# 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:** 50
**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:** [September 27, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/981 "2019-09-27T23:01:07Z")
And now for a brief jocularity break. I haven’t stopped laughing for five minutes: [Slide-Whistleblower Complaint Reveals Trump’s Pants Around Ankles.](https://politics.theonion.com/slide-whistleblower-complaint-reveals-trump-s-pants-aro-1838543204?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=SF&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_content=Main&fbclid=IwAR3UtDgctBqJqmnieHmWfe5M2e0Cev7JCVe_QZC6nsIUs_jTQfeQLapbkYI) ---
**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:** [September 27, 2019, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/982 "2019-09-27T23:01:42Z")
> [@Lance\_Turbo](#): > > Keep in mind that he supports letting the impeachment process play out. He has not said that would vote to impeach. > > Reporter: Can you envision a scenario where you would support impeachment? > Amodei: Well if there were facts that support it, of course I would. Just taking it seriously is huge. If just a third or so of Republicans in Congress take this seriously, Trump is totally screwed. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/983 "2019-09-27T23:07:13Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That’s absolutely enormous news, IMO. Just amazing that this happened so fast. Will he be the first of many? Stay tuned! He is a congressman, not a senator, if we can get some gOP senators- that would be _absolutely enormous news_.😃 ---
**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:** [September 27, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/984 "2019-09-27T23:09:11Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > He is a congressman, not a senator, if we can get some gOP senators- that would be _absolutely enormous news_.😃 Still big, IMO. The first sign that some Republicans might actually feel a twinge of duty calling. Or possibly, which would be an even more positive sign politically speaking, a feeling that Trump is politically doomed and they better get out in front on the right side. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/985 "2019-09-27T23:32:22Z")
The NYT is reporting that Trump met with Wayne LaPierre today. Subject: financial assistance from the NRA for the upcoming impeachment defense. Also, State Department Special Envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, has resigned. He is called out in the whistleblowers complaint - and was subpoenaed today. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/986 "2019-09-27T23:36:38Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > . . . Or possibly, which would be an even more positive sign politically speaking, a feeling that Trump is politically doomed and they better get out in front on the right side. I think you are being awfully optimistic. ---
**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:** [September 27, 2019, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/987 "2019-09-27T23:47:29Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > -Is the official impeachment underway? Or does the “impeachment inquiry” eventually result in a floor vote for ACTUAL impeachment? Asking if impeachment is underway is kind of like asking if a criminal indictment is underway. Impeachment and indictments are the end result of a particular process. The House is holding hearings and gathering facts, and at some point it seems likely that articles of impeachment will be drafted. These are the specific “charges” of wrongdoing against the President. Then the House votes on them - if they pass by a majority vote, then the matter goes onto the Senate for a trial. > [@](#): > > -Are subpoenas under an impeachment inquiry more enforceable than all the gobs of subpoenas the GOP have laughed at and ignored so far? > > I saw that Dems in charge are “considering” enacting a “long-dormant rule allowing them to jail or fine people who disobey subpoenas.” Is the ability to jail uncooperative witnesses NOT inherent? I thought at some point the Sergeant at Arms would bring out that Mace of Liberty and start smacking heads at some point. When’s that going to happen? > > -What is to stop anyone (such as Pompeo) to simply not comply? What recourse is there? In US v Nixon, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that a President can not hide behind executive privilege when it comes to criminal matters. So it seems likely that if the House demands information that seems relevant to their inquiry, the courts will back them up. But also remember that this is a political process, not a legal one. If subpoenas are conspicuously ignored, members of the House or Senate are free to conclude that they will vote for impeachment and removal on the basis of the coverup, rather than voting against on the basis of not having the right amount of evidence. > [@](#): > > -What happens if this is a belly-flop? Will Dems have hamstrung or invalidated any future investigations if this all turns out to be not entirely impeachable? Pelosi resisted moving to impeachment on the Russia related stuff because of these concerns. But nobody can tell the future. > [@](#): > > -Will they have the ability to subpoena the classified servers? We’ll see, but my gut feeling is that if they craft a precise subpoena (like, “we want the transcripts of all the phone calls” rather than “give us everything on the servers!”) I think the subpoena would be pretty powerful. But even then, it probably goes to the courts. > [@](#): > > -Can Trump and Co just consider everything the Dems ask for as “privileged” or “classified?” See above on US v Nixon and this being a political process. > [@](#): > > I see they are already playing the “it was on the classified server because we classified it.” What’s to stop them from classifying everything and shield it from investigation? The executive order under which information is classified specifically prohibits classification of matters to cover up crimes or embarrassing information. Now, courts typically give the President a lot of leeway on national security matters, but I have a hard time seeing that courts would have a definition of “national security” that is explicitly contradicted by executive order. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2019, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/988 "2019-09-27T23:59:22Z")
[**Giuliani cancels paid appearance next week at Kremlin-backed conference**](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/giuliani-set-to-make-paid-appearance-next-week-at-kremlin-backed-conference/2019/09/27/a15ab242-e133-11e9-8dc8-498eabc129a0_story.html) (from WAPO so may be paywalled) A few excerpts show the depth and stupidity of the Don & Rudy show: > [@](#): > > Giuliani, who confirmed to The Washington Post on Friday morning that he would attend the event, reversed himself that evening after The Post reported on his participation in the meeting, which Russian President Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials are expected to attend > [@](#): > > According to an agenda for the event posted online, Giuliani was set to participate in a panel led by Sergey Glazyev, a longtime Putin adviser who has been under U.S. sanctions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine five years ago. > > Giuliani said Friday evening that he was no longer planning to attend the meeting. “I didn’t know Putin was going,” he said in a brief interview, adding in a text: “Discretion is the better part of valor.” > > Giuliani’s decision to take part in the conference astounded national security experts. His appearance would have come days after the release of a whistleblower complaint accusing Trump and Giuliani of pressuring Ukrainian officials for damaging information about Democrats. Emphasis added for naked lying. I fear that evidence of so much criminality is emerging so quickly that people will soon lose track of the depth and enormity of it all. Frankly, I am thinking of his base. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2019, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/989 "2019-09-28T00:03:10Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > I think you are being awfully optimistic. I have no expectations, only hopes. Things will probably go shitty. But I’m hopeful they’ll go right. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/990 "2019-09-28T00:14:15Z")
Trump’s State Department envoy to the Ukraine and named in the whistleblower report, Volker, [resigns](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/us/politics/volker-ukraine-resigns.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share). Sorry, was already posted above… But, on edit, I’ll add that apparently Trump’s calls to[Putin and Prince Mohammed](https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/27/politics/white-house-restricted-trump-calls-putin-saudi/index.html) have been similarly squirreled away for some unknown reason that I can’t fathom. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/991 "2019-09-28T00:43:28Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I have no expectations, only hopes. Things will probably go shitty. But I’m hopeful they’ll go right. Yeah, maybe. And there may be some hope on the horizon . . . . . . I just read an interesting article making a good case that FOX may soon change its tune and dump Trump. That would go a LONG way to softening Senate (and House) Republicans’ stance against impeachment or at least lessening their support of Trump. Paul Ryan (who despises Trump now) has been recently appointed to the FOX board and Murdoch’s son is now at the helm. Presumably, as the article points out, he’s aware that the median age of FOX viewers is 65 and so, as a business, FOX better find a way to remain viable and enduring. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/992 "2019-09-28T00:50:11Z")
> [@KarlGauss](#): > > Paul Ryan ( **who despises Trump now** ) has been recently appointed to the FOX board and Murdoch’s son is now at the helm. Ryan has _always_ hated Trump. He just had to work with him to advance his immediate political agenda. Now that he is no longer an active player, Ryan is free to let his hatred out. ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/993 "2019-09-28T00:56:41Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > Trump’s State Department envoy to the Ukraine and named in the whistleblower report, Volker, [resigns](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/us/politics/volker-ukraine-resigns.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share). > > Sorry, was already posted above… > > But, on edit, I’ll add that apparently Trump’s calls to[Putin and Prince Mohammed](https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/27/politics/white-house-restricted-trump-calls-putin-saudi/index.html) have been similarly squirreled away for some unknown reason that I can’t fathom. And apparently among those remarks were Trump informing the Russians that their election interference [was just fine](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-told-russian-officials-in-2017-he-wasnt-concerned-about-moscows-interference-in-us-election/2019/09/27/b20a8bc8-e159-11e9-b199-f638bf2c340f_story.html). This is according to 3-4 former officials. The damn is breaking because people see this ship is sinking and they want to pretend that they were on the right side of it. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/994 "2019-09-28T01:00:09Z")
The sniping between Fox News personalities has already begun. This is quite bad for the Trump loyalists, because their whole position is deeply undercut when even the Fox News viewership does not get a consistent pro-Trump message: [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/business/media/fox-news-sean-hannity.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/business/media/fox-news-sean-hannity.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share) ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/995 "2019-09-28T01:05:38Z")
> [@Fiveyearlurker](#): > > The damn is breaking because people see this ship is sinking and they want to pretend that they were on the right side of it. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t9OVqdz5mVg/hqdefault.jpg "Oscar Winner: The Counterfeiters") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9OVqdz5mVg&t=206) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/996 "2019-09-28T01:06:50Z")
Giuliani in prison is not going to go well. All the people he put in jail are so old now that they won’t be able to manage erections. And the sight of his flabby bare ass is not gonna be a big turn-on. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/997 "2019-09-28T01:06:51Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > Oh. Well, the [NRA is definitely flush with cash and not embroiled in chaotic mismanagement scandals](https://www.vox.com/2019/4/30/18510946/nra-finances-lapierre-north-accusations-corruption), so this is indeed a very canny move. Oh, my gawd. There’s just no bottom, is there? Trump: “Please, please give me money to defend against my attackers!!” LaPierre: “We might be able to work something out. We need a favor, though…” ---
**Author:** ![Fiveyearlurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@Fiveyearlurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveyearlurker)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2019, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/998 "2019-09-28T01:07:05Z")
I was thinking Aldo Raine style carving “MAGA” on their foreheads. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/999 "2019-09-28T01:14:38Z")
Maybe more like Charles Manson. He was a cult leader, too. ---
**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:** [September 28, 2019, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771/1000 "2019-09-28T01:20:31Z")
> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#): > > Giuliani in prison is not going to go well. > > All the people he put in jail are so old now that they won’t be able to manage erections. And the sight of his flabby bare ass is not gonna be a big turn-on. Prison rape being called off due to the limitations of aging isn’t as hilarious as you think. Next time, just make that your personal masturbation fantasy rather than share it with us? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=49) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-trump-impeachment-inquiry/840771.md?page=51)