U.S. fight deepens as Biden calls for impeachment, Trump lashes out at whistleblower

[webfact]

U.S. fight deepens as Biden calls for impeachment, Trump lashes out at whistleblower

By Trevor Hunnicutt

 

With a portrait of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson hanging in the background, U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to former Attorney General Edwin Meese in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, October 8, 2019. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

ROCHESTER, N.H. (Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden called for the impeachment of his potential 2020 election foe Donald Trump for the first time on Wednesday, in a deepening partisan fight over a congressional investigation of the Republican president.

 

Biden, who is at the centre of a controversy over Trump's dealings with Ukraine that led congressional Democrats to open an impeachment inquiry, had so far refrained from making an outright plea for impeachment.

 

Trump continued to paint the probe as a partisan smear, and accused the U.S. intelligence officer who filed the whistleblower complaint that sparked the furore of having political motives.

 

During a campaign stop in New Hampshire, the Democratic front-runner to face Trump in the November 2020 presidential election, took the gloves off.

"With his words and his actions, President Trump has indicted himself. By obstructing justice, refusing to reply with a congressional inquiry, he's already convicted himself," Biden said. "In full view of the world and the American people, Donald Trump has violated his oath of office, betrayed this nation and committed impeachable acts."

 

"To preserve our Constitution, our democracy, our basic integrity, he should be impeached."

 

Biden's comment set off a duel with Trump on Twitter, one of the president's preferred rhetorical battlegrounds.

 

Democratic presidential contender Joe Biden called for the impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump for the first time on Wednesday in his strongest indictment of the Republican leader’s actions involving Ukraine. Chris Dignam has more.

 

"So pathetic to see Sleepy Joe Biden, who with his son, Hunter, and to the detriment of the American Taxpayer, has ripped off at least two countries for millions of dollars, calling for my impeachment - and I did nothing wrong," Trump wrote.

 

The Democratic-led House of Representatives began impeachment proceedings against Trump last month over his attempts to have Ukraine's president investigate Biden and his son Hunter Biden, who was on the board of a Ukrainian gas company.

 

Despite Trump's allegations, which he made without evidence, that Biden engaged in improper dealings in Ukraine, there are few signs the controversy has damaged the Democratic former vice president's 2020 prospects.

 

Public opinion polls, including those taken by Reuters/Ipsos, have shown Biden's support remaining relatively stable.

 

WHISTLEBLOWER'S LAWYERS RESPOND

Trump on Wednesday again described the inquiry as a partisan attack.

 

"It turns out that the whistleblower is a Democrat, strong Democrat, and is working with one of my opponents as a Democrat," Trump told reporters.

Lawyers for the whistleblower responded in a statement, denying that political factors had influenced the complaint.

 

"Our client has never worked for or advised a political candidate, campaign or party," they said in a statement. "Our client has spent their entire government career in apolitical, civil servant positions."

 

The day after the White House declared its refusal to cooperate with the impeachment probe, Trump added that he would respond if House Democrats "give us our rights."

 

The three congressional committees leading the inquiry were working on final arrangements on Wednesday to interview the whistleblower.

 

The State Department this week abruptly blocked the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, who had been in touch with Ukrainian officials on Trump's behalf from speaking to the inquiry.

 

The investigation is focused on whether Trump used almost $400 million in congressionally approved aid to Ukraine as leverage to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to begin an investigation of the Bidens.

 

Trump has denied wrongdoing and defended a July 25 phone call to Zelenskiy.

 

Trump is expected to boost his legal team, having approached former Republican U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy to serve as counsel amid the impeachment fight, a source told Reuters.

 

Most Democrats want to impeach Trump, even if that means weakening their party's chances of winning back the White House in 2020, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll.

 

The poll, conducted on Monday and Tuesday, found that 55% of Democrats said their party leaders should press ahead with impeachment even "if it means a lengthy and expensive process that could weaken their chances of winning the presidency in 2020."

 

An even higher number - 66% of Democrats - agreed that Congress should pursue impeachment, "even if that means they will need to postpone efforts to pass laws that could benefit me."

 

(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Richard Cowan, Mark Hosenball, Karen Freifeld, Susan Heavey and Makini Brice in Washington; Writing by Alistair Bell and Scott Malone; Editing by Grant McCool and Peter Cooney)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-10-10

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[Scott]

Troll posts removed.  

 

[J Town]

Trump tweeted out more than 30 tweets before lunch yesterday. He's running scared cuz the chickens are coming home to roost.

[Tug]

It’s about time Joe! Beat him like an orange drum lol on a serious side to me it beggers belief to hear this criminal accuse others of corruption just beggers belief trump may see prison after all!

[Chomper Higgot]

Trump could easily demonstrate his claimed innocence by releasing the full recordings of the calls, all of the calls.

 

Trump supporters who two weeks ago were telling us this is all a cunning trap set by Trump for the Democrats to walk into will see the sense in him releasing the recordings.

 

Odd then that he’s hiding.

[stevenl]

59 minutes ago, J Town said:

Trump tweeted out more than 30 tweets before lunch yesterday. He's running scared cuz the chickens are coming home to roost.

He wanted to send out more tweets but didn't have time anymore, after all he had to call Mitch 3 times as well.

 

he is running scared, as he should be. Right now the republican senators are really quiet, watching where this goes. Many are up for re-election, and will vote whatever direction they think offers the best chance of re-election. Latest polls do Trump no favor there.

[J Town]

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Odd then that he’s hiding.

Odd anyone is still defending him. As of this morning, over half the country is for impeachment AND removal. And before supporters start screaming "Fake news!" understand this was a FOX news poll.

[J Town]

Just now, stevenl said:

Many are up for re-election, and will vote whatever direction they think offers the best chance of re-election. Latest polls do Trump no favor there.

I saw a video clip of a Republican Senator trying to explain the impeachment situation back in her home district. She was surrounded by blue hairs who were bleating "Fake news," "Didn't happen" when the Senator told them of the conversation that WAS released by the White House. You can't fix stupid and a Koolaid detox isn't anything his supporters are interested in.

[riclag]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump is expected to boost his legal team, having approached former Republican U.S. Representative Trey Gowdy to serve as counsel amid the impeachment fight, a source told Reuters.

Gowdy is in agreement, don't co-op with the illegitimate inquiry!Good source of intel knowledge as well

 

[bristolboy]

5 minutes ago, riclag said:

Gowdy is in agreement, don't co-op with the illegitimate inquiry!

 

Given past Supreme Court rulings, it's unlikely that even the current court would agree with him. 

[Kelsall]

Biden is running scared.  He knows if they don't take Trump down, Biden himself will be in handcuffs for his role in the Ukraine prosecutor scheme.

[stevenl]

3 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Biden is running scared.  He knows if they don't take Trump down, Biden himself will be in handcuffs for his role in the Ukraine prosecutor scheme.

This has been debunked many, many times already.

 

Why do you keep on repeating incorrect information? Either you're totally ignorant or you are purposefully doing it. Which one of thetwo?

[mtls2005]

11 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Biden is running scared.

 

Did you watch his speech?

 

He seemed anything but "scared". I don't remember seeing him so eloquent and fired-up.

 

I suspect that it is the pesident who is scared, I mean if we were to judge his odd, incoherent public rambling utterences, and his alarming rage-tweets.

 

Disclaimer: I like Joe, although I do have quite a few issues with him (policy and pre-VP actions/history) but if he is the nominee I would vote for him.

 

 

[neeray]

21 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Biden is running scared.  He knows if they don't take Trump down, Biden himself will be in handcuffs for his role in the Ukraine prosecutor scheme.

I think Trump and ALL of his supporters are running scared. They just can't own up to what he has done this time. I understand, it must be a very difficult load to carry. But there comes a time !!!

[riclag]

Addressing supporters in New Hampshire, Mr Biden said the president had already "violated his oath of office" and "indicted himself by obstructing justice, refusing to comply with a congressional inquiry".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49991748

 

Joe its being seen by your opposition that its a Dem congressional inquiry . If it was a formal impeachment  than both parties that make up the congress could participate in a vote,proceeding a  debate !

[Sujo]

3 minutes ago, riclag said:

Addressing supporters in New Hampshire, Mr Biden said the president had already "violated his oath of office" and "indicted himself by obstructing justice, refusing to comply with a congressional inquiry".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49991748

 

Joe its being seen by your opposition that its a Dem congressional inquiry . If it was a formal impeachment  than both parties that make up the congress could participate in a vote,proceeding a  debate !

Not since republicans changed the rules to allow it this way.

 

They will vote when the investigation is complete then sent to trial in the senate.

 

The whitehouse has no say in how congress is to conduct the investigation, being an equal branch of govt.

[riclag]

28 minutes ago, Sujo said:

Not since republicans changed the rules to allow it this way.

 

They will vote when the investigation is complete then sent to trial in the senate.

 

The whitehouse has no say in how congress is to conduct the investigation, being an equal branch of govt.

Well I guess the courts will decide,that's what happens when the executive branch and the legislative branch can't come to a agreement while having different opinion's !

 Every disagreement between both branches are heading toward a judicial ruling in Federal court, that's good for America, in the respect that both branches will be treated fairly!

[bristolboy]

3 minutes ago, riclag said:

Well I guess the courts will decide,that's what happens when the executive branch and the legislative branch can't come to a agreement while having different opinion's !

 Every disagreement between both branches are heading toward a judicial ruling in Federal court, that's good for America, in the respect that both branches will be treated fairly!

Yes but given past Supreme Court rulings, based on what the US Constitution clearly says about impeachment, it's highly unlikely that they will support the Trump Administration. Here's what the Constitution says about that:

"The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment."

[neeray]

59 minutes ago, riclag said:

Addressing supporters in New Hampshire, Mr Biden said the president had already "violated his oath of office" and "indicted himself by obstructing justice, refusing to comply with a congressional inquiry".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49991748

 

Joe its being seen by your opposition that its a Dem congressional inquiry . If it was a formal impeachment  than both parties that make up the congress could participate in a vote,proceeding a  debate !

Could you clarify your last 3 words please. I (and probably others) don't quite get your drift. Thank you.

[riclag]

26 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

Yes but given past Supreme Court rulings, based on what the US Constitution clearly says about impeachment, it's highly unlikely that they will support the Trump Administration. Here's what the Constitution says about that:

"The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment."

 The dem house, will have to take their investigation and explain their case in the federal district court then comes the SC when the time comes! Step by Step . 

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, riclag said:

 The dem house, will have to take their investigation and explain their case in the federal district court then comes the SC when the time comes! Step by Step . 

The first decision a court makes in every case brought before it is ‘Does this court have jurisdiction over the litigating parties’.

 

The second is ‘does this court have jurisdiction over the issue being litigated’.

 

Good luck with that.

[JHolmesJr]

Biden is going all in because he has nothing to lose.

His reputation is getting murkier by the day.

He's been overtaken by a weak democrat candidate with 

a penchant for bending the truth.

In short, the last gasp of a beached whale.

 

[J Town]

1 minute ago, JHolmesJr said:

Biden is going all in because he has nothing to lose.

His reputation is getting murkier by the day.

He's been overtaken by a weak democrat candidate with 

a penchant for bending the truth.

In short, the last gasp of a beached whale.

 

 

[bristolboy]

12 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

Biden is going all in because he has nothing to lose.

His reputation is getting murkier by the day.

He's been overtaken by a weak democrat candidate with 

a penchant for bending the truth.

In short, the last gasp of a beached whale.

 

Even if your comment about Warren having a "penchant for bending the truth" were true, that's a laughable point coming from a supporter of Donald Trump.

[Chomper Higgot]

17 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

Biden is going all in because he has nothing to lose.

His reputation is getting murkier by the day.

He's been overtaken by a weak democrat candidate with 

a penchant for bending the truth.

In short, the last gasp of a beached whale.

 

Biden must be an incredibly poor candidate for Trump to illegally seek foreign help to fabricate fake charges against him and his son.

 

All that effort, all that criminality, all that risk and all that hiding the evidence - because Biden is such a poor candidate.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

20 minutes ago, J Town said:

 

Well Trump doesn’t like the idea, he’s committed crimes to try to prevent it.

[J Town]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Biden must be an incredibly poor candidate for Trump to illegally seek foreign help to fabricate fake charges against him and his son.

 

All that effort, all that criminality, all that risk and all that hiding the evidence - because Biden is such a poor candidate.

Trump is too stupid to think that far or that deep. It's been well documented he sits at the table having his behind smooched by his sycophants then makes snap decisions based on how soon it is til his next Big Mac. It's as plain as the nose on your face he sided with the Turks because he has business interests in Turkey. He just shot at Biden because polls had Joe at the top. He'll soon start that "Pocahontas" mantra again cuz Warren is starting to take the lead.

[Kelsall]

2 hours ago, stevenl said:

This has been debunked many, many times already.

 

Why do you keep on repeating incorrect information? Either you're totally ignorant or you are purposefully doing it. Which one of thetwo?

Hasn't been debunked at all.

[bristolboy]

Just now, Kelsall said:

Hasn't been debunked at all.

Thanks for the evidence.

[J Town]

6 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Hasn't been debunked at all.

Yeah. It has. Even Trump's own advisers told him in July that it was a nothing burger story. You have been told this time and time again.

 

An article from "The New Yorker" describes how Steve Bannon used an extreme right wing entity to fabricate the Biden story:

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-invention-of-the-conspiracy-theory-on-biden-and-ukraine?irclickid=Uxt04qQeBxyJWbtwUx0Mo34VUkn2jrVyhzOTzQ0&irgwc=1&source=affiliate_impactpmx_12f6tote_desktop_adgoal GmbH&utm_source=impact-affiliate&utm_medium=123201&utm_campaign=impact&utm_content=Online Tracking Link&utm_brand=tny