This acknowledgement from a GOP operative to Axios is just one word shy of perfection:
"The Republican Party looks like a criminal enterprise."
"Looks" suggests that it isn't actually a criminal enterprise and let's just say this: the burden of proof now falls squarely on congressional Republicans to show they aren't complicit with what is clearly a criminal enterprise led by Donald Trump:
- Trump Campaign Chair, Paul Manafort: Guilty
- Trump Lawyer/Fixer, Michael Cohen: Guilty
- Trump Deputy Campaign Manager, Rick Gates: Guilty
- Trump National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn: Guilty
- First Trump congressional backer, Rep. Chris Collins: Indicted
- Second Trump congressional backer, Rep. Duncan Hunter: Indicted
- HHS Sec. Tom Price: Resigned
- EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt: Resigned
- VA Sec. David Shulkin: Resigned
Trump is now running what is incontrovertibly the most corrupt administration in living memory. Here's what Republicans are pledging to do about that: Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
The chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley, is simultaneously pledging to plow forward with a Senate hearing for the Supreme Court nominee of a president who intentionally defrauded the American people and at the same time denying there's any reason to bring Michael Cohen in for questioning following his sworn testimony that Trump directed him to commit crimes.
Not speculation. Federal prosecutors have the evidence to prove Cohen's sworn testimony. That's why he plead out rather than fighting in court.
Even people like GOP Sen. Susan Collins, a supposed swing vote nominee Brett Kavanaugh, is rushing to jam Kavanaugh down America's throat, telling reporters she sees "no basis" for delaying September hearings for the nominee.
And on Cohen, Republicans say they need more information but aren't willing to actually do their constitutional duty to get it.
Explicitly choosing not to act makes Republicans complicit in Trump's conspiracy to defraud the American people.
Democrats should pounce. They could easily turn Trump's band of thieves into specific calls for legislation. And following the lead of Rep. Elijah Cummings, they should all very publicly be asking the relevant committee chairs to hold hearings on whether Trump defrauded the American people in 2016.