CIA's top lawyer made 'criminal referral' on complaint about Trump Ukraine call

[OKTexas]

Barr is part of the corruption. The DoJ is broken. The State Department is broken. This administration has a record number of temporary appointees, unconfirmed by a Congress, taken no oath of office, and loyal to Trump personally, not the office of the presidency, the Constitution or the country. Career diplomats suddenly recalled for no reason and replaced by idiots. What is happening now is the tip of the iceberg.


CIA's top lawyer made 'criminal referral' on complaint about Trump Ukraine call


WASHINGTON — Weeks before the whistleblower's complaint became public, the CIA's top lawyer made what she considered to be a criminal referral to the Justice Department about the whistleblower's allegations that President Donald Trump abused his office in pressuring the Ukrainian president, U.S. officials familiar with the matter tell NBC News.

The move by the CIA's general counsel, Trump appointee Courtney Simmons Elwood, meant she and other senior officials had concluded a potential crime had been committed, raising more questions about why the Justice Department later declined to open an investigation.

The phone call that Elwood considered to be a criminal referral is in addition to the referral later received as a letter from the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community regarding the whistleblower complaint.

Justice Department officials said they were unclear whether Elwood was making a criminal referral and followed up with her later to seek clarification but she remained vague.

In the days since the anonymous whistleblower complaint was made public accusing him of wrongdoing, Trump has lashed out at his accuser and other insiders who provided the accuser with information, suggesting they were improperly spying on what was a "perfect" call between him and the Ukrainian president.

But a timeline provided by U.S. officials familiar with the matter shows that multiple senior government officials appointed by Trump found the whistleblower's complaints credible, troubling and worthy of further inquiry starting soon after the president's July phone call.

While that timeline and the CIA general counsel's contact with the Justice Department has been previously disclosed, it has not been reported that the CIA's top lawyer intended her call to be a criminal referral about the president's conduct, acting under rules set forth in a memo governing how intelligence agencies should report allegations of federal crimes.

The fact that she and other top Trump administration political appointees saw potential misconduct in the whistleblower's early account of alleged presidential abuses puts a new spotlight on the Justice Department's later decision to decline to open a criminal investigation — a decision that the Justice Department said publicly was based purely on an analysis of whether the president committed a campaign finance law violation.

"They didn't do any of the sort of bread-and-butter type investigatory steps that would flush out what potential crimes may have been committed," said Berit Berger, a former federal prosecutor who heads the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. "I
While that timeline and the CIA general counsel's contact with the Justice Department has been previously disclosed, it has not been reported that the CIA's top lawyer intended her call to be a criminal referral about the president's conduct, acting under rules set forth in a memo governing how intelligence agencies should report allegations of federal crimes.

The fact that she and other top Trump administration political appointees saw potential misconduct in the whistleblower's early account of alleged presidential abuses puts a new spotlight on the Justice Department's later decision to decline to open a criminal investigation — a decision that the Justice Department said publicly was based purely on an analysis of whether the president committed a campaign finance law violation.

"They didn't do any of the sort of bread-and-butter type investigatory steps that would flush out what potential crimes may have been committed," said Berit Berger, a former federal prosecutor who heads the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. "I don't understand the rationale for that and it's just so contrary to how normal prosecutors work. We have started investigations on far less."

Great article.. So what was "the crime"?? Apparently even BLATANT strong arming of foreign power for favors can be done by just about ANY Congress critter.. Need examples???

I need a crime to give a hoot. Not just some gossip from NBC news...

What was his crime? Haven’t said there was one, yet. That is why it needs to be investigated. And, imo, with holding promised aid in exchange for an investigation into a political rival and the promise of an Oval Office date is as blatant as it gets in strong arming.

What aid was withheld? They weren't discussing aid, they were discussing a purchase of military hardware. Read the transcripts.

.

It was $391 million in military aid.

That is non responsive to the question, Zelensky specifically said, "we are almost ready to buy more Javelins from the United States for defense purposes.". A country doesn't have to purchase equipment provided in military aid.

.

 

[Billiejeens]

It was $391 million in military aid.

My understanding is that it was Javelin missiles that were outside of the 391 million military package

The U.S. aid money was needed to buy Javelin missiles - among other things.

Please supply that link and thank you in advance

Read the transcript of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I'm asking you to provide where the missiles are part of the package....financially.

No chance

 

[OKTexas]

Barr is part of the corruption. The DoJ is broken. The State Department is broken. This administration has a record number of temporary appointees, unconfirmed by a Congress, taken no oath of office, and loyal to Trump personally, not the office of the presidency, the Constitution or the country. Career diplomats suddenly recalled for no reason and replaced by idiots. What is happening now is the tip of the iceberg.


CIA's top lawyer made 'criminal referral' on complaint about Trump Ukraine call


WASHINGTON — Weeks before the whistleblower's complaint became public, the CIA's top lawyer made what she considered to be a criminal referral to the Justice Department about the whistleblower's allegations that President Donald Trump abused his office in pressuring the Ukrainian president, U.S. officials familiar with the matter tell NBC News.

The move by the CIA's general counsel, Trump appointee Courtney Simmons Elwood, meant she and other senior officials had concluded a potential crime had been committed, raising more questions about why the Justice Department later declined to open an investigation.

The phone call that Elwood considered to be a criminal referral is in addition to the referral later received as a letter from the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community regarding the whistleblower complaint.

Justice Department officials said they were unclear whether Elwood was making a criminal referral and followed up with her later to seek clarification but she remained vague.

In the days since the anonymous whistleblower complaint was made public accusing him of wrongdoing, Trump has lashed out at his accuser and other insiders who provided the accuser with information, suggesting they were improperly spying on what was a "perfect" call between him and the Ukrainian president.

But a timeline provided by U.S. officials familiar with the matter shows that multiple senior government officials appointed by Trump found the whistleblower's complaints credible, troubling and worthy of further inquiry starting soon after the president's July phone call.

While that timeline and the CIA general counsel's contact with the Justice Department has been previously disclosed, it has not been reported that the CIA's top lawyer intended her call to be a criminal referral about the president's conduct, acting under rules set forth in a memo governing how intelligence agencies should report allegations of federal crimes.

The fact that she and other top Trump administration political appointees saw potential misconduct in the whistleblower's early account of alleged presidential abuses puts a new spotlight on the Justice Department's later decision to decline to open a criminal investigation — a decision that the Justice Department said publicly was based purely on an analysis of whether the president committed a campaign finance law violation.

"They didn't do any of the sort of bread-and-butter type investigatory steps that would flush out what potential crimes may have been committed," said Berit Berger, a former federal prosecutor who heads the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. "I
While that timeline and the CIA general counsel's contact with the Justice Department has been previously disclosed, it has not been reported that the CIA's top lawyer intended her call to be a criminal referral about the president's conduct, acting under rules set forth in a memo governing how intelligence agencies should report allegations of federal crimes.

The fact that she and other top Trump administration political appointees saw potential misconduct in the whistleblower's early account of alleged presidential abuses puts a new spotlight on the Justice Department's later decision to decline to open a criminal investigation — a decision that the Justice Department said publicly was based purely on an analysis of whether the president committed a campaign finance law violation.

"They didn't do any of the sort of bread-and-butter type investigatory steps that would flush out what potential crimes may have been committed," said Berit Berger, a former federal prosecutor who heads the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. "I don't understand the rationale for that and it's just so contrary to how normal prosecutors work. We have started investigations on far less."

Great article.. So what was "the crime"?? Apparently even BLATANT strong arming of foreign power for favors can be done by just about ANY Congress critter.. Need examples???

I need a crime to give a hoot. Not just some gossip from NBC news...

What was his crime? Haven’t said there was one, yet. That is why it needs to be investigated. And, imo, with holding promised aid in exchange for an investigation into a political rival and the promise of an Oval Office date is as blatant as it gets in strong arming.

What aid was withheld? They weren't discussing aid, they were discussing a purchase of military hardware. Read the transcripts.

.

Duh, it takes money to buy military hardware.

Are you claiming Ukraine doesn't have any money except what we give them?

.

 

[Lakhota]

It was $391 million in military aid.

My understanding is that it was Javelin missiles that were outside of the 391 million military package

The U.S. aid money was needed to buy Javelin missiles - among other things.

Please supply that link and thank you in advance

Read the transcript of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I'm asking you to provide where the missiles are part of the package....financially.

What "package"? My understanding is that it was MONEY appropriated by Congress. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in the transcript that he was about ready to buy Javelin missiles - then Trump reminded him that a "favor" was required, "though".

 

[Billiejeens]

Barr is part of the corruption. The DoJ is broken. The State Department is broken. This administration has a record number of temporary appointees, unconfirmed by a Congress, taken no oath of office, and loyal to Trump personally, not the office of the presidency, the Constitution or the country. Career diplomats suddenly recalled for no reason and replaced by idiots. What is happening now is the tip of the iceberg.


CIA's top lawyer made 'criminal referral' on complaint about Trump Ukraine call


WASHINGTON — Weeks before the whistleblower's complaint became public, the CIA's top lawyer made what she considered to be a criminal referral to the Justice Department about the whistleblower's allegations that President Donald Trump abused his office in pressuring the Ukrainian president, U.S. officials familiar with the matter tell NBC News.

The move by the CIA's general counsel, Trump appointee Courtney Simmons Elwood, meant she and other senior officials had concluded a potential crime had been committed, raising more questions about why the Justice Department later declined to open an investigation.

The phone call that Elwood considered to be a criminal referral is in addition to the referral later received as a letter from the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community regarding the whistleblower complaint.

Justice Department officials said they were unclear whether Elwood was making a criminal referral and followed up with her later to seek clarification but she remained vague.

In the days since the anonymous whistleblower complaint was made public accusing him of wrongdoing, Trump has lashed out at his accuser and other insiders who provided the accuser with information, suggesting they were improperly spying on what was a "perfect" call between him and the Ukrainian president.

But a timeline provided by U.S. officials familiar with the matter shows that multiple senior government officials appointed by Trump found the whistleblower's complaints credible, troubling and worthy of further inquiry starting soon after the president's July phone call.

While that timeline and the CIA general counsel's contact with the Justice Department has been previously disclosed, it has not been reported that the CIA's top lawyer intended her call to be a criminal referral about the president's conduct, acting under rules set forth in a memo governing how intelligence agencies should report allegations of federal crimes.

The fact that she and other top Trump administration political appointees saw potential misconduct in the whistleblower's early account of alleged presidential abuses puts a new spotlight on the Justice Department's later decision to decline to open a criminal investigation — a decision that the Justice Department said publicly was based purely on an analysis of whether the president committed a campaign finance law violation.

"They didn't do any of the sort of bread-and-butter type investigatory steps that would flush out what potential crimes may have been committed," said Berit Berger, a former federal prosecutor who heads the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. "I
While that timeline and the CIA general counsel's contact with the Justice Department has been previously disclosed, it has not been reported that the CIA's top lawyer intended her call to be a criminal referral about the president's conduct, acting under rules set forth in a memo governing how intelligence agencies should report allegations of federal crimes.

The fact that she and other top Trump administration political appointees saw potential misconduct in the whistleblower's early account of alleged presidential abuses puts a new spotlight on the Justice Department's later decision to decline to open a criminal investigation — a decision that the Justice Department said publicly was based purely on an analysis of whether the president committed a campaign finance law violation.

"They didn't do any of the sort of bread-and-butter type investigatory steps that would flush out what potential crimes may have been committed," said Berit Berger, a former federal prosecutor who heads the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. "I don't understand the rationale for that and it's just so contrary to how normal prosecutors work. We have started investigations on far less."

Great article.. So what was "the crime"?? Apparently even BLATANT strong arming of foreign power for favors can be done by just about ANY Congress critter.. Need examples???

I need a crime to give a hoot. Not just some gossip from NBC news...

What was his crime? Haven’t said there was one, yet. That is why it needs to be investigated. And, imo, with holding promised aid in exchange for an investigation into a political rival and the promise of an Oval Office date is as blatant as it gets in strong arming.

What aid was withheld? They weren't discussing aid, they were discussing a purchase of military hardware. Read the transcripts.

.

Duh, it takes money to buy military hardware.

Are you claiming Ukraine doesn't have any money except what we give them?

.

I heard that they gave it all to that hunter dude.

 

[Billiejeens]

My understanding is that it was Javelin missiles that were outside of the 391 million military package

The U.S. aid money was needed to buy Javelin missiles - among other things.

Please supply that link and thank you in advance

Read the transcript of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I'm asking you to provide where the missiles are part of the package....financially.

What "package"? My understanding is that it was MONEY appropriated by Congress. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in the transcript that he was about ready to buy Javelin missiles - then Trump reminded him that a "favor" was required, "though".

Skipping ahead ,what was the favor?

 

[flacaltenn]

Here's your example of hyper partisan hypocrisy in action below for you.. That letter is actually in the Senate.gov archives with the 3 Dem Congress critters signatures on it.. APPARENTLY -- you want to refer them for prosecution as well... AMIRITE???

Here's the Independent "I don't give a flying fuck about Dems or Reps" view on all this.. There are HUNDREDS of things that are highly unethical and seditious that are NOT codified into "House or Senate or Prez Ethics"... And BOTH parties are so severely compromised by playing the loopholes, that NEITHER of them has a leg to stand on with "indignation"... They've been going at this power abuse thingy for so long now -- that EITHER OF THEM can away with anything short of murder. And I wouldn't be surprised if they crossed that bridge in the near future....

Hypocrites: Senate Dems Sent Letter Pressuring Ukraine To Investigate Trump In May 2018


Yes, the very same Democrats who are now supposedly aghast that President Trump asked the president of Ukraine to look into Joe Biden's family corruption, actually sent Ukraine a letter saying "U.S. assistance" was at stake unless the Ukrainian government complied with the bogus special counsel Robert Mueller investigation and conducted their own investigation into the president and his former aid Paul Manafort. Marc Theissen of the Washington Post brought this up yesterday, and after seeing what the president actually said to his call to the newly elected president Volodymyr Zelensky, it looks like the Democrats have nothing but egg on their face.

Here's what Theissen reported Tuesday:

It got almost no attention, but in May, CNN reported that Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) and Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) wrote a letter to Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Yuriy Lutsenko, expressing concern at the closing of four investigations they said were critical to the Mueller probe. In the letter, they implied that their support for U.S. assistance to Ukraine was at stake. Describing themselves as “strong advocates for a robust and close relationship with Ukraine,” the Democratic senators declared, “We have supported [the] capacity-building process and are disappointed that some in Kyiv appear to have cast aside these [democratic] principles to avoid the ire of President Trump,” before demanding Lutsenko “reverse course and halt any efforts to impede cooperation with this important investigation.”

So, it’s okay for Democratic senators to encourage Ukraine to investigate Trump, but it’s not okay for the president to allegedly encourage Ukraine to investigate Hunter Biden?

FYI...
your getting a very biased account by Townhall imo

read the ACTUAL letter sent by the congress critters, it seems NOTHING like your article describes!!! Official business on behalf of the USA vs. Giuliani

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/5-4-18 Menendez joint letter to General Prosecutor of Ukraine on Mueller investigation.pdf

Oh HELL no... I was forced to take time out of my day this week to go FETCH the ACTUAL menendez et al letter and the townhall quotes I bolded are COMPLETELY accurate as is their analysis...

Was there an official investigation by the USA going on in the Ukraine by our government on Hunter Biden, as there was one on Paul Manafort, even previous to him being caught up in Trump;s campaign????

i'm sorry, there is NO comparison in the article's examples

THERE SHOULD BE!!! Unless you only care about "mafia style" (CNN language) shakedowns of foreign govts for personal or political advantage... Biden BRAGGED about this sorry ass move to the CFR on video..

And how it got the Ukraine to fire the prosecutor.. You think he just asked??? And that Senate letter is the same deal.. FIRST PARAGRAPH is a DEMAND for cooperating in a political witchhunt...

Congrats -- you got Manafort in solitary.. But Mad Mouth Waters won't get Trump in solitary as she wants to over something that is just pure "swamp style" abuse of power that has NO LAW to stop it....

 

[Lakhota]

Barr is part of the corruption. The DoJ is broken. The State Department is broken. This administration has a record number of temporary appointees, unconfirmed by a Congress, taken no oath of office, and loyal to Trump personally, not the office of the presidency, the Constitution or the country. Career diplomats suddenly recalled for no reason and replaced by idiots. What is happening now is the tip of the iceberg.


CIA's top lawyer made 'criminal referral' on complaint about Trump Ukraine call


WASHINGTON — Weeks before the whistleblower's complaint became public, the CIA's top lawyer made what she considered to be a criminal referral to the Justice Department about the whistleblower's allegations that President Donald Trump abused his office in pressuring the Ukrainian president, U.S. officials familiar with the matter tell NBC News.

The move by the CIA's general counsel, Trump appointee Courtney Simmons Elwood, meant she and other senior officials had concluded a potential crime had been committed, raising more questions about why the Justice Department later declined to open an investigation.

The phone call that Elwood considered to be a criminal referral is in addition to the referral later received as a letter from the Inspector General for the Intelligence Community regarding the whistleblower complaint.

Justice Department officials said they were unclear whether Elwood was making a criminal referral and followed up with her later to seek clarification but she remained vague.

In the days since the anonymous whistleblower complaint was made public accusing him of wrongdoing, Trump has lashed out at his accuser and other insiders who provided the accuser with information, suggesting they were improperly spying on what was a "perfect" call between him and the Ukrainian president.

But a timeline provided by U.S. officials familiar with the matter shows that multiple senior government officials appointed by Trump found the whistleblower's complaints credible, troubling and worthy of further inquiry starting soon after the president's July phone call.

While that timeline and the CIA general counsel's contact with the Justice Department has been previously disclosed, it has not been reported that the CIA's top lawyer intended her call to be a criminal referral about the president's conduct, acting under rules set forth in a memo governing how intelligence agencies should report allegations of federal crimes.

The fact that she and other top Trump administration political appointees saw potential misconduct in the whistleblower's early account of alleged presidential abuses puts a new spotlight on the Justice Department's later decision to decline to open a criminal investigation — a decision that the Justice Department said publicly was based purely on an analysis of whether the president committed a campaign finance law violation.

"They didn't do any of the sort of bread-and-butter type investigatory steps that would flush out what potential crimes may have been committed," said Berit Berger, a former federal prosecutor who heads the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. "I
While that timeline and the CIA general counsel's contact with the Justice Department has been previously disclosed, it has not been reported that the CIA's top lawyer intended her call to be a criminal referral about the president's conduct, acting under rules set forth in a memo governing how intelligence agencies should report allegations of federal crimes.

The fact that she and other top Trump administration political appointees saw potential misconduct in the whistleblower's early account of alleged presidential abuses puts a new spotlight on the Justice Department's later decision to decline to open a criminal investigation — a decision that the Justice Department said publicly was based purely on an analysis of whether the president committed a campaign finance law violation.

"They didn't do any of the sort of bread-and-butter type investigatory steps that would flush out what potential crimes may have been committed," said Berit Berger, a former federal prosecutor who heads the Center for the Advancement of Public Integrity at Columbia Law School. "I don't understand the rationale for that and it's just so contrary to how normal prosecutors work. We have started investigations on far less."

Great article.. So what was "the crime"?? Apparently even BLATANT strong arming of foreign power for favors can be done by just about ANY Congress critter.. Need examples???

I need a crime to give a hoot. Not just some gossip from NBC news...

What was his crime? Haven’t said there was one, yet. That is why it needs to be investigated. And, imo, with holding promised aid in exchange for an investigation into a political rival and the promise of an Oval Office date is as blatant as it gets in strong arming.

What aid was withheld? They weren't discussing aid, they were discussing a purchase of military hardware. Read the transcripts.

.

Duh, it takes money to buy military hardware.

Are you claiming Ukraine doesn't have any money except what we give them?

.

That's actually irrelevant - because Trumped tied the sale of Javelins to a "favor".

 

[Coyote]

Are you sure about that? They threatened Ukraine? Did they withhold money? Dangle the promise of a state visit?

Trump said they threatened. And in this hyperpartisan age, Trump plays by different rules and is judged by different rules apparently.

Instead of relying on Town Hall’s interpretation, here is the actual letter: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/5-4-18 Menendez joint letter to General Prosecutor of Ukraine on Mueller investigation.pdf

OF COURSE, the TownHall is completely accurate.. Prove it not so... It was a POLITICAL FAVOR backed by BLATANT threats...

Are you ready to indict them yet?? Don't care that you think the Mueller circus is the ONLY investigation that needs to be done.. There are even more insidious political abuses being investigated RIGHT NOW..

I did prove it was inaccurate by linking to the actual letter. There was no political favor being asked. What was being asked was to stop blocking an investigation and what threat was leveled? Be specific please.

The Mueller investigation is over. This new crap is imo, worse. It is Nixonian.

 

[Lakhota]

The U.S. aid money was needed to buy Javelin missiles - among other things.

Please supply that link and thank you in advance

Read the transcript of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I'm asking you to provide where the missiles are part of the package....financially.

What "package"? My understanding is that it was MONEY appropriated by Congress. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in the transcript that he was about ready to buy Javelin missiles - then Trump reminded him that a "favor" was required, "though".

Skipping ahead ,what was the favor?

Dirt on the Bidens.

 

[Billiejeens]

Great article.. So what was "the crime"?? Apparently even BLATANT strong arming of foreign power for favors can be done by just about ANY Congress critter.. Need examples???

I need a crime to give a hoot. Not just some gossip from NBC news...

What was his crime? Haven’t said there was one, yet. That is why it needs to be investigated. And, imo, with holding promised aid in exchange for an investigation into a political rival and the promise of an Oval Office date is as blatant as it gets in strong arming.

What aid was withheld? They weren't discussing aid, they were discussing a purchase of military hardware. Read the transcripts.

.

Duh, it takes money to buy military hardware.

Are you claiming Ukraine doesn't have any money except what we give them?

.

That's actually irrelevant - because Trumped tied the sale of Javelins to a "favor".

Can you describe the supposed favor?

 

[TemplarKormac]

The investigation continues......as if it ever ended....

True. In that sense it is a lot like you all treated Hillary.

So is that what this is all about?

Revenge?

 

[Billiejeens]

Please supply that link and thank you in advance

Read the transcript of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I'm asking you to provide where the missiles are part of the package....financially.

What "package"? My understanding is that it was MONEY appropriated by Congress. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in the transcript that he was about ready to buy Javelin missiles - then Trump reminded him that a "favor" was required, "though".

Skipping ahead ,what was the favor?

Dirt on the Bidens.

It was not.

 

[Billiejeens]

The investigation continues......as if it ever ended....

True. In that sense it is a lot like you all treated Hillary.

So is that what this is all about?

Revenge?

That and keeping Democratics out of prison

 

[Meister]

My understanding is that it was Javelin missiles that were outside of the 391 million military package

The U.S. aid money was needed to buy Javelin missiles - among other things.

Please supply that link and thank you in advance

Read the transcript of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I'm asking you to provide where the missiles are part of the package....financially.

What "package"? My understanding is that it was MONEY appropriated by Congress. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in the transcript that he was about ready to buy Javelin missiles - then Trump reminded him that a "favor" was required, "though".

Just where did you get your understanding.....I keep coming back to that. The wording from Trump was NOT that a favor was "REQUIRED".

 

[OKTexas]

Great article.. So what was "the crime"?? Apparently even BLATANT strong arming of foreign power for favors can be done by just about ANY Congress critter.. Need examples???

I need a crime to give a hoot. Not just some gossip from NBC news...

What was his crime? Haven’t said there was one, yet. That is why it needs to be investigated. And, imo, with holding promised aid in exchange for an investigation into a political rival and the promise of an Oval Office date is as blatant as it gets in strong arming.

What aid was withheld? They weren't discussing aid, they were discussing a purchase of military hardware. Read the transcripts.

.

Duh, it takes money to buy military hardware.

Simple question, were Javelin Anti Tank mussels part of the aid package voted on by congress?

.

No, but the money was. Didn't you read the transcript of Trump's call with the Ukraine president. Javelin's were mentioned.

Yep, I read it, in fact I just quoted exactly what Zelensky said about them.

.

 

[flacaltenn]

Are you sure about that? They threatened Ukraine? Did they withhold money? Dangle the promise of a state visit?

Trump said they threatened. And in this hyperpartisan age, Trump plays by different rules and is judged by different rules apparently.

Instead of relying on Town Hall’s interpretation, here is the actual letter: https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/5-4-18 Menendez joint letter to General Prosecutor of Ukraine on Mueller investigation.pdf

OF COURSE, the TownHall is completely accurate.. Prove it not so... It was a POLITICAL FAVOR backed by BLATANT threats...

Are you ready to indict them yet?? Don't care that you think the Mueller circus is the ONLY investigation that needs to be done.. There are even more insidious political abuses being investigated RIGHT NOW..

I did prove it was inaccurate by linking to the actual letter. There was no political favor being asked. What was being asked was to stop blocking an investigation and what threat was leveled? Be specific please.

The Mueller investigation is over. This new crap is imo, worse. It is Nixonian.

Did you READ THE LETTER... It's exactly as quoted at TownHall.. I BOLDED the threat in TownHall article.. Go back and read it.. Because I don't want to deal with cutting and pasting a PDF if you have a reading comprehension issue...

 

[Lakhota]

The U.S. aid money was needed to buy Javelin missiles - among other things.

Please supply that link and thank you in advance

Read the transcript of Trump's call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

I'm asking you to provide where the missiles are part of the package....financially.

What "package"? My understanding is that it was MONEY appropriated by Congress. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned in the transcript that he was about ready to buy Javelin missiles - then Trump reminded him that a "favor" was required, "though".

Just where did you get your understanding.....I keep coming back to that. The wording from Trump was NOT that a favor was "REQUIRED".

It's called quid pro quo. It will all be spelled out clearly in the articles of impeachment. Stay tuned...

 

[Coyote]

Here's your example of hyper partisan hypocrisy in action below for you.. That letter is actually in the Senate.gov archives with the 3 Dem Congress critters signatures on it.. APPARENTLY -- you want to refer them for prosecution as well... AMIRITE???

Here's the Independent "I don't give a flying fuck about Dems or Reps" view on all this.. There are HUNDREDS of things that are highly unethical and seditious that are NOT codified into "House or Senate or Prez Ethics"... And BOTH parties are so severely compromised by playing the loopholes, that NEITHER of them has a leg to stand on with "indignation"... They've been going at this power abuse thingy for so long now -- that EITHER OF THEM can away with anything short of murder. And I wouldn't be surprised if they crossed that bridge in the near future....

Hypocrites: Senate Dems Sent Letter Pressuring Ukraine To Investigate Trump In May 2018


Yes, the very same Democrats who are now supposedly aghast that President Trump asked the president of Ukraine to look into Joe Biden's family corruption, actually sent Ukraine a letter saying "U.S. assistance" was at stake unless the Ukrainian government complied with the bogus special counsel Robert Mueller investigation and conducted their own investigation into the president and his former aid Paul Manafort. Marc Theissen of the Washington Post brought this up yesterday, and after seeing what the president actually said to his call to the newly elected president Volodymyr Zelensky, it looks like the Democrats have nothing but egg on their face.

Here's what Theissen reported Tuesday:

It got almost no attention, but in May, CNN reported that Sens. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) and Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) wrote a letter to Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Yuriy Lutsenko, expressing concern at the closing of four investigations they said were critical to the Mueller probe. In the letter, they implied that their support for U.S. assistance to Ukraine was at stake. Describing themselves as “strong advocates for a robust and close relationship with Ukraine,” the Democratic senators declared, “We have supported [the] capacity-building process and are disappointed that some in Kyiv appear to have cast aside these [democratic] principles to avoid the ire of President Trump,” before demanding Lutsenko “reverse course and halt any efforts to impede cooperation with this important investigation.”

So, it’s okay for Democratic senators to encourage Ukraine to investigate Trump, but it’s not okay for the president to allegedly encourage Ukraine to investigate Hunter Biden?

FYI...
your getting a very biased account by Townhall imo

read the ACTUAL letter sent by the congress critters, it seems NOTHING like your article describes!!! Official business on behalf of the USA vs. Giuliani

https://www.foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/5-4-18 Menendez joint letter to General Prosecutor of Ukraine on Mueller investigation.pdf

Oh HELL no... I was forced to take time out of my day this week to go FETCH the ACTUAL menendez et al letter and the townhall quotes I bolded are COMPLETELY accurate as is their analysis...

Was there an official investigation by the USA going on in the Ukraine by our government on Hunter Biden, as there was one on Paul Manafort, even previous to him being caught up in Trump;s campaign????

i'm sorry, there is NO comparison in the article's examples

THERE SHOULD BE!!! Unless you only care about "mafia style" (CNN language) shakedowns of foreign govts for personal or political advantage... Biden BRAGGED about this sorry ass move to the CFR on video..

And how it got the Ukraine to fire the prosecutor.. You think he just asked??? And that Senate letter is the same deal.. FIRST PARAGRAPH is a DEMAND for cooperating in a political witchhunt...

Congrats -- you got Manafort in solitary.. But Mad Mouth Waters won't get Trump in solitary as she wants to over something that is just pure "swamp style" abuse of power that has NO LAW to stop it....

Strong-arming a foreign leader into investigating a political rival and using your office to withhold aid and dangling the promise of an Oval Office visit to soften it is corruption plain and simple, and if it proves true, it is serious.

 

[flacaltenn]

The investigation continues......as if it ever ended....

True. In that sense it is a lot like you all treated Hillary.

So is that what this is all about?

Revenge?

That and keeping Democratics out of prison

They KNOW the news cycle for the next 2 months is gonna reveal a lot of MORE serious wrong-doings. They are hoping to find ANYTHING to derail the onslaught of bad deeds that will be revealed....