The House of Representatives has delivered an 111-page trial memorandum laying out the case to remove Trump immediately. Let's dig in.
https://intelligence.house.gov/uploadedfiles/in_re_president_trump_house_impeachment_trial_brief_and_sof_1.18.20.pdf …
By way of preamble, I hope that this document can, eventually, after no doubt much effort, be seen as nonpartisan.
The case to impeach Trump has zero "liberalism" in it. This memorandum lays out laws, Constitutional principles, facts, and the inescapable conclusion: Convict.
None of the Memorandum is about Trump's racism.
Nothing about his immigration policy.
His treatment of women is not mentioned.
It doesn't contradict any GOP principles.
Trump simply committed acts that jeopardize democracy and our national security, and must be removed.
Another aspect that jumps out: all the facts that support this argument came entirely from our Federal government, all from witnesses who testified publicly or in closed session with the majority and minority represented.
There is no classified intel; this isn't the Deep State.
This Memorandum is actually old news to people who watched the hearings, read the transcripts, and simply followed along.
They've been laying this entire impeachment case out in broad daylight for the public; this isn't a cabal in the shadows.
Let's look at the argument for impeachment. It's simple and inescapable.
The Constitution makes clear a president can't solicit anything from foreign powers for his personal gain, especially not to win an election.
Trump did. So he should be removed.
There's the story of pressuring Ukraine's new president which many know.
They highlight here, moreover, that the pressure was to propagate YET MORE RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA and attack our democracy with it. For the second time.
Making matters worse, Trump engaged in a corrupt scheme alongside agents of the Russian Mafiya to sabotage America's own State Department.
This is impeachable on its face.
In furtherance of this corrupt scheme, Trump and his co-conspirators committed yet more illegal acts.
Trump traded U.S. interests and national security in exchange for a foreign power's attack on an upcoming election.
Speaks for itself.
After yet more detail you can find on C-SPAN, the Memorandum states that there is no explanation for this behavior other than the very reasons for which impeachment was made part of the Constitution.
Closing in, the Memorandum argues that America cannot have a free, fair election while Trump remains President.
Basically, Trump is still insisting that Russian intelligence interfere in our democracy, and so he must be removed.
This isn't a hard argument to support when Trump, Mulvaney, and Sondland have declared publicly that they intend for foreigners to attack U.S. democracy.
So. Not much room for denial, to put it lightly.
Trump's own statements also highlight why impeachment is the only option - his actions put the legitimacy of future elections at risk, so he must be removed immediately.
Republicans should embrace this argument because, the fact is, allowing Trump to continue without consequences could render their future elections illegitimate as well.
This is simply about American national security.
And well, there is a mountain of facts supporting this, none in dispute.
And there's your impeachment. Trump is a danger to us all. He cannot keep the office of President.
Simple, tragic, elegant as far as arguments go.
The Republicans' only "defense" against this impeachment is to debase the process and stain the offices to which they were elected. They have already started.
That will be a shame. History will record what everyone does at this moment.
UP IS DOWN! YOU BROKE THE LAW! NO FAIR! AND RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE GETS A SAY IN OUR ELECTIONS BECAUSE YOU SUCK THAT'S WHY!
AMERICA LIKES MOBSTERS.
ADAM SCHIFF IS GOING TO GITMO!
LALALALALALALALA WE CAN'T HEAR YOU!
oh god they're going to try to answer the brief oh dear
IT WAS A PERFECT CALL AND YOU WANT ME TO CHEAT WITH UKRAINE AND RUSSIA AND NARNIA
YOU SUCK
this could be the worst legal brief in history
YOU SUCK AND BAD THINGS ARE REALLY GOOD AND JAM YOUR LITTLE "CONSTITUTION" UP YOUR...
THE GUY WHO CONFESSED - YOU KNOW, THE ONE SCREAMING IN THE CAFE IN KYIV - HE DIDN'T REALLY LALALALALALALA CAN'T HEAR YOU
ok these people just insane at this point
SUBPOENAS ARE ILLEGAL
NO, *YOU'RE* IMPEACHED!!!!!1
THESE ARE WORDS. THEREFORE, IT WAS A PERFECT CALL, BUILD THE WALL
YOU'RE ILLEGAL!
HA! WE WIN! YOU'RE IMPEACHED! WE BUILT THE WALL! YOU'RE ILLEGAL!
WE ARE THE WORST LAWYERS IN HISTORY! GO SCREW!
dear lord