Update (1920ET): In what is likely to spoil the Democrats’ week, President Trump - having already authorized the release of the “complete, unredacted” transcript of his call with Ukraine’s president - is now set to release both the whistleblower complaint and the Inspector General report that are at the center of the impeachment inquiry by the end of the week.
Politico reports, according to a senior administration officials, The White House is preparing to release the documents to Congress over the next few days. The president has agreed to this move, the official added.
Additionally, the so-called whistleblower has sought legal advice and has released a statement:
Statement Concerning the Intelligence Community Whistleblower
Our firm has represented our client from the outset, and he/she has diligently followed the processes and laws that afford the greatest legal protections against reprisal. As legal counsel, it is our duty to ensure our client is fully protected.
We support the bi-partisan, unanimous resolution passed by the Senate regarding our client’s lawful whistleblower complaint and call upon the Acting Director of National Intelligence to transmit the complete disclosure to the two Intelligence Oversight Committees.
Additionally, in order to ensure maximum legal protections for our client, we can confirm press reports that, today, we wrote to the Acting Director of National Intelligence to request specific guidance as to the appropriate security practices to permit a meeting, if needed, with the Members of the Intelligence Oversight Committees. We await a timely response from the Acting Director providing such guidance.
Trump’s move would seem to pour cold water on Pelosi’s plan, as Politico notes, liberal lawyers and Democratic lawmakers say that only the whistleblower complaint can fully lay out the allegations against the president; and now that he is releasing all of the relevant documents - an act he would hardly be likely to do was there any “there, there” - we can’t help but wonder what happens next.
* * *
Nancy Pelosi finally succumbed to her Democratic peers, and did what she was trying so hard for years to avoid: just after 5pm on Tuesday, Pelosi announced the launch of a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump.
“Today, I’m announcing the House of Representatives is moving forward with an official impeachment inquiry. I’m directing our six committees to proceed with their investigations under that umbrella … The president must be held accountable,†Pelosi said in a press conference.
“The actions taken to date by the president have seriously violated the Constitution, especially when the president says ‘Article II [of the Constitution] says I can do whatever I want,â€
The move followed a surge of pressure from the progressive wing of her party that snowballed to include moderates, liberal holdouts, vulnerable Democrats, committee chairs and party icons. Pelosi had long resisted calls for impeachment proceedings but as of Tuesday afternoon more than two-thirds of her caucus supported impeachment, following unconfirmed allegations that Trump made military aid to Ukraine conditional on that nation launching a probe into corruption by former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
“For the past several months we have been investigating in our committees and litigating in the courts so the House can gather all the relevant facts and consider whether to exercise its full Article 1 power, including a constitutional power of the utmost gravity, approval of articles of impeachment,†Pelosi said.
Reading from a teleprompter, Pelosi quoted Benjamin Franklin describing the then-new government of the United States as “a republic, if you can keep it,†adding, “our responsibility is to keep it.”
“Our republic endures because of the wisdom of our constitution enshrined in three coequal branches that act as checks and balances,†Pelosi added. “The president must be held accountable. No one is above the law.â€
President Trump was quick to respond to the press conference, and while Pelosi was still speaking Trump in a tweet called the announcement, “Witch Hunt garbage.”
“Such an important day at the United Nations, so much work and so much success, and the Democrats purposely had to ruin and demean it with more breaking news Witch Hunt garbage. So bad for our Country!” he wrote.
Such an important day at the United Nations, so much work and so much success, and the Democrats purposely had to ruin and demean it with more breaking news Witch Hunt garbage. So bad for our Country!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2019
Pelosi, Nadler, Schiff and, of course, Maxine Waters! Can you believe this?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2019
PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2019
Ahead of Pelosi’s official announcement, Trump said that an impeachment inquiry would benefit him politically: “If [Pelosi] does that, they all say that’s a positive for me in the election,” he said. “You could also say who needs it. It’s bad for the country.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the president promised to release an unedited and unredacted version of transcript of the phone call with Ukraine’s president, a move that Democrats who want to see the full whistleblower - which is based on the phone call - report say falls short.
Ironically, while a Trump impeachment effort will go nowhere, because even if the House votes it through it will never pass the Senate, we now wait to see what a long overdue probe into Joe Biden will reveal.
* * *
Update 2: As expected:
- PELOSI TELLS DEMOCRATS TRUMP IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY TO START
And with that, the 2020 showdown begins.
* * *
Update 1: Democrats are scrambling as it seems President Trump’s decision to release the transcript has spoiled their narrative.
Chuck Schumer appears to have let slip what Democrats’ next play will be as he demanded that the Whistleblower’s complaint still be released (which inevitably is a partisan document), claiming that the Trump call transcript “is insufficient.”
That would appear to be an entirely defenseless position to take (as the source did not actually hear the complaint or read the transcript), but they have to keep the suspicion alive.
Additionally, Rep. Adam Schiff says the whistleblower wants to speak to his House Intel committee, and testimony may happen this week.
And finally, WaPo appears to have been ready for Pelosi‘s announcement with a pre-packaged story…
Breaking: House Speaker Pelosi to announce formal impeachment inquiry of Trump after resisting for months https://t.co/8HjXyr1pi5
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) September 24, 2019
All of which is largely moot now that Trump will release the transcript.
Nevertheless, the algos are selling again…
However, we can’t help but wonder if the Democrats just walk into one of the biggest political trap of all time?
* * *
As we detailed earlier, stocks are bouncing back hard and impeachment odds tumbling after President Trump announced he has “authorized the release tomorrow of the complete, fully declassified and unredacted transcript…” somewhat stealing the jam out of Nancy Pelosi’s Democratic Party plans later this evening…
I am currently at the United Nations representing our Country, but have authorized the release tomorrow of the complete, fully declassified and unredacted transcript of my phone conversation with President Zelensky of Ukraine….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2019
….You will see it was a very friendly and totally appropriate call. No pressure and, unlike Joe Biden and his son, NO quid pro quo! This is nothing more than a continuation of the Greatest and most Destructive Witch Hunt of all time!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2019
Why would Trump release such a transcript if it had anything incriminating?
Stocks agreed and surged back…
And impeachment odds are tumbling down from 66% to 42%…
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We suspect Biden’s election odds will also start to drop.
via zerohedge
Ho hum! The Democrats are immature, hysterical children having a tantrum! Bring it on, fools! We adults are SICK of your nonsense! Grow up, or go away for GOOD!
They need to have their butts spanked with a paddle and sent to bed with no supper. Or made to sit in the corner for the duration of the Witch Hunt. Since they are acting like spoiled brats they should be treated like spoiled brats!
democraps need their butts spanked with a 357 they are really stupid communist
Owing to the state of San Francisco’s streets on her watch, Nancy’s nickname should be “Schitz” Pelosi.
witch hunts are cool.
I can now see that the Democrats are really trying to cover up something bigger than
America has ever seen, what I don’t know but it involves almost all of their party and
a few Rino’s. Trump has been opening up several cans of worms and it’s scaring the
Democrats into desperation tactics. They were trying to impeach Trump even before he
took office and he has beaten them. We as Americans need to get behind President
Trump because this is turning into a civil war.
I totally agree with you !!! Civil war is exactly what this country is headed for . People need to wake up !!!!!
People, how can Trump have the gall and audacity to claim, ‘it’s a Democratic Witch Hunt’, when it was one of his own appointee who turned him in, as the whistle blower for the crimes Trump lodged against the Ukraine? Trump can cry ‘wolf’ all he wants to, but, the truth is out of the bag now, it’s just another of Trump crooked acts against this country, that shows just how less he thinks of this country and it’s constitution.
The “appointee” doesn’t even have first hand knowledge of the conversation! It’s pure hearsay. Pres. Trump is not the one crying wolf~ that would be Pelosi, Schiff, Nadler, and the 3 idiotic squad…. things. This has been a witch hunt since the day Trump announced his candidacy. How can you or anyone else not see the truth that is right in front of you?! The Left has shredded our Constitution and want nothing more than to repeal the 1st and 2nd Amendments. Big news flash~~ We the People will not give up our rights, and the President of the United States of America won’t either.
moron democrap! You should be embarassed of who you associate with!
The Dems WANT civil war! They realize they are going to LOSE, and destroying our country with Civil War is their only answer and excuse for existing. It is their Revenge. They are not ‘working’ for our country. The Squad is preparing our country for war with all their Hate and dissent, aggressively stirring up as much trouble as possible, inviting in terrorists, criminals, diseased people, lazy people who don’t WANT to assimilate or learn our language, or Work for a living-just get on our welfare system and sell drugs, guns, do some child-trafficking , and vote Democrat to get all the ‘Free ‘ offerings at the American Taxpayers expense! Dems are turning our country into a third world country-out of Spite because they lost the election to a President who actually cares about our country and wants to help Real Americans. He is doing a Great job, inspite of all their opposition, witch hunts, blocking WALL funds, investigations and false accusations. We can’t support the whole third world just because THEY want to com.e here and freeload.
I continue to wonder this. Does being a political figure, either running for office, or retired from office, automatically make it so you cannot be investigated for breaking the law or for you being complicit in breaking the law through members of your family? It seems that way. Perhaps the President shouldn’t have asked another country’s President to investigate Biden’s son, and by extension him. On the other hand, the infractions took place in that other country which would seem logical for them to investigate it and report their finding to the U.S. Seems eerily close to the whole British Dossier affair when they investigated Trump through another country. Bottom line, for investigating Trump or Biden or anyone else: if the information is valid it seems incredibly stupid to just throw it out simply because someone is a political figure. Wouldn’t you want to actually KNOW if the person you voted for was a crook or selling out the country? Why does it only count if the FBI investigates?
Don’t count on the FBI to investigate anything… all they can do is lie and cover up.
Did you feel that way when Obama was selling us out to the Muslims?, Russians? Chinese?
What about Hillary and all the crooked acts she pulled, including assignations, deception, deals with bad people, lying, hiding evidence, paying people off, and the list goes on!. She has immunity because she’s a democrat? Just jail her in GITMO. It would take ALL our tax money to investigate all the crimes and corruption she has done.(and gotten by with) Very Sad. Our President has taken much Abuse because of her and her cronies. Yet he stands Strong FOR OUR COUNTRY. Everything Hillary did was for her own personal gain because she had power and money to help herself.
Hillary needs to be hung from a high tree
More proof that the Demoncrat Party is a left wing hate group!
What a bunch of BS!!!!
The real criminals R the one’s calling 4 impeachment, what big ASS BALLS!!!!
Nasty Puss-loosey uphold and defend the Constitution, well I say they R guilty of not doing so….
Letting illegals come across our borders unchecked and then let them loose in our country, that 2 me is a impeachable offense, not doing their friggin jobs, grounds 4 removal and the list goes on and on, 2yrs of nothing is grounds 4 a vote of NO CONFIDENCE IN THE CONGRESS!!!!
THE DEMO-DOUCHES NEED 2B REMOVED BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY, OBSTRUCTION, BREAKING THE LAW AND THE BIGGEST OF ALL AN ATTEMPTED COUP OF A DULY ELECTED PRES.
Seems Congress needs an overhaul of its laws and procedures. Democratic party has been harassing and trying to impeach the president since his swearing in. This is a ridicules way to run a country. A billion dollars was spent on hills campaign, and of course she lost. But why so much money. Who is she indebted to. And why are they still trying to put her in the President chair, knowing the country does not want her. By having joe elected and appointing say harris as vp. Then get rid of joe and the vp takes over Appoints hill as vp then they get rid of harris. voila hill is president, without ever having been elected therefore indebted only to whoever is spending all this money. Sure makes me wonder
If Hillary had won we would have a Russian flag flying over the white house, for sure Obama almost got that flag up there
Treason is a badge of honor for the Godless NAZI Commie liberal Racist Demoncrat Party,RINOs,Fake News! The party of hate, hypocrisy, lies, deception,Fake News(Russian Collusion & Jussie M hoax)the list is endless!And the clueless minions that follow them! If the evil liberal demoncrat Nazi’s Commie party traitors to America continue to go unpunished(Hollywood ,RINOs etc)! They’ll continue their treasonous ways! Enough is enough with this Deep State BS! Drain the rat infested swamp, ASAP! President Trump!
This whole mess, since before Trump was elected, is nothing but political theatre . . . Pelosi’s “formal impeachment inquiry” is just another name for a chapter in the book that has already been released. Jerry Nads-handler has been ‘inquiring’ for ANYTHING that might resemble an impeachable offense since before Trump speculated ABOUT running.
EVEYTHING started when Trump mentioned he “might just run for President” back in 2015.
His initial platform was ‘the deep state’. The rats on the ship were scurrying around wondering if they’d have to jump ship, and their little minds started churning. The big-money players got with their blackmailed minions and elected slaves and acolytes, who connected with the corrupted and greedy in posted positions (like the higher-ups in the major branches); and Obama WAS aware of it all. He most likely held all the strings. He is a genius, after-all . . .
People need to get their heads out of the sand. WE DO HAVE A DEEP STATE! There are so many CORRUPT elected and unelected officials making a killing off of their influence peddling, coercion, and intrigue.
Biden and his family drama is a good example of what’s to come. You can imagine what that possibility is doing to the minds of all those corrupt politicians. Will Biden go down with the ship, or jump? Will he protect his cohorts, or squeal? Maybe THAT is the reason for all his ‘gaffs’ and ‘senior moments’.
Soon you will see the media and support for Biden turn. It’s inevitable. Even the deep state knows there is no way the powers-that-be can overlook Biden (and by association, Obama), when they have made such a spectacle of the Trump collusion narrative debacle.
Will Biden be another name on the Arkancide list?
The Demonrats have been getting together frequently to plot and plan . . . and this “formal impeachment inquiry” is just another phase.
The Demonrats and their media cohorts preempted the formal release of the transcripts and whistleblower interview BECAUSE they had a few hold-outs in Congress who have large Conservative bases; and Pelosi needed their attention and commitment before they learned the truth. (You’ll notice Crying Chuck also jumped on the announcement to try and rein-in the “border wall money-grab from the military”, like he REALLY cares about our military . . . His real base is the folks with the most money, who need unlimited cheap labor.)
The whistleblower did not have first-hand knowledge, so who leaked the info to him/her/it???
The whistleblower was “NOT part of the Intel Community”, so legally is not protected under the Whistleblower laws (ex., complaining about a boss and fears of retribution).
The whistleblower has deep state ties, and a bias against Trump (already proven).
The whistleblower WANTS to testify, so we all should take ANYTHING that comes of he/she/it’s testimony with a big handful of salt.
The whistleblower’s lawyer is tied to Soros and the Clintons.
It’s all theater . . . to make you look the other way.
Why can’t we start making allegations against the demonrats? We could say I heard ________ has done this or that. I guess you don’t need proof.
Hmmm - Letter from durbin - leahy and menedez did…..video of biden laughing at having the prosecuter fired - did….
SO WHAT - the dems are on the defensive - they got caught yet again and now are trying to drive impeachment home….
LMFAO - The dems are in panic mode - They used Ukraine to attack trump and repukes from 2015….Hitlery as told by a Ukrainian INTEL agent - bought off officials in Ukraine and then got kick-backs from agents using the IMF…
Now = it’s Biden and family on the hot seat but every dem is involved in this SCAM…..and america is getting wise to it…..