Turley warns Congress on impeachment for ‘obstruction’: ‘It’s your abuse of power’

[Counselor706]

George Washington University professor Jonathan Turley testified before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that the Democrats’ effort to accuse President Donald Trump of obstruction was an “abuse of power.”

Turley pointed out that the president was being accused of “obstruction” merely for availing himself of the rights he had to approach the courts, both to protect the powers of the executive and to protect his own particular interests.

Only if the president defied the courts, after appealing to higher courts, would that be “obstruction.” He concluded:

I can’t emphasize this enough, and I’ll say it just one more time. If you impeach a president, if you make a “high crime and misdemeanor” out of going to the courts, it is an abuse of power. It’s your abuse of power. You’re doing precisely what you’re criticizing the president for doing. We have a third branch that deals with conflicts of the other two branches. And what comes out of there and what you do with it is the very definition of legitimacy.

Source

 

[HisArpy]

They are high on the thought that they have finally got him now. That high is interfering with their ability to think and reason clearly.



Not that they ever did.

 

[Tigersman]

Trump has been using "Executive privilege" to obstruct justice. The Constitution does NOT mention executive privilege. He has also told all of his cabinet to ignore lawful subpoenas issued by the House. All this is "Obstruction of Justice".

 

[bellisarius]

Trump has been using "Executive privilege" to obstruct justice. The Constitution does NOT mention executive privilege. He has also told all of his cabinet to ignore lawful subpoenas issued by the House. All this is "Obstruction of Justice".

Idiot.

 

[Ramone45]

Professor Turley is correct, despite the fact that this was another partisan shit show.

 

[icanhelp1]

Idiot.

It's amazing how people just make shit up!!! Attention to detail is not a strong suit on lit. They haphazardly lump everything into one basket.

 

[bellisarius]

It's amazing how people just make shit up!!! Attention to detail is not a strong suit on lit. They haphazardly lump everything into one basket.

In the end I'm happy to see them continue the carnival for several reasons.

The first being that Pelosi might not even be able to get the votes to pass any articles of impeachment on to the senate. Not surprisingly this hearing hasn't helped their cause at all, public opinion is still moving in the opposite direction. Add to that Trump has been buying up ad time in those swing districts mocking the democrats for doing nothing. Pelosi's MO in the past has been to punish the mavericks by making certain their districts don't receive any Federal goodies. And that is going to play right into the republicans hands as well.

But let's assume she can muster enough votes. When the trial in the senate gets going the public is going to wonder exactly who's on trial. If Biden thinks his campaign in in trouble now you ain't seen nothing yet. Just raising the probability that Biden engaged in corruption in his Ukraine dealings yields two benefits. Firstly it shows that Trump had probable cause to ask for an investigation, thus vindicating him. Secondly it puts the final torpedo in Biden's campaign efforts. And you can bet your sweet ass that Torey and Bloomberg are gong to jump on the "sink Biden" bandwagon.

Finally, once it goes to the senate Pelosi et al become political non-entities and anything they might possibly get down next session will only enure to Trump's credit.

Short of Trump doing something incredibly stupid I see no way out for the dems.

 

[phrodeau]

The only person saying that Biden had corrupt dealings in Ukraine is Trump. Everyone else is only quoting him.

 

[Adre]

Meanwhile, back in the fact-based universe, Barr’s handpicked legal eagle John Durham totally debunks another batshit crazy rightwing conspiracy theory. No, the Russia investigation was not a Deep State setup. Sorry, GB RWCJ, put your tinfoil hats back on and go dream up another bullshit story defaming the FBI or CIA.

 

[Ramone45]

The only person saying that Biden had corrupt dealings in Ukraine is Trump. Everyone else is only quoting him.

His dolt of a son just happened to get a job at Burisma based solely on his extensive expertise in the energy sector?

 

[bellisarius]

His dolt of a son just happened to get a job at Burisma based solely on his extensive expertise in the energy sector?

Biden's own mouth has raised the specter. The partisan press is carrying water for him on this issue.

 

[Rightguide]

Meanwhile, back in the fact-based universe, Barr’s handpicked legal eagle John Durham totally debunks another batshit crazy rightwing conspiracy theory. No, the Russia investigation was not a Deep State setup. Sorry, GB RWCJ, put your tinfoil hats back on and go dream up another bullshit story defaming the FBI or CIA.

When did Durham make that comment?

 

[bellisarius]

When did Durham make that comment?

It's a leak from Horowitz's office.

More BS from the press.

 

[Rightguide]

It's a leak from Horowitz's office.

More BS from the press.

What I thought, most likely from one of the named principles in his report or their lawyers.

 

[phrodeau]

His dolt of a son just happened to get a job at Burisma based solely on his extensive expertise in the energy sector?

If there’s evidence to suspect wrongdoing, put the FBI on it. Not make a foreign government investigate under coercion. Americans first!

 

[KeithD]

Trump has been using "Executive privilege" to obstruct justice. The Constitution does NOT mention executive privilege. He has also told all of his cabinet to ignore lawful subpoenas issued by the House. All this is "Obstruction of Justice".

Turley wasn't too in tune with the obvious. You haven't heard the real witnesses to anything, he indignantly said. Well, no, because Trump won't let them testify. That's a major basis of the obstruction charges, fool. Duh. And Turley calls himself a constitutional lawyer?

 

[Rightguide]

Turley wasn't too in tune with the obvious. You haven't heard the real witnesses to anything, he indignantly said. Well, no, because Trump won't let them testify. That's a major basis of the obstruction charges, fool. Duh. And Turley calls himself a constitutional lawyer?

There is no identified crime. The House has not voted on impeachment articles. The impeachment is unconstitutional and does not follow established historical precedent.