The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.
© Thomson Reuters 2020.Trump impeachment trial opens; White House faulted on Ukraine aid freeze
By Susan Cornwell and Susan Heavey WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
89 Comments
Black Sabbath
Notice how Republicans never defend Trump's abuse of power? It's always Biden this or process unfair that.
Pathetic.
CrazyJoe
Okay, Republicans. You wanted a crime? You've got it now.
How many ways can you spin this one? Ready, set, go....
The GAO finds that Trump is guilty of the crimes he was impeached for. Time for Moscow Mitch to accelerate the coverup.
Black Sabbath
non party: You are ignorant of US law. We have three co-equal branches. And Congress can impeach and convict a sitting president.
Sorry you are confused about that. I'm here to help, so you don't need to thank me.
Black Sabbath
Noidal
I ask you again: Why do you always change the subject away from Trump's abuse of power?
Black Sabbath
Super Lib
If a Republican is foolish enough to say to me: "Let's say for argument's sake Trump did it. Then the question becomes..."
I jump in and ask "Is it an impeachable offense?"
Chip Star
What part of “no evidence” against Joe Biden do you people not understand? You intentionally ignore this fact to push a false narrative.
The stock response when Bass is backed into a corner. ROFL. Kudos! Smh.
PTownsend
When Trump backers can't defend their impeached president and/or haven't been told yet what to parrot they default to 'liberals'.
Simon Foston
Mr. NoidallToday 07:42 am JST
I am pretty sure that if I asked anyone that question in an actual face to face conversation it would be met with scorn and incredulity, given that I doubt I'll ever actually meet a genuine Trump supporter.
Simon Foston
BlacklabelToday 09:01 am JST
Don't know, but I do know US taxpayers have been shelling out for God Emperor Donald's endless golf trips. I don't suppose you mind too much when it's your dear leader wasting all your money though.
SuperLib
Say something honest. We both know Trump is guilty and your job is to distract. You have a role to play which makes your lonely life more interesting.
Black Sabbath
Why did Zelensky repeatedly meet with Lev Pranas, anyway? Why does Trump deny knowing him even though there are pictures (plural) of them sitting together?
Head-scratchers, I know....
SuperLib
Which it was. The testimony from the diplomats and Mulvaney admitting it is strong evidence. Now Nunes is admitting to talking to Parnas and the GAO report spells it out as well.
PTownsend
Once again even Trump's staunchest followers can't defend him and instead resort to the default attack on a 'liberal' (i.e. an individual who questions Trump and/or Putin), especially if that 'liberal' is a woman or someone not from their demographic.
PTownsend
Even his staunchest followers are stuck with 'others guys do bad things, too' as their sole line of defense. Lame.
ulysses
Donny and the rest of the nutless GOP senators are having a meltdown.
They are scurrying around like rats, trying to be first out of this sinking ship.
Problem is the fat rat donny will take them down with him.
wtfjapan
Nadler is obese, Pelosi has a lot of problems with recollections, Sanders had a heart attack,
funny you just described Trump perfectly. lol
wtfjapan
I don't think taxpayer money should be going to countries helping to secretly fatten the pockets of politicians.
40million + in taxpayer funded trips to Trumps own golf courses and you worried about politicians fattening their pockets, another law broken by Trump and still the GOP point fingers
ulysses
Right wing nutters quoting Van Jones and Michael Moore, ROFL.
Let me find a few more quotes
Michael Moore on Trump presidency
Don't think you would want more....
Things don't look too good for donny, Parnas disclosures , watchdog finding etc etc, but then Trumplets have never been known to understand reality.
Something wrong with simple counting skills there, ROFL.
stormcrow
It's funny because at the bottom of their hearts the Republicans know Trump did what he did in Ukraine, yet they prefer to turn a blind eye to these crimes. Now there are reports that the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine may have been threatened by Trump's thugs. Had this been about Obama or Clinton, both parties would have fired them last month. However, with Trump it's a different story and it's kind of a scary different story at that. Let's not listen to witnesses, let's not check documents, let's not bother reading e-mails, texts & tweets, don't pay attention to threats against U.S. ambassadors. Where's Pompeo on this issue? He hasn't said anything condemning these threats, even though the Ukraine government has already launched an investigation. And yet U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo says nothing about it. Why is that? It smells bad and how a large number of the people can shut off their senses to it is incredible.
Think very carefully about what you're signing off on. A president who'll lie, cheat and steal (and who knows what else) just to satisfy himself, certainly not country or even his own family by the looks of it. He is the personification of pure greed.
ulysses
Compared to what , a hysterical Faux. ROFL
Is that your response to the Billy Bush tapes, unbelievable and shocking????
Assault on Women is a laughing matter??????
The GOP had lost its moral compass long ago, no surprise the followers laugh at such despicable acts !!!
Compared to what, the Donny nutter followers who think assaulting women is funny????
PTownsend
How long until Trump tweets 'fake news' claiming you can't trust the US government (which he leads) and his followers parrot him.
The GOP led by Trump does stand united in their decades long attempts to ensure the wealth and power of their 'elite' backers, aka the 'establishment' is maintained while the rest are trickled down on.
'Stand united' is another term from the global alt right which to them means 'blindly follow the leader or else'. WW2 was the last time the US stood united, but even then there were millions who opposed US involvements in wars abroad.
Or with so many Republicans getting campaign contributions from oligarchs and having business ties with the Chinese Communist Party and on the payroll of global big oil did you mean stand united with the Russia/Iran/China empire,
SuperLib
You don't believe any part of that script.
Black Sabbath
You are when you talk about anything other than impeachment trial due to Trump's holding up Ukranian aid for a political favor.
Simon Foston
bass4funkToday 08:46 am JST
Never met a single one.
lincolnman
Wow, did Nancy ever play the impeachment like a Master. Look at all the additional evidence that has come out over the 14 days;
The GAO rules Donnie's withholding of aid was illegal.
Parnas releases a trove of information and says not only Donnie but Barr, Pence, and Nunes were in the middle of the QPQ.
Bolton says he'll testify if subpoenaed.
Rudy and his thug gang had AMB Yovanovich under illegal surveillance. Ukraine has opened a criminal investigation.
Pompeo knew everything going on with Yovanovich and did nothing.
More Repub Senators have been convinced to support witnesses.
So what we have is this; Donnie's QPQ smear of Biden has resulted in:
Him being impeached - a scarlet letter he'll wear forever...
Rather than Biden being investigated, Barr has Rudy under criminal investigation for 8 offenses (so far)...
Ukraine is investigating the illegal surveillance of Yovanovich, not Biden...
Donnie's House of Cards is collapsing...
stormcrow
"America as a whole should take a cue from the GOP and stand united, as that makes you invincible."
Make Amerika Wunderbar Again!
plasticmonkey
Summary of Trump defenders' arguments so far:
--Trump did nothing wrong. No evidence.
--OK, so Trump did wrong. But what about libs?
--Anyway, Trump can't be thrown out of office.
Silvafan
Trump supporters and GOP defense:
All you stupid libs have against Trump is evidence, several honorable witnesses, his admission, the admissions of Giuliani and Mulvaney, and crap like that.
Friggin witch hunt!
1glenn
In recently released documents, and in interviews, Giuliani aide Lev Parnas has said that not only were Giuliani and Trump part of the conspiracy to fabricate a false narrative surrounding his likely Democratic rival in the next election, but so were Vice President Pence, Attorney General William Barr, and the top Republican in the House Intelligence Committee, Devin Nunes. The extent of the corruption in the Republican Party is astounding. This comes on top of recent announcements that Russians have intentionally invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the state of Kentucky, in an effort to sway the Republican of the Senate, Mitch McConnell. So we now have Putin's Puppet, Moscow Mitch, and a whole bevy of GOPers grubbing for Putin's handouts. So much for country first.
SuperLib
Which it was. The testimony from the diplomats and Mulvaney admitting it is strong evidence. Now Nunes is admitting to talking to Parnas.
PTownsend
On that I agree. Let the public see what any and all might be hiding. Starting from the top.
wtfjapan
The USA is supposed withhold money to corrupt countries-
Wrong that's is congress job, money appropriated by congress cannot be legally withheld without congress approval, Trump clearly broke the law as stipulated in the constitution. If the GOP think they have irrefutable evidence about Bidens guilt bring it before congress see if the evidence holds up to the scrutiny, goodluck. lol
Yrral
This is the beginning of the end of Trump Presidency, when butted out of office next January
Yrral
A judge has ruled that their is probable cause that Trump committed sexual assault in pending civil case in New York, this judge ruling, not your opinion for interpretation
Black Sabbath
Yeah, I figured.
And none of that is a defense to the accusation that Trump held up near $400 million in military aid to Ukraine because Trump wanted a political favor, namely to manufacture dirt on Joe Biden.
Jimizo
Trump is a man of extremely low moral calibre.
Jimizo
Not disagreeing then?
It is pretty difficult given his conduct. His is a man of extremely low moral calibre.
lincolnman
Very true;
Pompeo is in hiding - and with his girth, that's saying something...
Pence is no where to be seen - maybe hiding out in the Parrish...
Nunes goes on Fox News and gives a series if bumbling interviews...
Today FBI raided the home of Trump and Rudy crony Robert Hyde...
Nancy is a genius - its all coming out just as Moscow Mitch tries to short-cut impeachment.
Witnesses? First two Bolton and Parnas - then Pence, Pompeo, Mulvaney, Perry, Rudy, and Duffy...
Wonder how many will plead the 5th?
lincolnman
Hey Donnie, have you seen these;
Multiple photos with Trump and Parnas - Thumbs up!
Parnas with Kelly Ann
Parnas with Ivanka and Jared....
Parnas with Pence.....
Parnas with McCarthy....
Parnas with Huckabee....
Parnas with Don Jr and Eric..
http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/01/lev-parnas-and-powerful-republican-friends-a-photo-album.html
And how about this video...check out the backslap...
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/01/16/lev-parnas-president-trump-video-tsr-sot-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/this-week-in-politics/
Sure, now tell us you never met Melania
Silvafan
Let both sides bring witnesses that are actually involved in the case: people on the call, people who work for the government or for someone's personal lawyer!
Lev Parnas implicates Trump on the eve of Senate impeachment trial
https://www.yahoo.com/news/lev-parnas-implicates-trump-on-the-eve-of-senate-impeachment-trial-025646046.html
Lev Parnas: Ukraine scheme was always about the Bidens, 'never about corruption'
https://www.yahoo.com/news/lev-parnas-ukraine-scheme-always-023500937.html
Silvafan
Nor does calling it
No response, so they resort to one liners!
Simon Foston
bass4funkToday 09:08 am JST
I presume you added the "Lol" because you're joking. So I won't take that comment seriously.
PTownsend
Lost its luster? Perhaps with those who favor allowing foreign states to meddle in US elections to help their Trump, and with those who continue to laud Putin, who's now kaiser for life, and want their Trump to use his fellow Republicans to undermine the republic so he can further enrich the global elite, especially those who support global big oil and the Russia/Iran(China?) cabal.
lincolnman
They can remember where their father was born, know the UK didn't have airfields in the US in 1776, and that the current VP is Mike Pence not Mike "Pounce"...
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/tv/trump-mistakenly-calls-his-vice-president-mike-pounce-in-rambling-baltimore-speech/ar-AAHfnWd
TrevorPeace
He's wearing a red tie.
PTownsend
Hmmmm. Red is the color associated with Stalin's USSR. Putin rose to power as a USSR KGB agent. Red is also the color of the Chinese flag. Trump's family syndicates have businesses with both Russia and China. Are you suggesting the red tie is code to tell both Xi and Putin Trump's on their side? ROFL
rcch
after Trump being acquitted and the way they,re treating Bernie (again), (shame on you CNN the way you treated Bernie in the debate is disgusting) there,s no way Trump is going to lose his re-election. next Tuesday folks, the re-election begins ... unless the establishment starts having some b-lls...
bass4funk
Putin thing, lost its luster like a car after so many years losing its paint job.
bass4funk
I’m always serious, always.
Yeah, wonder how the Dems would have felt in 1998 if the Republicans were caught smiling if the Dems would have just shrugged it off....methinks nope! Not at all. I can see Jim Acosta and Don Lemon screaming outrage. But we know the Dems aren’t serious.
bass4funk
Ok
2024 yeah, he can really take his time then.
bass4funk
But Dems were silent on Christopher Steele, why?
But you’re silent on the last administration trying to make a deal with a country we have no diplomatic relations with or liberal owned and run companies like Google undermining the US and offering to help the Chinese create a better system to spy on their people. Where is your outrage, don’t fall for the partisan Democrat ideology.
bass4funk
Again, if the Dems want him to testify, get ready for the Biden’s and the whistleblower to be called and then Trump can finally met E....I mean, his accuser. But it won’t come to that because Schiff will never allow the whistleblower to testify, never. So get Mulvaney and Bolton and Parnas out of your heads, we are not in the House led impeachment farce, you’re in the Senate, governed by Senate rules, so Pelosi, Nadler and Schiff need to take a walk.
bass4funk
I agree
bass4funk
Sinking ship????
Van Jones
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/01/14/van_jones_sanders-warren_argument_at_debate_was_very_dispiriting_democrats_have_to_do_better.html
"I want to see a Democrat in the White House as soon as possible," he said. "There was nothing tonight that if you're looking at this thing, are any of these people prepared for what Donald Trump is going to do to us? And to see further division is very dispiriting."
Michael Moore
https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/michael-moore-elizabeth-warren-bernie-sanders-trump-reelection
Jones and Moore are right, Trump has got the economy and new these new trade deals, , they’re losing on impeachment, he won’t be removed or convicted, it’s mighty night for the Dems, the Dems scurried and everything they threw at this guy failed, this is attempt number 5. Lol
Andrew Crisp
The fact that they are all Democrats shows us that this is a bias show trial.
So its a complete waste of money and time, but it also confirms how desperate the Democrats are.
And that coming from a former Judge, once Trump is acquitted he is gonna rub this into the Democrats right up to the election
bass4funk
Yes, that means, the Senate can call Schiff or even the whistleblower, let’s do it, I’ll betcha the liberals will completely object to it, that is, if they will call witnesses in the first place, personally, I don’t think so because you think Bernie wants to stay locked up dealing with this farce? That goes for Warren as well. This helps Biden, so in other words, Bernie and his bro’s are getting screwed over again.
Another dud.
bass4funk
That won’t likely happen neither of them
bass4funk
I don’t need to defend him because there was no crime. I mean in all seriousness, you are not that naive to think that he will be convicted or removed, right?
The GAO, Lol. Anyway, I think the Dems should get their wish, have Mulvaney testify and Bolton as well just to shut them up, but at the same time, we need to call both Biden’s and the Whistleblower. Fair is fair and if the Dems are truly serious about Truth and justice, they’ll have zero objections.
Serrano
even as a congressional watchdog found that the White House broke the law by withholding security aid for Ukraine approved by Congress.
Guess it's not OK for the White House to ensure taxpayer money is not wasted on a corrupt Ukraine government.
Democrat Adam Schiff, who heads a team of seven House of Representatives members who will serve as prosecutors, appeared on the Senate floor to read the two charges passed by the House on Dec 18 that accused Trump of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress arising from his dealings with Ukraine.
Chief Justice John Roberts, wearing his black judicial robe, took an oath to preside over the trial and then swore in the assembled senators who will serve as jurors. Roberts instructed them to raise their right hand, asking, "Do you solemnly swear that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment of Donald John Trump, president of the United States, now pending you will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws, so help you God?"
They should have Schiff take the oath so they can get him on lying under oath.
Got my popcorn and my Junior Mints!
bass4funk
because you guys have no comeback or justification to come of that statement, because you guys know it’s true.
bass4funk
Which will go in the way like the last evidence, in the trash.
They found violations with the last 4 Presidents as well, no biggie.
Expect both Biden’s and E..I mean, the whistleblower to be called as well.
apparently she did and she serves at the pleasure of the president elect the president want to get rid of her, guess what? Bye-bye!
sumikonagoya
and I'm sure the GOP control senate will be fair and non political. Western justice? What a joke.
bass4funk
You need to look around, there are millions of them.
bass4funk
Nope! Just telling the truth, nothing more.
We don’t need to, just pay close attention to Trump’s acquittal.
Blacklabel
Did the taxpayers pay for those fancy pens that Nancy had with her name on them? Such a somber and prayerful event as she smiled and gave out gifts to her team.
that’s why 1 month delay, she was waiting for her souvenir pens to be shipped.
bass4funk
Nadler is obese, Pelosi has a lot of problems with recollections, Sanders had a heart attack, Biden.....dear lord...Waters is all over the place, you never know with these people either they’re angry as well and that could complicate things for them as well.
bass4funk
Yeah, the GAO, the same body that criticized every President and pointed out laws broken and violations, all of them had a charge thrown at them one way or another.
Obama
https://pjmedia.com/trending/the-gao-ruled-obama-broke-the-law-but-no-one-called-for-his-impeachment/
Clinton
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-12-na-clinton12-story.html
Bush
https://jp.wsj.com/articles/SB999723569443062438
Aka: Liberals.
WW2, what?? Huh?
I know liberals are desperate, but now it just seems like they’re digging for anything....literally.
bass4funk
This is why you can’t take these people seriously. They smiled, handed each other pens. But as I recall in 1998, the Dems far and wide has zero smiles on their faces. Goes to show you, Impeachment for them has no meaning other than a hopeful (hopeless) wish at getting rid of this President, nothing more.
bass4funk
Hey, as political analyst, Jones and the CNN panel seemed very nervous. I’m just going by their words.
Yeah, you guys said that about Mueller, about Cohen and Stormy and Billy Bush and on and on...yaaawn. Lol
That’s why the Democrats never learn. Smh.....
bass4funk
Keep looking, we are out there. Lol
No Business
Shocking waste of money seeing as how he'll never be found guilty.