Republicans want Hunter Biden, whistleblower to testify in open hearings

[rooster59]

Republicans want Hunter Biden, whistleblower to testify in open hearings

By Jonathan Landay

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden attend an NCAA basketball game between Georgetown University and Duke University in Washington, U.S., January 30, 2010. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans on Saturday asked that former Vice President Joe Biden's son and the whistleblower whose complaint triggered the impeachment inquiry into U.S. President Donald Trump be called to testify in public hearings that begin next week.

 

Democrats who control the U.S. House of Representatives, however, likely will reject appearances by Hunter Biden and the unidentified whistleblower in the hearings due to open on Wednesday.

 

Devin Nunes, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, included the pair in a list of proposed witnesses that he sent in a letter to the panel's Democratic chairman, Adam Schiff, published on multiple news websites.

 

In the letter, Nunes said the Democrats were pursuing a "sham impeachment process" that has mistreated Trump.

Nunes also accused Schiff of fabricating evidence in order to cast "in a sinister light" the telephone call at the inquiry's heart.

 

Trump used the July 25 call - a rough transcript of which was released by the White House - to press Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy to investigate the Bidens.

 

Joe Biden is a leading candidate for the Democratic nomination to oppose Trump's bid for re-election next year. While he served as vice president, his son was on the board of Burisma, a Ukrainian energy firm.

 

The whistleblower complaint alleged that Trump used the call to seek foreign help for personal political gain, a charge broadly substantiated by the testimonies of current and former U.S. officials in three weeks of closed hearings.

 

Trump and his Republican allies deny there was any wrongdoing.

 

Should the House impeach Trump, the Republican-controlled Senate would conduct a trial that could see him removed from office.

 

Nunes said he also wants testimony from Devon Archer, a businessman who served on the Burisma board with Hunter Biden, as the pair could "assist the American public in understanding the nature and extent of Ukraine's pervasive corruption."

 

Trump and his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, have led accusations - without giving any evidence - that Joe Biden sought the dismissal of a Ukrainian prosecutor to block a corruption probe of Burisma.

 

In asking for the whistleblower, Nunes said that Trump "should be afforded an opportunity to confront his accusers."

 

In a statement issued after receiving Nunes' letter, Schiff said the Republicans' proposed witness list was being evaluated. But, he indicated he likely will reject the requests for Hunter Biden, Archer and several other proposed witnesses.

 

The inquiry, he said, will not serve "as a vehicle to undertake the same sham investigations into the Bidens or 2016 that the president pressed Ukraine to conduct for his personal political benefit or to facilitate the president's effort to threaten, intimidate and retaliate against the whistleblower."

 

The whistleblower alleged that Trump sought investigations into the Bidens in return for granting Zelenskiy an Oval Office visit and allowing the delivery of nearly $400 million in security aid needed by Ukraine to defend against Russia-backed separatists.

 

Before departing on Saturday on a flight to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Trump said he probably would release on Tuesday the transcript of an April 21 call he made to congratulate Zelenskiy on his presidential election victory.

 

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Mary Milliken, Daniel Wallis and Jonathan Oatis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-11-10

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[Sujo]

Scheduled to appear straight after mulvaney and bolton.

 

Just what evidence could biden give regarding this investigation, how would he know anything that trump did?

[Tug]

Sure why not as long as ivanka is there as well so she can explained hersielf lol the dems aren’t going to let the republicans turn this into a clown show lol this is about trump trying to extort another country for personal gain it’s not a desperate attempt to smear someone else lol kinda ironic the slme master is beeing brought down by trying to smear another lol kinda like beeing hoisted by your owne petard imo

[RideJocky]

20 minutes ago, Tug said:

...the dems aren’t going to let the republicans turn this into a clown show lol..,

 

Too late lol

[Tug]

23 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Bit late to worry about that. The fake Adam Schiff summary of Trump's call put this latest witch hunt into realms of bizarre fantasy far beyond any mere clown show.

 

Can't wait until they drag up the Bidens and Schiff to testify, this will be hilarious!

Ha ha so quoting trumps incomplete transcript is fake beyond funney trump tryed to extort another country he is a lowlife he will be drummed out of office soon you might be better served by paying attention to the damage he has done to your own country and stop trolling us here

[TopDeadSenter]

5 minutes ago, Tug said:

Ha ha so quoting trumps incomplete transcript is fake beyond funney trump tryed to extort another country he is a lowlife he will be drummed out of office soon you might be better served by paying attention to the damage he has done to your own country and stop trolling us here

Schiff did not quote Trumps incomplete transcript. You should know this by now. He totally made up a fake call between the leaders. This reckless act by a desperate Schiff will do to the impeachment saga what the grounding mast did to the Hindenburg. As a sample from the fiction that this witch hunt is based on.

 

"But you know what? I don’t see much reciprocity here. I hear what you want. I have a favor I want from you though. And I’m going to say this only seven times so you better listen good. I want you to make up dirt on my political opponent, understand. Lots of it."

https://www.factcheck.org/2019/10/schiffs-parody-and-trumps-response/

[neeray]

Of course the Republicans want the whistleblower to testify in open hearings. Like their boss who thrives on intimidation, they think by intimidating the whistleblower, he/she will fall apart.

 

Strictly my opinion, no links available, don't ask.

[OneMoreFarang]

I think it's really hard to understand how anybody can still pretend Trump is innocent. By now enough witnesses explained in detail that Trump wanted that investigation otherwise the money wouldn't be paid. That is clearly illegal without doubt.

If the GOP let Trump get away with this then they basically tell him: You can do anything, including anything illegal, and we will still support you and pretend it is not illegal because we want the power.

And for whatever strange reason they still pretend to be a sample democracy. 555

 

[OneMoreFarang]

2 minutes ago, neeray said:

Of course the Republicans want the whistleblower to testify in open hearings. Like their boss who thrives on intimidation, they think by intimidating the whistleblower, he/she will fall apart.

 

Strictly my opinion, no links available, don't ask.

And they obviously will intimidate anybody else who might become a whistleblower and tell the truth.

It's clearly illegal to expose the whistleblower. But we know by now that for Trump and his club legality is irrelevant as long as they get what they want. Disgusting!

[RideJocky]

4 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

And they obviously will intimidate anybody else who might become a whistleblower and tell the truth.

It's clearly illegal to expose the whistleblower. But we know by now that for Trump and his club legality is irrelevant as long as they get what they want. Disgusting!

Unless they’ve done something criminal, how will they intimidate them? 
 

Anyone that comes out against Trump is a national hero to the left. The guy will be making bank on CNN. 

[OneMoreFarang]

6 minutes ago, RideJocky said:

how will they intimidate them? 

 

 “I am not part of whatever drug deal Sondland and Mulvaney are cooking up,” Mr. Bolton, a Yale-trained lawyer, told Ms. Hill to tell White House lawyers

 

I think that pretty much shows the kind of level we are looking at here. Would you be intimidated by drug dealers in a 400 million deal. I would.

[BobBKK]

1 hour ago, Sujo said:

Scheduled to appear straight after mulvaney and bolton.

 

Just what evidence could biden give regarding this investigation, how would he know anything that trump did?

You mean Hunter the son of the Vice President who knows nothing about Energy being on the board of a Ukrainian company?  who's father quid pro quo threatened Ukraine to withdraw 1b in aid unless they sack a prosecutor investigating his son's company? You don't think THAT is relevant?  wow just wow

[neeray]

16 minutes ago, RideJocky said:

Unless they’ve done something criminal, how will they intimidate them? 
 

Anyone that comes out against Trump is a national hero to the left. The guy will be making bank on CNN. 

Where's your imagination?

By simply exposing he/she whistleblower, right wing supporters will voluntarily come out of the woodwork like a brood of termites ready to chow down on a new piece of wood.

The whistleblower has already compromised his/her peace and security for the good of the country. Too bad that Republicans and their supporters don't practice the same degree of patriotism.

[Tug]

28 minutes ago, RideJocky said:

Unless they’ve done something criminal, how will they intimidate them? 
 

Anyone that comes out against Trump is a national hero to the left. The guy will be making bank on CNN. 

Why is it with you trump guys that anyone against trump is on the left?im personally just left of center many are against trump because he acts and behaves like some crime boss trump got caught trying to extort another country for personal gain that’s extortion he now wants to have the whistle blower exposed so he can ruin another’s life for exposing his criminality don’t think the dems will allow it

[Skallywag]

40 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

I think it's really hard to understand how anybody can still pretend Trump is innocent.....

If the GOP let Trump get away with this .......

And for whatever strange reason they still pretend to be a sample democracy. 555

 

From what I hear on Fox news (get it free here)  GOP is basically saying Ukraine did eventually get the aide so whatever Trump said to Ukraine doesn't matter....paraphrasing. 

Economy robust, unemployment lowest in many years, etc... 

Move on, senate will vote down impeachment anyway. (what they say on Fox again) 

Unfortunately most likely how it will go in senate.  

As you say, all the while GOP still pretending U.S. is the greatest democracy

 

[BobBKK]

10 minutes ago, Tug said:

Why is it with you trump guys that anyone against trump is on the left?im personally just left of center many are against trump because he acts and behaves like some crime boss trump got caught trying to extort another country for personal gain that’s extortion he now wants to have the whistle blower exposed so he can ruin another’s life for exposing his criminality don’t think the dems will allow it

You think the whistle-blower being a well known Dem supporter is not relevant?  you think employees, who serve at the Presidents pleasure, should skulk around like cowards spewing untruths and not be held accountable?  not be challenged?  you don't think POTUS has the right to ask for information about the VP's cocaine son working for millions with zero experience? what are you on?

[Skallywag]

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

 you don't think POTUS has the right to ask for information about the VP's cocaine son working for millions with zero experience? what are you on?

Yes, POTUS has that right, but it is a different issue than the quid pro quo with the Ukraine president. 

2 issues, not related.

GOP is trying to divert attention form the impeachment by bringing up the Biden's son, not related. 

[GroveHillWanderer]

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

Bit late to worry about that. The fake Adam Schiff summary of Trump's call put this latest witch hunt into realms of bizarre fantasy far beyond any mere clown show.

 

Why am I not surprised that parody seems to go straight over the heads of some people?

 

Before beginning his parody, Schiff pointed out that he was not attempting to give a factual summary of the call, saying the following:

 

Quote

Shorn of its rambling character and in not so many words, this is the essence of what the president communicates. 

 

[RideJocky]

24 minutes ago, Tug said:

Why is it with you trump guys that anyone against trump is on the left?

 

I didn’t say everyone that is against against Trump is on the left, you just made that up. Please try to follow along. 

 

 

24 minutes ago, Tug said:

Im personally just left of center..

 

I’m a centrist myself

 

24 minutes ago, Tug said:

 

...many are against trump because he acts and behaves like some crime boss trump got caught trying to extort another country for personal gain that’s extortion he now wants to have the whistle blower exposed so he can ruin another’s life for exposing his criminality don’t think the dems will allow it

Yes, most everyone “slightly left of center” believes this way. Everyone else? Not so much. 
 

 

[Kelsall]

Just now, GroveHillWanderer said:

Why am I not surprised that parody seems to go straight over the heads of some people?

 

Before beginning his parody, Schiff pointed out that he was not attempting to give a factual summary of the call, saying the following:

 

 

Schiff said that afterwards, after he got caught lying.

 

Schiff has said many times how serious this "impeachment" is.  Yet he later said his comments were parody. a joke.  Total BS. Put him under oath.  The R's have the right idea.

[Kelsall]

If putting Hunter and the whistleblower on the stand doesn't happen here, it will in the Senate, assuming it even gets there. 

[Sujo]

1 hour ago, BobBKK said:

You mean Hunter the son of the Vice President who knows nothing about Energy being on the board of a Ukrainian company?  who's father quid pro quo threatened Ukraine to withdraw 1b in aid unless they sack a prosecutor investigating his son's company? You don't think THAT is relevant?  wow just wow

Not relevant at all. The investigation is about what trump did, not what the bidens may have done. Bidens could have shot someone on 5th avenue and its still not relevant.

 

so please indicate what evidence hunter biden can give congress that relates to trump withholding aid money?

 

Btw, he wont be giving evidence.

[BobBKK]

1 minute ago, Sujo said:

Not relevant at all. The investigation is about what trump did, not what the bidens may have done. Bidens could have shot someone on 5th avenue and its still not relevant.

 

so please indicate what evidence hunter biden can give congress that relates to trump withholding aid money?

 

Btw, he wont be giving evidence.

Ok try a different way. Why can't POTUS with hold the charity they give a country?  nothing wrong in using aid to get information on the ex-VP's cocaine loving son being on the board AND his father getting the prosecutor sacked (for AID). Totally RELEVANT.

[Kelsall]

45 minutes ago, Tug said:

Why is it with you trump guys that anyone against trump is on the left?im personally just left of center many are against trump because he acts and behaves like some crime boss trump got caught trying to extort another country for personal gain that’s extortion he now wants to have the whistle blower exposed so he can ruin another’s life for exposing his criminality don’t think the dems will allow it

Fortunately the R's in the Senate will call the Whistleblower to testify in public.  He can always refuse the subpoena, which will result in his arrest, or he can take the Fifth, which will only delay his arrest for his part in the coup.

[Sujo]

30 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

You think the whistle-blower being a well known Dem supporter is not relevant?  you think employees, who serve at the Presidents pleasure, should skulk around like cowards spewing untruths and not be held accountable?  not be challenged?  you don't think POTUS has the right to ask for information about the VP's cocaine son working for millions with zero experience? what are you on?

Correct. The whistleblower, as many supporters said, only had hearsay knowledge. So how is he relevant.

 

what are the untruths you speak of?

 

the president has every right to investigate bidens, but it must be done via the legal framework. Which evidence proves was not done.

[Sujo]

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Ok try a different way. Why can't POTUS with hold the charity they give a country?  nothing wrong in using aid to get information on the ex-VP's cocaine loving son being on the board AND his father getting the prosecutor sacked (for AID). Totally RELEVANT.

Because its against the constitution to do so.

 

if he used proper legal channels then it would be ok. But he didnt.

 

i ask again, what evidence could biden possibly have or provide to congress about an investigation into trump?

[Sujo]

3 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

Fortunately the R's in the Senate will call the Whistleblower to testify in public.  He can always refuse the subpoena, which will result in his arrest, or he can take the Fifth, which will only delay his arrest for his part in the coup.

Arrest for refusing a subpoena. 

 

Now theres the pinnacle of hypocracy.

[RideJocky]

45 minutes ago, neeray said:

Where's your imagination?

By simply exposing he/she whistleblower, right wing supporters will voluntarily come out of the woodwork like a brood of termites ready to chow down on a new piece of wood.

The whistleblower has already compromised his/her peace and security for the good of the country. Too bad that Republicans and their supporters don't practice the same degree of patriotism.

“...chow down on a new piece of wood”, really? 

Do have any example of people’s lives being destroyed for coming out against Trump? 

 

For the good of the county, hilarious. For the leftward slide of the country more like. 
 

Again, this guy will a national hero to most everyone “slightly left of center”. They’ll be making the rounds on the talk shows, get a cushy gig at at CNN, be invited to speak at universities etc.. 
 

[Sujo]

10 minutes ago, Kelsall said:

If putting Hunter and the whistleblower on the stand doesn't happen here, it will in the Senate, assuming it even gets there. 

I doubt it. The senate hearing is presided over by supreme court roberts. I doubt he will break the law to demand the whistleblower to attend. Given that he is irrelevant now because they already have the evidence without him.

 

so anyway, how is the evidence going?

[Kelsall]

1 minute ago, Sujo said:

Arrest for refusing a subpoena. 

 

Now theres the pinnacle of hypocracy.

Sorry, but it would be a VALID subpoena, and the whistleblower can't claim executive privilege.  He made his bed and he can lie in it.