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Impeachable Offenses?

~ The Use & Abuse of Impeachment in the 21st Century

Impeachable Offenses?

Author Archives: crosbysamuel

Will Republican Senators Remove Trump

30 Saturday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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anti-institutionalism, flynn, Impeachment, LA times, Obstruction of Justice, Politics, politics of impeachment, removal, republican, senators, trumpism

I read a piece from the L.A. Times this morning, which opined that though Mueller’s case for obstruction of justice is growing stronger with recent revelations surrounding Michael Flynn, it seems unlikely that Republican Senators will vote to remove the President. Rather they will try to cut down the credibility of  Mueller, as President Trump has done in recent weeks. It’s hard to say this lack of faith in the Republican Party is not warranted. With a few exceptions, Republican Senators have been reticent towards, and even supportive of, President Trump’s actions, which have ranged from unorthodox to corrupt. However, it seems to me that not all is lost in the Republican Party. Not, at least, if we can assume that the Party answers to its base.

President Trump rode into office on a wave of anti-institutionalism. His support came from the people’s distrust of big government. So what will happen when it is revealed that Trump has become the thing which he rallied his supporters against; when he becomes the face of corrupt government? What if then, instead of clouding the truth and pointing fingers, Republicans acted with integrity? What if Republican Congressmen finally said ‘enough is enough’? I can’t be sure, but I can only imagine that the Republican base, a base which has grown tired of deceitful government officials, would rally around them.  It would be a huge win for a party which has been burdened by “fake news” for the past year. And it would be an inspirational act: the sleeping elephant awoken, to finally trumpet its unbridled trunk.

trap.jpg

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FBI Investigation “Tainted” — A Message for the New Year

26 Tuesday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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clinton, Collusion, Conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the united states, dossier, hillary, Politics, russia, russian official

Trump is now claiming that the dossier, which summarized the investigation of the Trump campaign’s connection to Russian Officials, has tainted the ongoing FBI investigation. The dossier was published by a private firm, hired by the Democratic National Convention and the Clinton Campaign. It appears Trump has taken the offensive, claiming that the dossier is unsubstantiated, and has corrupted the ongoing FBI investigation. Such claims could be indicative of a troubled administration, and may just set the tone for the new year. One can find the text of the dossier itself here.

Botsford171026Trump21536-1024x683.jpgJabin Botsford/The Washington Post

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Poor US-Russia Relations and What to Make of Them

24 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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cold war, Collusion, conspiracy to defraud the united states, eastern, militias, Putin, trump, ukraine, weapons

One does not have to be an avid reader to know that Trump’s presidency has been marred with suspicions of and evidence of collusion between the President’s campaign and Russian officials; which makes the deteriorating relationship between the United States and Russia all the more confusing. Conflict between the two nations has been heating up through the proxy of the Eastern Ukraine, where Russia is battling for control. The United States has given the Ukraine weapons to fight off Russian Militias, and has condemned the Russian interference in a National Security Strategy report. Despite these actions, however, Trump still speaks of Putin as if they are chummy. So, what is one to make of this double-speak (and double-action)? If there was collusion between Putin and Trump, has their relationship deteriorated since? Did Putin simply bet on the wrong horse? Or could this conflict be part of a larger plan?

06321985_2ffbc90ce085561de1c79b7098820fdb.nbcnews-ux-2880-1000.jpgMIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/KREML /EPA

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Moving Away from Originalism

22 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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andre de luc, constitution, interpretation, journal, new hampshire

Andre De Luc in his article, Competing Accounts of Interpretation and Practical Reasoning in the Debate over Originalism, argues that to make progress in constitutional interpretation, academia needs to move away from the originalism debate. As an example of the fruitlessness of said debate, he points to the constitution’s instructions for impeachment. Bizarrely, in the impeachment of a vice president, the vice president himself, as the head of the Senate, would preside over his own trial. De Luc claims that such odd results come from an overly strict interpretation of the constitution, and that the focus on originalism has stopped academics from exploring alternative, more flexible options for interpretation.

constitution-426x225.jpg

 

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How the Tax Reform Impacts Impeachment

20 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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2018, Congress, midterms, politics of impeachment, republican, tax, tax plan

The Washington Post has provided an analysis of how the new tax code is set to impact party support in the upcoming years. It notes that the majority of both blue collar Americans and college graduates do not support the plan; however middle class Americans are set to benefit in the short run through tax cuts. If these benefits are realized soon, that may mean that the Republican party maintains its majority in Congress through the 2018 midterms, which will substantially decrease the likelihood of impeachment.

mitch-mcconnells-office-dismisses-report-that-the-republican-tax-plan-is-already-in-danger.jpgAlex Wong/Getty Images

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The New Email Scandal

18 Monday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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Collusion, email, Mueller, political, russia, Special Counsel

Special Counsel Mueller has obtained emails belonging to ‘Trump for America’ (TFA), the team which assisted in President Trump’s transition into the White House. The emails apparently reveal that several campaign members were aware of General Flynn’s communications with the Russian Ambassador, and serve to further establish the foundation for collusion permeated throughout the Trump campaign. Trump’s legal team is claiming that the emails were obtained improperly, and violate attorney-client privilege. Mueller denies the claim.

18dc-emails-master768.jpgAlex Wong/Getty Images

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Mueller Under Fire

16 Saturday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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Collusion, Department of Justice, investigation, Mueller, political question, Politics, Special Counsel

Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been under attack by both President Trump and the Department of Justice. President Trump has called the FBI investigation into his campaign’s connections with Russia a “Democratic hoax,” and has brought into question the Bureau’s efficacy. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has been playing a subtle political game with the FBI, by releasing the text messages exchanged between investigators on Mueller’s team which criticized Trump. All of this comes in the face of General Flynn’s cooperation with the Mueller campaign. Though defensive measures are not clearly indicative of guilt, they suggest a strong motive to hinder the investigation. More information may surface after Mueller meets with the President’s legal team next week. 

robert-mueller-gty-jpo-171101_31x13_992.jpgTom Williams/Getty Images

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Impeachment Vote Fails in the House

14 Thursday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Uncategorized

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Representative Green put his impeachment resolution to a vote in the House yesterday. It was overwhelmingly rejected with a 364-58 ratio against the articles. Green stated that he felt it was his moral duty to push the articles of impeachment, but Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi reportedly urged House Democrats not to vote for impeachment. For a summary of of Green’s articles of impeachment click here.

1060x600-5c0b0d23b9f630843bd09bfa38fd5207.jpgWashington Examiner

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Manafort in the Ukraine

10 Sunday Dec 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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campaign manager, gag-order, indicment, Manafort, russia, russian collusion, ukraine

Special Counsel Mueller is protesting against Paul Manafort’s, Trump’s former campaign manager’s, petition to have his house arrest lifted pending his trial. Manafort was indicted for assiting in the Russian interference of the 2016 Presidential election — his charges include money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent. Judge Amy Berman Jackson had ordered Manafort not to discuss his case in the media. Mueller, however, alleges that Manafort violated said gag-order by collaborating on a piece about himself and his efforts in the Ukraine for a Ukranian newspaper.  His alleged coauthor is Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian with, Muller claims, ties to Russian intelligence.

The article at issue addressed Manafort’s efforts in the Ukraine, describing them as “pro-western.” However, an account of Manafort’s efforts in the Ukraine seem to contradict that narrative (see this article decribing Manafort’s activities in the Ukraine). At best, Manafort’s work in the Ukraine could be described as merely political, and at worst it may be seen as pro-Russia.

15MANAFORT1-master675.jpgThe New York Times/Eric Thayer

 

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Kushner Talks with Mueller

30 Thursday Nov 2017

Posted by crosbysamuel in Articles, Uncategorized

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Collusion, Kushner, Mueller, russia, russian lawyer, Special Counsel

Earlier this month Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and advisor, was questioned by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team of investigators.  This questioning was apparently related to the prosecution of former national security advisor Michael Flynn. Flynn’s lawyers recently stopped communicating with Trump’s, leading some commentators to believe that he is planning to inform on other members of the Trump campaign. It is unclear how Kushner’s interview impacts that theory; however, Kushner was present for the Russian lawyer meeting at Trump tower, and, if he cares to share, may have important information on collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.

104740519-RTS1DWVH-kushner.530x298.jpgJonathan Ernst | Reuters

 

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Frank O. Bowman, III


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Floyd R. Gibson Missouri Endowed Prof of Law Emeritus
Univ of Missouri School of Law

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