Other opinions are welcome.
I've been reading up on this impeachment stuff somewhat, and here are some opinions I'm left with. I'm far from being a Constitutional scholar, but to me all this seems pretty clear.
1) The Constitution gives the president the authority to make foreign policy. He has the power of executive orders and also some latitude of executive privilege when dealing with foreign policy and leaders of other countries. I am of the opinion that even if he did use aid as a bargaining chip with Ukraine, he was well within his powers to do so. Under that thinking, he committed no crime and was acting well within his constitutional authority.
2) Executive privilege gives the president the authority to withhold information when national security is a factor. He was looking into the Biden mess which is potentially a national security issue because it potentially gave another country executive level access to the White House. So the obstruction charge is total BS.
3) As best I can tell, even the Democrats are admitting that no crime has been committed by Trump.
4) What does the Constitution say is grounds for impeachment?
Reading this, I don't think it applies to withholding aid to a foreign country, especially when the reason for it was our own national security. It seems to be geared more toward bribing our federal officials.
So what impeachable offense did Trump commit?
I still say this is nothing in the world but a 100% partisan made up charge to smear Trump in the public eye.
Thoughts or opinions?
I've been reading up on this impeachment stuff somewhat, and here are some opinions I'm left with. I'm far from being a Constitutional scholar, but to me all this seems pretty clear.
1) The Constitution gives the president the authority to make foreign policy. He has the power of executive orders and also some latitude of executive privilege when dealing with foreign policy and leaders of other countries. I am of the opinion that even if he did use aid as a bargaining chip with Ukraine, he was well within his powers to do so. Under that thinking, he committed no crime and was acting well within his constitutional authority.
2) Executive privilege gives the president the authority to withhold information when national security is a factor. He was looking into the Biden mess which is potentially a national security issue because it potentially gave another country executive level access to the White House. So the obstruction charge is total BS.
3) As best I can tell, even the Democrats are admitting that no crime has been committed by Trump.
4) What does the Constitution say is grounds for impeachment?
The only verbiage that seems to fit here is "Bribery". But what does it mean in this context? I found this:Section 4
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Bribery. The federal bribery statute, 18 U.S.C. § 201(b), criminalizes the corrupt promise or transfer of any thing of value to influence an official act of a federal official, a fraud on the United States, or the commission or omission of any act in violation of the official's duty.
Reading this, I don't think it applies to withholding aid to a foreign country, especially when the reason for it was our own national security. It seems to be geared more toward bribing our federal officials.
So what impeachable offense did Trump commit?
I still say this is nothing in the world but a 100% partisan made up charge to smear Trump in the public eye.
Thoughts or opinions?