything. It seems the article is “facts” heavy and “feels” light. I think we’re talking about firing at will. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4739 "2019-11-15T19:43:08Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > If you go back and read the original post, you might notice that it uses the word “almost”. That word was included for a reason. Your fact-heavy article notes: If you put on your thinking cap like I did, it makes sense that federal employees have extra protection from arbitrary termination specifically so that Mr. Evil Demon-Rat president doesn’t just arbitrarily fire Republican Joe Schmo Federal Employee because he was hired during King Regan’s reign. Especially if he had no performance issues or personnel issues. Random arbitrary politically motivated firings of federal employees is generally regarded as a bad thing in functional democracies. Its been a few years, but when I worked shoulder to shoulder with the federal employees I worked with, they were for the most part Republicans. I would think that you would want “your own” to have protections from political shenanigans from those dangerous Democrat elected and appointed officials. The fact that you are concerned for this poor woman’s job is admirable, though. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/4740 "2019-11-15T19:50:30Z")
> [@Translucent\_Daydream](#): > > If you put on your thinking cap like I did, it makes sense that federal employees have extra protection from arbitrary termination specifically so that Mr. Evil Demon-Rat president doesn’t just arbitrarily fire Republican Joe Schmo Federal Employee because he was hired during King Regan’s reign. Especially if he had no performance issues or personnel issues. Random arbitrary politically motivated firings of federal employees is generally regarded as a bad thing in functional democracies. > > Its been a few years, but when I worked shoulder to shoulder with the federal employees I worked with, they were for the most part Republicans. I would think that you would want “your own” to have protections from political shenanigans from those dangerous Democrat elected and appointed officials. > > The fact that you are concerned for this poor woman’s job is admirable, though. My comment wasn’t advocating that those civil-servant-employment-protections be removed, it was merely noting that they do, in fact, exist. As for the political leanings of the federal workforce, it’s slightly dem overall: > [@](#): > > [44 percent of respondents identified as Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents, while 40 percent identified as Republicans or Republican-leaning independents](https://www.govexec.com/oversight/2015/08/there-are-more-republicans-federal-government-you-might-think/119138/) The State Department appears to be something of a bastion of liberalism though: > [@](#): > > [We do not know how people vote in elections. But, as far as political contributions go, there are statistics available. The Department of State has been the most politically active in 2015 and 2016 with most of the money going to Democrats.](https://www.fedsmith.com/2016/05/19/which-party-receives-the-most-in-political-contributions-from-federal-employees/) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=236) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=238)