For Dems, Two Is Enough

Let's be clear here. If it were possible for Democrats to bring an article of impeachment for every crime this president has committed since he was sworn in, you'd have to chop down the California Redwoods just to come up with enough paper to put them in writing. Trump's entire administration more closely resembles a criminal enterprise than it does a functioning government. From day one he has shown nothing but contempt for the rule of law. Consider that his shakedown phone call with the Ukrainian president occurred just one day after Robert Mueller publicly testified before Congress. Now that's balls.

But no matter how tempting and justified throwing the kitchen sink at him might be for those who want to see him taken out of the White House in handcuffs, the realty is that there simply wasn't enough support even within the caucus to include more than two articles. While Democrats currently hold 233 seats in the House, not every one of those seats is an automatic yes vote. Nancy Pelosi knows this. She knows she can afford to lose no more than 15 of her members. Hence the need to keep it simple.

Still, the two articles of impeachment that the House Judiciary Committee will almost certainly vote to approve this Thursday are quite significant, and will badly mar Trump. Do not be fooled by the bravado coming from the West Wing. Being only the third president in American history to be impeached will haunt him all the remaining days of his presidency, which hopefully will not extend past January of 2021. Below are the two articles of impeachment.

Article I, Abuse of Power:

Using the powers of his high office, President Trump solicited the interference of a foreign government, Ukraine, in the 2020 United States Presidential election. He did so through a scheme or course of conduct that included soliciting the Government of Ukraine to publicly announce investigations that would benefit his reelection, harm the election prospects of a political opponent, and influence the 2020 United States Presidential election to his advantage. President Trump also sought to pressure the Government of Ukraine to take these steps by conditioning official United States Government acts of significant value to Ukraine on its public announcement of the investigations. President Trump engaged in this scheme or course of conduct for corrupt purposes in pursuit of personal political benefit. In so doing, President Trump used the powers of the Presidency in a manner that compromised the national security of the United States and undermined the integrity of the United States democratic process. He thus ignored and injured the interests of the Nation.

Article II, Contempt of Congress:

The House of Representatives has engaged in an impeachment inquiry focused on President Trump's corrupt solicitation of the Government of Ukraine to interfere in the 2020 United States Presidential election. As part of this impeachment inquiry, the Committees undertaking the investigation served subpoenas seeking documents and testimony deemed vital to the inquiry from various Executive Branch agencies and offices, and current and former officials.

In response, without lawful cause or excuse, President Trump directed Executive Branch agencies, offices, and officials not to comply with those subpoenas. President Trump thus interposed the powers of the Presidency against the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, and assumed to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the "sole Power of Impeachment" vested by the Constitution in the House of Representatives.

That's it, short and sweet. No mention of the Mueller Report or any of the myriad offenses he has committed. But as Kim Wehle correctly pointed out in The Atlantic, "two articles of impeachment are enough to describe how Trump has worked to undermine the American system of government." In fact, I'll go one step further and say they encapsulate perfectly who and what this president is: a morally bankrupt man, who sees the world through the eyes of a mob boss, and who genuinely feels he doesn't have to answer to anybody. He isn't a spoiled brat; he's John Gotti incarnate.

I am under no illusions about what will happen in the Senate trial next month. If more than one or two Republicans vote to convict, I'll be stunned. In fact, given what Trump has done to this party, even finding that many brave souls willing to cross him will be a herculean task. Lisa Murkowski, maybe; Susan Collins, possibly. You can forget about Mitt Romney. He was sitting next to Trump at that White House meeting last month. And like the used-car salesman from hell I accused him of being when he was running against Obama back in 2012, he cares only about his own narrow self interest. He'll deliver one of his "bad president" speeches on the floor, then he'll cowardly vote to acquit like all the others.

But none of that matters. Democrats did what they had to do. This wasn't about politics; had it been, Nancy Pelosi would never have allowed it to go forward. In the end this was about the fate of the country and a rogue president who thinks that every employee of the federal government works for him.

Donald Trump brought this upon himself and regardless of whether or not he is removed from office, future presidents must know that betraying their oath of office is a grave matter that cannot and will not be tolerated.