For most of the Trump mal-administration, I have proudly displayed ITMFA stickers on my car: Impeach The Mother Fucker Already. Now ITMFA stands for Impeach The Mother Fucker Again.
In truth, it is probably politically unwise to do another impeachment, at least, on the information already known or strongly suspected. But, I can’t help thinking about it. Do join me, to ponder possible Articles for a second well-deserved impeachment.
The Other Ukraine Bribery Schemes (multiple makes it RICO)
The extortion of President Zelensky wasn’t the first time Trump attempted to bribe and/or extort Ukraine’s president to help himself politically. The first time was with Zelensky’s predecessor, President Poroshenko, and it succeeded.
Rachel had a show on this many months ago, based on intriguing reporting/speculation in this Washington Post opinion piece by David Ignatius. LINK
Reportedly, within days of Rudy Giuliani taking a meeting with Poroshenko and his corrupt prosecutor, Lutsenko, Ukraine’s prosecution of Manafort was deep-sixed and its cooperation with the Mueller investigation ended. The House sent a letter inquiring the reason for ending the cooperation—please tell us it wasn’t to curry favor with the president, was it?—but there was no response.
In return, Poroshenko got an increase in military aid, including javelins.
Trump went back to that well again in early 2019, offering more javelins and the prestige of an Oval Office meeting. This time apparently, Trump sought sham investigations of the Bidens and the CrowdStrike conspiracy theory. But Poroshenko lost his election, anti-corruption crusader Zelensky took office and resisted Trump long enough for a whistleblower to come forward, and we know the rest of that story.
It appears that this tale in not unknown to House Democrats. On Rachel’s show, she played footage of one representative (sorry I can’t remember who) emerging from a hearing and telling a reporter that “an enterprising journalist” should start looking into “javelins.”
Both bribery and obstruction of justice are implicated here. With respect to the bribery aspect, may I humbly beg the House and every pundit of sound mind to STOP CALLING IT ABUSE OF POWER and letting hours of trial and punditry be hijacked with a debate over whether a crime is needed to impeach. This is bribery, bribery is a crime, and a very impeachable one at that.
I’d go further and humbly beg that, this time around, the House not only give the crime its rightful name, bribery, but also note that multiple acts of bribery establish a pattern meriting a RICO charge.
Witness Intimidation/Obstruction of Justice/And yeah, especially, this time include Barr in the Articles
When the criminal controls the levers of justice, he can apparently announce his intended crimes in advance, and carry them out with relish and total lack of shame.
Multiple attempts to out a whistleblower, very likely endangering the safety of him/her and family. Firings and forced retirements of witnesses. All clearly intended to prevent any more whistleblowing or tattle-telling.
And all clearly effective: the rumor now is that Barr kiboshed several investigations that Mueller had spun off to SDNY, as well as potential new investigations. SDNY prosecutors are reportedly afraid to spill those beans. Understandably. LINK
There is also a rumor that Trump is going to fire the IC Inspector General who had the nerve to notify Congress of the whistleblower’s complaint. LINK
Anyone have any doubt that head is high on Trump’s retribution list?
Mueller Obstruction of Justice and Perjury
If the House can get McGahn to testify, there is the hearing, if not the charge, on obstruction of the Mueller investigation.
If the House can get the Grand Jury materials, there well may be evidence that Trump perjured himself in the written answers he gave the FBI. We know how the GOP feels about perjury!
Emoluments
A court of appeals just ruled that the Dems don’t have standing to sue over Trump’s multiple violations of the Constitution’s emoluments clause. SCOTUS doesn’t even have to sully its robes hearing that one, they can just let the lower court ruling stand. LINK
Me, I take this ruling as one more “you can’t sue the president, the only remedy is impeachment.”
So, let’s impeach.
My Consolation Prize
I greatly doubt the House is going to do a second impeachment, at least, assuming the Merkin-Crested Yam is not re-elected. And again, I can’t deny that is the politically wise decision. But Schiff et al. have confirmed that they will continue investigations.
And at the end of the day, impeachment was never about the impossible goal of removing Trump. It’s about educating the public, getting it out there, just how profoundly dangerous and criminal he is.
After all, as Alan Dershowitz tells us (I do agree with him on this), when someone is a serious candidate for president, nothing could be more proper and patriotic than exposing his crimes. So the American people can make an informed decision at the polls.
ITMFA
For those who don’t know, “ITMFA” was a marvelous fundraiser run by Dan Savage, love-and-sex advice columnist and podcaster. Through the sale of ITMFA merchandise, Savage raised $275,000, which he donated to Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and the International Refugee Assistance Project. ITMFA.org
Now that Trump has been impeached, Savage is no longer running the ITMFA fundraiser. But it was he who observed that ITMFA now stands for “Impeach The Mother Fucker Again.” It’s worth talking about, even if it never happens.
And btw, Dan’s podcast “Savage Love” is funny and wonderful and very astute. Great entertainment. Do check him out.