Just out in the Washington Post: the whistleblower complaint, according to officials who know, involves Ukraine.
Although the complaint itself is still under seal, along with the details, the broad outlines are now entirely clear. It was reported in both US and Ukrainian media, without details, that Trump officials were attempting to pressure Ukraine into investigating (or possibly “investigating”) Joe Biden. Rudy Giuliani was part of this, and even visited Spain in order to meet with a Ukrainian official. Put this together with the “promise” part of the whistleblower complaint and the picture is clear:
Trump must have promised Ukraine military aid in exchange for a political attack on Joe Biden.
There are a number of words for this. Abuse of power, without question. Collusion, again without question. Extortion is accurate as well. But the word I think is most apt is bribery.
MAJOR DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A LAWYER.
However, according to the Legal Information Institute, bribery constitutes (in general terms, rather than the details of any specific statute):
Corrupt solicitation, acceptance, or transfer of value in exchange for official action.
And it’s clear. Trump solicited a bribe (which constitutes bribery whether the exchange was made or not). He solicited an item of personal value — namely, dirt on Joe Biden — in exchange for the official action of signing off on military aid to Ukraine.
Again, I am not a lawyer, but the hard thing to prove with bribery (see the LII link above) is usually that there’s a direct quid pro quo, because influence isn’t enough — there has to be clear cause and effect. But that’s precisely what it seems Trump was dumb enough to say out loud.
I have been skeptical of impeachment to this point. However, this allegation demands a full impeachment hearing in the House of Representatives. And if true — and all indications are that it is indeed true — it demands the impeachment of the President.
Why? Because it’s right there in the Impeachment Clause of the Constitution:
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.
This demands a trial, and if true, it demands Trump’s conviction and expulsion from the Presidency.