House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff began the proceedings with a solemn statement recounting the events that sparked the impeachment inquiry.
Ambassador Bill Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent, the two bureaucrats selected by Schiff to kick off the public impeachment hearings also failed to deliver much drama.
Comment: So much like the Mueller investigation into "Russian collusion" this whole exercise in political witchuntery looks to be like much ado about nothing.
Taylor and Kent began their statements recounting the history of diplomacy in the United States as well as the history of Ukraine and their lengthy careers of public service.
Both bureaucrats expressed their concerns about the president's actions in Ukraine but proved that they were frequently alarmed and concerned but mostly did not have knowledge of the president's motives.
Taylor read his 20-page opening statement, even admitting that although it was lengthy, he hoped Americans would recognize the importance of Ukraine in future diplomatic efforts.
Taylor said one of his staff claimed to overhear European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland discussing "the investigations" in a phone call with the president.
No members of Congress were allowed to interrupt the opening of the hearing with questions as the two diplomats droned on recounting their previously released public testimonies about the case.
Through a parliamentary inquiry, House Republicans successfully tripped up Rep. Adam Schiff to claim that he did not know the identity of the so-called "whistleblower," despite reports that his committee had met with him prior to his claim.
Comment: Tripping up Adam Schiff is not very hard to do. He is a pathological liar and has shown himself willing to go to great lengths to get Trump:
- 'Schiffty' in the hot seat: 135 House Republicans co-sponsor resolution to censure Schiff over 'parody' reading of Trump-Zelensky call
- Former NSC Chief Fleitz: Schiff 'broke' rules, 'should recuse himself from impeachment inquiry'
- Republican John Ratcliffe: Schiff is running a corrupt process to overthrow Trump
- Fiona Hill: Schiff's top witness, connected to Soros and the Deep State
- NSC Official Tim Morrison tells Schiff there was nothing illegal in Trump-Zelensky call
President Trump shared a White House video on Twitter labeling the entire process as a "swamp" derived hoax.
Reader Comments
Hard to argue with Swanson here. What a cynical side-show!
"If the purpose were to remove Trump from office, the H ouse would have long since impeached him for numerous abuses that are beyond dispute , things like the emoluments violations, incitement of violence, interference with voting rights, discrimination on the basis of religion, illegal wars and threats of wars, abuses of the pardon power, obstruction of justice, politicization of prosecutions, drone murders, support of coup attempts in Venezuela and Bolivia, intentional exacerbation of climate collapse, collusion with Israel against the United States, separation of children from families, tax fraud, repression of freedom of the press, unconstitutional declarations of emergencies, etc. "
Without picking on all of these, the glaring problem here is "beyond dispute." 0 evidence provided, mind you, but it is beyond dispute that there are impeachable offenses aplenty, apparently. Good grief. I don't see it. I mean, incitement of violence is impeachable???, what does that even mean? How was it incited and TDS much? Also,separation of children from families, assuming that's what happens in instances where we aren't sure if this is just using and abusing children for the purposes of coyotes and human smugglers at the US border, which happens, and is documented, is it impeachable? Exacerbation of climate collapse? Really? What? What is climate collapse? Repression of Freedom of the Press? Obstruction? What obstruction? If they had that I think it'd be obvious, but so far just a nice meatless nothing burger. Not hard to argue with... Seems like more noise from the 'Trump bad' circus to me.... disguised as a way to, maybe, break up the old Dem guard in favor of more" progressive" radicals. Yikes