Bolton book, Ukraine aid freeze tied to Biden

UncleBuck

Well-Known Member
And they lifted it ..maybe they were deleating. Or the screenshot scared them. Anywho..dont act weird you seenme talk Im pretty harmless and try to understand views etc.
maybe they deleted your posts because you were drinking and started talking about touching kids? You do support a pedophile after all

I dunno but they were probably doing it for your own good to protect you. Just my guess
 

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
Bolton blows the impeachment case back open

(CNN)In reality, where we all live, the White House and Republicans scrambled Monday to deal with the situation created by John Bolton, who has blown the impeachment trial open with his leaked manuscript.
There were new revelations about Bolton's book Monday from the New York Times, which first broke details on Sunday and is now reporting that Bolton told William Barr, the attorney general, that he was concerned President Donald Trump was doing personal favors for autocratic leaders.

Trump's alternate reality
In the cloistered confines of the Senate chamber, Trump's defense team made its arguments as if the Bolton bombshell had no impact on their case.

"Nothing in the Bolton revelations, even if true, would rise to the level of an abuse of power or an impeachable offense," said Alan Dershowitz, the first and only Trump defender to mention the manuscript said Monday.
"That is clear from the history. That is clear from the language of the Constitution," he said, arguing that presidents routinely intertwine their personal interests with policy and that quid pro quo between world leaders is perfectly normal. "You cannot turn conduct it is not impeachable into impeachable conduct simply by using words like 'quid pro quo' and 'personal benefit.'"
What Bolton knows
According to reports on a leaked manuscript of his book, Bolton alleges that Trump absolutely tied the release of US security aid to investigations by Ukraine into his political rival Joe Biden.
It all confirms and amplifies the storyline behind the charges that Trump personally abused his power and obstructed Congress.
More: 3 ways Bolton contradicts Trump's defense
These are the bullet points from a much more in-depth story from CNN's Marshall Cohen about how Bolton pokes holes in the defense Trump's team is currently presenting:
- Quid pro quo confirmed, again
- No policy reason for aid freeze
- Firsthand accounts of Trump
Read the whole thing here.
Bolton's book is called "The Room Where it Happened"
That last point about firsthand accounts is so important. Since most White House aides agreed to ignore House subpoenas, this is key first-hand testimony, confirming US Ambassador to the EU Gordon Sondland's account that Trump was directly orchestrating the pressure campaign.
Or, rather, it would be first-hand testimony if Republican senators want to hear it.
The cat is out of the bag
Whoever handed over the manuscript -- Bolton's attorney has blamed a White House review process -- has unleashed Bolton's allegations into the world. Regardless of whether Bolton actually testifies under at the Senate trial, he's given his side in the court of public opinion.
Impossible to ignore
The Times reported the White House could feasibly block elements of his book from publication. The leak solves that too.
The White House had suggested that Bolton's testimony could be blocked for violating Trump's executive privilege. But now the White House would be blocking something that's already known. However, Bolton could lose protection from prosecution for disclosing something that's privileged or classified if he intentionally sidesteps that White House approval process.
Read more about how books are approved by the White House, at a little-known office within the National Security Council.
Stop it, John Bolton, says former Bolton aide
Bolton's former chief of staff and longtime colleague, Fred Fleitz, worried about executive privilege and the President's ability to get sound, confidential advice, asks in a Fox News op-ed for his former boss to withdraw his book.
Will Bolton change Republican minds?
Republicans feel blindsided by news of Bolton's book. They shouldn't.
Bolton basically begged to testify in the House impeachment hearings, but back then he wanted the imprimatur of a judge to protect him. His lawyer specifically said he had knowledge of things that hadn't been reported. And, out of nowhere earlier this month, he said he would no longer require a judicial decision. He'd happily testify at the Senate trial.
The White House got Bolton's book December 30. They didn't tell Mitch McConnell.
But the fact that the White House had the manuscript for so long and didn't bother to tell any of the Republicans serving as Trump's jurors has caused some frustration.
Were they trying to bury it? Or did they just not think of it?
To oppose his testimony after Bolton's accusations is willful ignorance of a direct allegation of abuse of power from someone spit out of the inner circle of the White House. And CNN's Dana Bash reported today that even if Bolton's name was not mentioned by Trump's defense, it was all over the halls of Capitol Hill as senators assessed the fallout.
That doesn't mean most Republicans won't vote with the White House and oppose his testimony. But it does make that vote more difficult.
Democrats need four Republicans to subpoena Bolton. We still only know of two
Democrats need four Republicans to support their calls for Bolton's testimony. Two -- Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine -- have said they'll likely want to hear from witnesses. Another, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, is on the bubble.
More Republicans expected to support Bolton testimony
"It's relevant and therefore I'd like to hear it," said Romney, although he would not speculate about how it would affect his final vote on the trial. But stay tuned for more Republicans backing Bolton's testimony.
"I think it's increasingly likely that other Republicans will join those of us who feel we should hear from John Bolton," he said.
But who?
Romney was criticized by a colleague for his openness to witnesses.
"After 2 weeks, it's clear that Democrats have no case for impeachment. Sadly, my colleague ⁦‪@SenatorRomney‬⁩ wants to appease the left by calling witnesses who will slander the ⁦‪@realDonaldTrump‬⁩ during their 15 minutes of fame. The circus is over. It's time to move on!" said Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Twitter.
When does curious become committed?
Sen. Lisa Murkowski is, as yet, no more than curious about Bolton.
"I said before I was curious about what Ambassador Bolton might have to say. I'm still curious," she told reporters Monday.
Historical note on Romney Republicans: Remember when John Bolton endorsed Romney's presidential campaign in 2012?
Democrats, meanwhile, are invigorated
"The Senate needs to hear from Bolton," said Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, the most at-risk Democrat in the Senate, on Twitter. "The American people deserve to hear from Bolton. If we can't get Bolton let's get a subpoena for the book!"
more...
 

DIY-HP-LED

Well-Known Member
Why Trump's tweet may have waived his executive privilege

President Trump denied claims he told Bolton aid to Ukraine was tied to an investigation of the Bidens in a tweet, which CNN legal analyst Carrie Cordero says could affect President Trump's executive privilege defense.
 
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