What Donald Trump did in Ukraine is simply explained. And the scope of his crime is easily understood. It’s not necessary to read the entire not-an-actual-transcript. It’s not even necessary to read the brief whistleblower complaint. The whole thing can be summed up in two sentences.
President Zelenskyy: We are almost ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes.
The President: I would like you to do us a favor though because our country has been through a lot and Ukraine knows a lot about it.
That’s all of the transcript anyone needs to read to grasp what happened. Trump attempted to shake down an American ally to “do him a favor.” Actually, Trump asked for two favors. One of those was that the Ukrainian president investigate a nonexistent crime by Joe Biden so Trump could hold it over Biden in the 2020 election. The other was a request to endorse a genuinely bizarre conspiracy theory to manufacture dirt about Hillary Clinton and her email server. Because when it comes to hate, Trump never gets tired.
Truthfully, even the portion of the transcript quoted above is too much. While Trump’s “I would like you to do us a favor though ...” is the clear quid to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s missile-request quo, Trump’s statement alone is sufficient to illuminate his wrongdoing. That Trump used $400 million in suspended military aid to twist Zelensky’s arm amplifies the depravity. Asking that Zelensky interfere in the 2020 election was the crime, all on its own. Trump has no defense of his actions, because there is no defense of his actions. When confronted on Wednesday with the simplest of questions, he could provide no justification for enlisting Zelensky in the scheme.
Which is why Trump is concentrating on attacking Rep. Adam Schiff, attacking the whistleblower, attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and attacking Democrats in general. It worked against Robert Mueller and the Russia investigation, and not only is Trump counting on it to work again; it’s all he has.
Donald Trump being handed the softest of softballs concerning his actions with Zelensky turned into one of the most dramatic moments of his Wednesday afternoon press event.
Reporter: Mr. President, can you just make clear, right here? What do you or what did you want President Zelensky to do with regard to Joe and Hunter Biden?
Trump: If you look at what he said—okay? And he brought it up. I think he brought up the name "Rudy Giuliani." What I want is the following … and I’ve said this loud and clear. We have our ambassadors here. We have Mike Pence here. Why are we the only ones that give the big money to the Ukraine?
Trump continued on an extended tear in which he said that the United States gives Ukraine more money than Europe does. Which isn’t true. He mentioned a number of people he’d talked to, a number of things he said were concerns, but Trump said nothing about Biden or why he had asked Zelensky to open an investigation into a crime they both knew had never happened.
Trump: Go ahead. Ask a question, please.
Reporter: What about Biden? What did you want about Biden? What did you want him to look into on Biden?
Trump: Look, Biden and his son are stone-cold crooked. And you know it. His son walks out with millions of dollars. The kid knows nothing. You know it, and so do we. Go ahead. Ask a question now.
Trump moved to making baseless accusations against both Biden and his son, still without providing any backing for why he asked Zelensky to launch an investigation.
Reporter: The question, sir, was: What did you want President Zelensky to do about Vice President Biden and his son, Hunter?
Trump: Are you talking to me?
And Trump goes full Travis Bickle, insisting that he’s “already given a long answer.” Except, of course, that it wasn’t an answer to the question asked. Because for that, there is no answer.
So Trump will merely continue to do what he has always done: throw mud and try to enlist others to help.