# 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:** 264
**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 20, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5261 "2019-11-20T21:06:05Z")
Pompeo might be interested in testifying now. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5262 "2019-11-20T21:14:11Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > I guess Pompeo is[resigning since “Trump is hurting his reputation.”](https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1197198439890784256) Without reading ahead (for all I know Pompeo has already resigned), if Pompeo is still Secretary of State next year when Trump loses the election (:)), he is done politically. As I feel Pompeo is as at least as smart as I am, he realizes Trump cannot win next year. Therefore, getting out now is his only hope for a future career in politics. As an aside, the political futures of Pence and Giuliani are tied to Trump winning again. So for them, they cannot resign. They can only hope and pray that somehow Trump pulls off a miracle. Not to belabor my prediction that Trump loses, but I am already experiencing massive levels of schadenfreude that Pence, and especially Giuliani, will be gone from the scene forever. Now if only Pompeo is in fact a moron and tries to hang on until the bitter end, he too will then disappear. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5263 "2019-11-20T21:21:24Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > As an aside, the political futures of Pence and Giuliani are tied to Trump winning again. So for them, they cannot resign. Just to note that Giuliani, of course, does not currently hold a political office, or even a governmental position, nor has he done either since his mayoral term ended in 2001. He has, obviously, remained in the political sphere, but largely as a commentator (and, of course, as Trump’s personal attorney). ---
**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 20, 2019, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5264 "2019-11-20T21:28:21Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Without reading ahead (for all I know Pompeo has already resigned), if Pompeo is still Secretary of State next year when Trump loses the election (:)), he is done politically. As I feel Pompeo is as at least as smart as I am, he realizes Trump cannot win next year. Therefore, getting out now is his only hope for a future career in politics. As an aside, the political futures of Pence and Giuliani are tied to Trump winning again. So for them, they cannot resign. They can only hope and pray that somehow Trump pulls off a miracle. Not to belabor my prediction that Trump loses, but I am already experiencing massive levels of schadenfreude that Pence, and especially Giuliani, will be gone from the scene forever. Now if only Pompeo is in fact a moron and tries to hang on until the bitter end, he too will then disappear. It’s expected that Pompeo will run for the Senate from Kansas. He’s going to have to decide whether hanging on to Individual 1’s coattails will help or hurt him. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5265 "2019-11-20T21:30:29Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Just to note that Giuliani, of course, does not currently hold a political office, or even a governmental position, nor has he done either since his mayoral term ended in 2001. Thanks. Not sure why it needed noting, but okay. > [@](#): > > He has, obviously, remained in the political sphere, but largely as a commentator (and, of course, as Trump’s personal attorney). Given that Giuliani lobbied for the head job at DoJ soon after Trump was elected, I suspect he still harbors such ambitions. Hence what I wrote. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5266 "2019-11-20T21:35:25Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > It’s expected that Pompeo will run for the Senate from Kansas. He’s going to have to decide whether hanging on to Individual 1’s coattails will help or hurt him. Or I would say more precisely, whether or not Trump will even have coattails. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5267 "2019-11-20T21:36:59Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > It’s expected that Pompeo will run for the Senate from Kansas. He’s going to have to decide whether hanging on to Individual 1’s coattails will help or hurt him. This is exactly correct. While Kansas hasn’t elected a Democratic Senator since 1932, there’s a slight chance that it might happen next year. And given how Kris Kobach lost the Governor’s race last year despite being loudly endorsed by Trump, Pompeo would be wise to cut his losses sooner rather than later. ---
**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 20, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5268 "2019-11-20T21:45:30Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > This is how Obstruction of Justice works. It prevents the investigators from being able to make a case - positive or negative. It’s unreasonable to put the blame on them for incompleteness, when they’re being denied the ability to do their job. And I would be open to a charge of obstruction of justice for exactly that reason. Now if there’s a good reason to hold back the officials and documents… but I can’t think of one. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5269 "2019-11-20T22:37:39Z")
> [@Fiddle\_Peghead](#): > > Given that Giuliani lobbied for the head job at DoJ soon after Trump was elected, I suspect he still harbors such ambitions. Hence what I wrote. Fair enough. I don’t think he really has _any_ political future, regardless of what happens to his client, but that’s another topic. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5270 "2019-11-20T22:38:56Z")
> [@Jim\_Peebles](#): > > The Republicans need to list perfectly acceptable cases cases where foreign aid was conditioned on another country taking actions, and ask Sondland if those are “quid pro quos”, and also maybe ask him things like “is marriage a quid pro quo?” The sound bite is “Sondland said there was a quid pro quo”, but he may not be saying it is a nefarious quid pro quo. lol Sent from my SM-G935P using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5271 "2019-11-20T22:50:27Z")
> [@MulderMuffin](#): > > I’m not even 100% sure how to spell Zelensky. I’ve seen it spelled with two “y”,s for example. There are different transliterations of Зеленський, but he settled on Zelenskyy, and that’s what’s on his passport. The position of his administration is that they are not offended by different spellings, and unlike some Ukrainian translations, there are no political implications. The BBC uses Zelensky. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2019, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5272 "2019-11-20T23:28:34Z")
[Matt Lewis](https://twitter.com/mattklewis/status/1197222187305967620), _The Daily Beast_: > [@](#): > > It’s important to note the timing of Trump’s “I want nothing…I want no quid pro quo” statement to Sondland: It occurred on September 9, the exact same day the House Intel Committee received the whistleblower’s complaint… [Rep. Eric Swalwell](https://twitter.com/RepSwalwell/status/1197292592402247680): > [@](#): > > Laura Cooper just told @HouseIntel the Ukrainians first asked about @realDonaldTrump’s hold on their security assistance on July 25 (same day as shakedown call). This testimony destroys the President’s central defense, that the Ukrainians did not know about the hold. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5273 "2019-11-20T23:49:09Z")
Trump’s read on Sondland: [He was perfect. Everything he said exonerated me.](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-responds-to-sondland-testimony-not-only-did-we-win-today-its-over) My guess would be that Trump believes that, so long as he said, “I’m not ordering them to do it”, his average voter will ignore everything demonstrating that those words were false. Trump is probably correct. I can envision the day when Trump punches someone in the face, on camera, shouting “I’m not punching you!” and people have to argue the matter like it’s a real question to his supporters. ---
**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:** [November 20, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5274 "2019-11-20T23:59:35Z")
[Eli Stokols](https://twitter.com/EliStokols/status/1197296905430147072), _LA Times_: > [@](#): > > David Hale says an OMB rep told them at July 26 interagency meeting that Ukraine aid was being held up at the direction of the president. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5275 "2019-11-21T00:12:05Z")
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney was [having none of Sondland’s](https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1197249886158237702) BS during questioning. > [@](#): > > _Sondland_: I don’t want to characterize who would have and who would not have– > _Maloney_: I know you don’t want to sir, that’s my question. Would you answer it for me? > > … > > _Sondland_: Mr. Maloney, excuse me, I’ve been very forthright and I really resent what you’re trying to do– > _Maloney_: Fair enough, you’ve been very forthright, this is your third try to do so, sir. Didn’t work so well the first time, did it. We had a little declaration come in after, you remember that? And now we’re here a third time, and we got a doozy of a statement from you this morning, there’s a whole bunch of stuff you don’t recall. So all due respect sir, we appreciate your candor, but let’s be really clear on what it took to get it out of you. ---
**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 21, 2019, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5276 "2019-11-21T00:15:11Z")
I think someone told Trump that “No Quid Pro Quo” is a magic spell that means he won’t have to go to jail. Just chant it over and over again, and all will be well. Next he’s going to be shouting “Expelliarmus!” at people. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5277 "2019-11-21T00:18:04Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney was [having none of Sondland’s](https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1197249886158237702) BS during questioning. I must say… I absolutely loved that moment. It was epic. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5278 "2019-11-21T00:19:31Z")
Good point from Weissman: > **['There is a reason to do it': Top Mueller prosecutor encourages Democrats to...](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/top-mueller-prosecutor-andrew-weissmann-encourages-democrats-to-follow-the-sondland-documents)** > > One of special counsel Robert Mueller's top prosecutors said there was a "notable" takeaway from U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland's impeachment testimony on Wednesday. Eventually, even if it takes a year or two, you’ll win all your document requests and they’ll come through. At that point in time, if it’s discovered that people were lying to you in your hearings today, those people will then go to jail for perjury. If you don’t ask for the documents, people can lie now with impunity, figuring that no one will ever double-check. ---
**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 21, 2019, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5279 "2019-11-21T00:38:04Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > I can envision the day when Trump punches someone in the face, on camera, shouting “I’m not punching you!”. [I didn’t do that.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWltSYl-mNo) ---
**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:** [November 21, 2019, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/5280 "2019-11-21T00:41:08Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney was [having none of Sondland’s](https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1197249886158237702) BS during questioning. so both my SO and bf both thought this exchange cast the democrat Rep as a “bully,” but both were basing that on his tone and firm stance. Neither fully caught the substance of the exchange, just the tone of exchange (one was working and one was just getting in the car). I think it was great–I laughed very hard at the “third time, first time didn’t go well,” and I thought he was sharp and witty for having that bullet in the chamber. I think Sondland was being ridiculously evasive to the point of being belligerent. To that end, my take-away from Sondland in general was he wasn’t about to perjure himself, but seemed to walk the razor’s edge of “hey maybe Trump will let me keep my job.” What’s your take-away from the exchange? [Video Link](https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/watch/maloney-asks-sondland-who-benefits-from-an-investigation-on-trump-s-enemies-73772613721) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=263) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=265)