How far is too far? The Trump impeachment debate begins now.

[babylonsister]

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/the-administration/329654-its-time-to-seriously-explore-trumps-financial-ties#.WPi8UDY5Lco.facebook

How far is too far? The Trump impeachment debate begins now.
By Brent Budowsky, opinion contributor - 04/20/17 09:20 AM EDT

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The Trumps are running the White House like the epicenter of a family business, while the president keeps quiet on his tax returns after repeatedly promising during the campaign to release them and his White House visitor logs. All of this after criticizing President Obama for not releasing enough about his past!

The Washington Post, New York Times and other news outlets have published long, detailed stories describing rampant conflicts of interest involving Trump and his administration.

Isn't it amazing how many close advisors to Trump have had meetings with Russians, including agents of influence and bankers associated with Vladimir Putin? Was there collusion or coordination between Russians and the Trump campaign? Does Trump have business interests or loans tied to Russia or other unfriendly nations that influence his decisions as president?

Trump, who offered phony populism throughout his campaign, has created an administration that is the height of crony capitalism, insider transactions, conflicts of interests and "pay for play". Compared to Trump, Bill and Hillary Clinton look like St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Theresa.

The Senate Intelligence Committee should subpoena Trump's tax returns to determine whether Trump has business interests with Russia, China or other foreign nations that could influence his decisions as president.

Senate Democrats should demand that, before any tax reform is enacted, there must be full disclosure of Trump's tax returns and business interests to determine whether the president is pushing tax laws that benefit him financially.

Our Founding Fathers believed in a presidency that should never be used for personal financial gain for the president or his family. I am not today calling for the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Trump, but I am suggesting that Professor Lichtman is right: America should now begin a serious debate about how far is too for the leader of the land of the free and the home of the brave.

[brooklynite]

1. Is the purpose of this debate to acquit Donald Trump?

Because, in the eyes of ordinary voters, that's what would happen. There wouldn't be the 2/3 of the Senate ready to convict him, so he'd be "vindicated".

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. The case is huge enough that tRump will become toxic even to Republicons

McCONnell might hold out longest because he is heavily involved: corruption, wife's appointment to cabinet, obstructing case-building and public hearings, stolen SCotUS seat, involvement in 2016 before the election (turning a blind eye at least and probably much worse).

[notdarkyet]

5. The pressure needs to be applied to Repubs who are ignoring all the wrong doing, possible crimes

And rampant corruption. They have allowed our country, our democracy and our reputation in the world to become, sullied, tarnished and a joke. If they refuse to act, they all are complicit, and their names will go down in history as the greedy, selfish bastards that destroyed America. Happy Earth day! Let's hope she survives the insanity prevalent in our country.

[Kablooie]

10. Yes. If he is tried without sufficient, objective evidence he will skip free.

So far there is a hell of a lot of smoke but the documented evidence needed to convict him is not available. It may exist within intelligence circles but until they deem it worthy to release it's of no use.

Since Republicans are in the majority, and they will do everything they can to scuttle evidence, the only way to approach this is to have so much documented evidence out in the public that the Republicans could be guilty of obstruction of justice if they try to go against it.

Until that point it would be futile to try to impeach him because a failure to impeach would only increase his hold on the presidency.

[gordianot]

2. Trump is a life long criminal who has had enough money for legal defense.

Taking advantage of the system he now is in a position to suppress your rights. Trump should have blipped somebody's radar decades ago when he went broke he should have stayed broke.

[Nitram]

8. His money won't be any help in a legal defense before Congress.

If we can turn enough Repubs by tarring them with the Trump brush, his ass is grass.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. The stolen election was by Republican TICKET. No Pres. Pence.

We will need lots of heavy duty Constitutional lawyering because this is uncharted territory with few if any real contingencies for this.

When it is proven that the election was stolen, the rightful President is the Majority winner Hillary Clinton.

If tRump resigns before the case is proven, Pence takes over, but his ticket and the Republican Electoral College win would by rights be erased and Hillary Clinton inaugurated when the case is proven.

[L. Coyote]

6. K & R

[ancianita]

7. No debate from me. Agent Orange failed so many litmus tests, a special prosecutor needs to get his

returns released, his assets frozen and passport suspended; he should be indefinitely detained, then jailed depending on the the info therein.

A collective sigh will come from Western allies when a special prosecutor is appointed.

[Achilleaze]

9. k & r

[world wide wally]

11. He has already gone much too far but America is too brain dead to say anything let alone act on it

Hopefully he can be arrested for treason soon.