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A memo, released Wednesday morning, of a call between President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. "Trump's abuse of power, corruption, and disdain for constitutional values have been evident since he first took office," said Public Citizen in response to the White House memo. "There is no question in our minds that, on the merits, he should be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate." (Image: Enhanced screenshot/WhiteHouse.gov)
'Smoking Gun': Experts Say White House Memo Reveals 'Blatantly Impeachable Conduct' by Trump
"The president sought to use the powers of the United States government to investigate a political opponent. We have no choice but to impeach."
Sep 25, 2019
The White House memo of a conversation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, released Wednesday, is bad news for the president, according to experts and observers.
" Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in the modern history of this country."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
In a statement, Stand Up America spokesman Ryan Thomas said the memo (pdf) was "a smoking gun."
"It reveals that Donald Trump unquestionably asked the Ukrainian President to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden," said Thomas.
"This is blatantly impeachable conduct," Thomas added, "and Congress must swiftly act to draft articles of impeachment--and vote."
Advocacy group Public Citizen agreed, saying in an email that it was clear the president should be removed from the White House.
"Donald Trump's abuse of power, corruption, and disdain for constitutional values have been evident since he first took office," the group said. "There is no question in our minds that, on the merits, he should be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate."
Releasing the memo was intended to absolve the president of blame for his request of Zelensky in a July 25 conversation to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. In the condensed notes from the conversation, Trump asks Zelensky for a "favor"--that the Ukrainian president direct his people to dig into the younger Biden's hiring by Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings from 2014 to 2019.
"If they thought this would exonerate them, they made a very bad miscalculation," said Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington executive director Noah Bookbinder.
Biden's fellow Democratic frontrunners joined the chorus of condemnation.
"Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in the modern history of this country," tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who recent polls show overtaking Biden, said on Twitter that the memo isn't at all exculpatory and demanded more information.
"If this is the version of events the president's team thinks is most favorable, he is in very deep jeopardy," said Warren. "We need to see the full whistleblower complaint and the administration needs to follow the law. Now."
"We have no choice but to impeach."
--Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In a statement, Service Employees International Union president Mary Kay Henry said that the impeachment inquiry must go forward to show that nobody is above the law.
"Working people of all colors and creeds are fed up with self-interested politicians using their power and influence to rig the rules in their favor," said Henry. "Congress must exercise its constitutional duty to investigate thoroughly and, if necessary, take action to ensure that we have a democracy that works for all of us."
Impeachment has its hurdles, said Brand New Congress communications director Zeynab Day, but the American people need to know the facts.
"As much as we want to be relieved, we must accept--this is only the beginning. Impeachment can take months, even years," Day said in an email. "This process will no doubt cause further divisions that break across party lines, but the American people deserve to know the truth."
At the end of the day, this isn't complicated, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
"The President sought to use the powers of the United States government to investigate a political opponent," said Ocasio-Cortez. "We have no choice but to impeach."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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The White House memo of a conversation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, released Wednesday, is bad news for the president, according to experts and observers.
" Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in the modern history of this country."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
In a statement, Stand Up America spokesman Ryan Thomas said the memo (pdf) was "a smoking gun."
"It reveals that Donald Trump unquestionably asked the Ukrainian President to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden," said Thomas.
"This is blatantly impeachable conduct," Thomas added, "and Congress must swiftly act to draft articles of impeachment--and vote."
Advocacy group Public Citizen agreed, saying in an email that it was clear the president should be removed from the White House.
"Donald Trump's abuse of power, corruption, and disdain for constitutional values have been evident since he first took office," the group said. "There is no question in our minds that, on the merits, he should be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate."
Releasing the memo was intended to absolve the president of blame for his request of Zelensky in a July 25 conversation to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. In the condensed notes from the conversation, Trump asks Zelensky for a "favor"--that the Ukrainian president direct his people to dig into the younger Biden's hiring by Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings from 2014 to 2019.
"If they thought this would exonerate them, they made a very bad miscalculation," said Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington executive director Noah Bookbinder.
Biden's fellow Democratic frontrunners joined the chorus of condemnation.
"Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in the modern history of this country," tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who recent polls show overtaking Biden, said on Twitter that the memo isn't at all exculpatory and demanded more information.
"If this is the version of events the president's team thinks is most favorable, he is in very deep jeopardy," said Warren. "We need to see the full whistleblower complaint and the administration needs to follow the law. Now."
"We have no choice but to impeach."
--Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In a statement, Service Employees International Union president Mary Kay Henry said that the impeachment inquiry must go forward to show that nobody is above the law.
"Working people of all colors and creeds are fed up with self-interested politicians using their power and influence to rig the rules in their favor," said Henry. "Congress must exercise its constitutional duty to investigate thoroughly and, if necessary, take action to ensure that we have a democracy that works for all of us."
Impeachment has its hurdles, said Brand New Congress communications director Zeynab Day, but the American people need to know the facts.
"As much as we want to be relieved, we must accept--this is only the beginning. Impeachment can take months, even years," Day said in an email. "This process will no doubt cause further divisions that break across party lines, but the American people deserve to know the truth."
At the end of the day, this isn't complicated, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
"The President sought to use the powers of the United States government to investigate a political opponent," said Ocasio-Cortez. "We have no choice but to impeach."
The White House memo of a conversation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, released Wednesday, is bad news for the president, according to experts and observers.
" Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in the modern history of this country."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
In a statement, Stand Up America spokesman Ryan Thomas said the memo (pdf) was "a smoking gun."
"It reveals that Donald Trump unquestionably asked the Ukrainian President to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden," said Thomas.
"This is blatantly impeachable conduct," Thomas added, "and Congress must swiftly act to draft articles of impeachment--and vote."
Advocacy group Public Citizen agreed, saying in an email that it was clear the president should be removed from the White House.
"Donald Trump's abuse of power, corruption, and disdain for constitutional values have been evident since he first took office," the group said. "There is no question in our minds that, on the merits, he should be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate."
Releasing the memo was intended to absolve the president of blame for his request of Zelensky in a July 25 conversation to investigate Hunter Biden, the son of former Vice President Joe Biden, a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. In the condensed notes from the conversation, Trump asks Zelensky for a "favor"--that the Ukrainian president direct his people to dig into the younger Biden's hiring by Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings from 2014 to 2019.
"If they thought this would exonerate them, they made a very bad miscalculation," said Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington executive director Noah Bookbinder.
Biden's fellow Democratic frontrunners joined the chorus of condemnation.
"Donald Trump is the most corrupt president in the modern history of this country," tweeted Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who recent polls show overtaking Biden, said on Twitter that the memo isn't at all exculpatory and demanded more information.
"If this is the version of events the president's team thinks is most favorable, he is in very deep jeopardy," said Warren. "We need to see the full whistleblower complaint and the administration needs to follow the law. Now."
"We have no choice but to impeach."
--Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
In a statement, Service Employees International Union president Mary Kay Henry said that the impeachment inquiry must go forward to show that nobody is above the law.
"Working people of all colors and creeds are fed up with self-interested politicians using their power and influence to rig the rules in their favor," said Henry. "Congress must exercise its constitutional duty to investigate thoroughly and, if necessary, take action to ensure that we have a democracy that works for all of us."
Impeachment has its hurdles, said Brand New Congress communications director Zeynab Day, but the American people need to know the facts.
"As much as we want to be relieved, we must accept--this is only the beginning. Impeachment can take months, even years," Day said in an email. "This process will no doubt cause further divisions that break across party lines, but the American people deserve to know the truth."
At the end of the day, this isn't complicated, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
"The President sought to use the powers of the United States government to investigate a political opponent," said Ocasio-Cortez. "We have no choice but to impeach."
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