bipartisanreport--2020-02-03--Trump Admin Abruptly Fires Top VA Official

The chaos of the Trump administration continued to rage this week with the abrupt firing of a top staffer at the Department of Veterans Affairs , which has experienced plenty of departmental turmoil while Donald Trump has remained in the White House .
Now , deputy secretary James Byrne is the one who got ousted , following a botched handling of a House staff member ’ s report of being sexually assaulted at the VA hospital in D.C.
It ’ s unclear what exact role that Byrne may have played in the response , but the now former top official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into someone to take the heat .
In other words , they might be resorting to kicking out fall guys rather than taking the situation seriously .
Byrne was originally confirmed by the Senate in a vote last September — when just eleven Democratic Senators voted the nomination down — but he ’ s now out .
The department ’ s head Robert Wilkie says that the firing , which is effective immediately , was “ due to loss of confidence in Mr. Byrne ’ s ability to carry out his duties.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the sexual assault case : But will this firing actually represent any substantive change in the management ?
Under the Trump-appointed Wilkie , there ’ s little sign of that .
Wilkie personally had a hand in a major failure , when he claimed to House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Mark Takano ( D-Calif. ) that the staff member ’ s claims of sexual assault were “ unsubstantiated.
” The Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael Missal , who actually led the internal agency investigation into the case , flatly refuted Wilkie ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noting in Axios ’ s description that he had “ thoroughly briefed Wilkie and Byrne on the decision ” concluding the investigation , in a letter to Wilkie , Missal wrote : Indeed — the large portion of assault victims whose attackers go uncharged can attest to that .
The same department got rocked by other scandals under its previous chair , David Shulkin , who was actually a holdover from the Obama administration that , for whatever reason , the president initially had fill that position .
Shulkin was ousted after a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d used government money as a vacation fund for his wife , but he claims that he was actually pressured out of the job because of his opposition to Trump administration political appointees ’ push to privatize the VA system .
The chaos has not been limited to this agency .
In the administration ’ s earliest days , it set records for the rate of its senior staff turnover .
One of those fired senior staff members has loomed especially large recently .
In his new book , Trump ’ s former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majorly incriminating details about Trump ’ s scheme to bribe Ukraine .

The chaos of the Trump administration continued to rage this week with the abrupt firing of a top staffer at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has experienced plenty of departmental turmoil while Donald Trump has remained in the White House. Now, deputy secretary James Byrne is the one who got ousted, following a botched handling of a House staff member’s report of being sexually assaulted at the VA hospital in D.C. It’s unclear what exact role that Byrne may have played in the response, but the now former top official seems to at least have been made into someone to take the heat.
In other words, they might be resorting to kicking out fall guys rather than taking the situation seriously. Byrne was originally confirmed by the Senate in a vote last September — when just eleven Democratic Senators voted the nomination down — but he’s now out. The department’s head Robert Wilkie says that the firing, which is effective immediately, was “due to loss of confidence in Mr. Byrne’s ability to carry out his duties.”
Axios adds the following, referring back to the sexual assault case:
‘The White House was disappointed by the way Wilkie and the VA handled the situation, according to three sources close to the situation. Facing pressure from the White House, Wilkie asked for Byrne’s resignation Monday morning.’
But will this firing actually represent any substantive change in the management? Under the Trump-appointed Wilkie, there’s little sign of that.
Wilkie personally had a hand in a major failure, when he claimed to House Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Mark Takano (D-Calif.) that the staff member’s claims of sexual assault were “unsubstantiated.” The Veterans Affairs Inspector General Michael Missal, who actually led the internal agency investigation into the case, flatly refuted Wilkie’s ignorant and incorrect conclusion.
Besides noting in Axios’s description that he had “thoroughly briefed Wilkie and Byrne on the decision” concluding the investigation, in a letter to Wilkie, Missal wrote:
‘Reaching a decision to close the investigation with no criminal charges does not mean that the underlying allegation is unsubstantiated.’
Indeed — the large portion of assault victims whose attackers go uncharged can attest to that.
The same department got rocked by other scandals under its previous chair, David Shulkin, who was actually a holdover from the Obama administration that, for whatever reason, the president initially had fill that position.
Shulkin was ousted after a scandal emerged over claims that he’d used government money as a vacation fund for his wife, but he claims that he was actually pressured out of the job because of his opposition to Trump administration political appointees’ push to privatize the VA system.
The chaos has not been limited to this agency. In the administration’s earliest days, it set records for the rate of its senior staff turnover. One of those fired senior staff members has loomed especially large recently. In his new book, Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton has revealed majorly incriminating details about Trump’s scheme to bribe Ukraine.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-03--Graham Just Threatened The Trump Whistleblower

Donald Trump has been acting as if he has already been acquitted from his criminal activities .
The Republicans only forced a no vote to exclude all witnesses and documentary evidence-making theirs a non-trial trial .
It should not take long for America to see what an unleashed POTUS looks like .
Unfortunately , it will not be pretty .
The GOP waited until that first straight party-line vote was over to launch their attack .
Then , they came out to open up their own investigations .
Senator Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) gave a heads-up warning that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whistleblower and outing him or her .
That struck a death knell for those who understood how much this will rain dire threats down on the whistleblower ’ s head .
The Foreign Relations Committee also planned an investigation into another of Trump ’ s top 2020 candidates , former Vice President Joe Biden .
Graham said to Fox News ’ Sunday Morning Futures : Then , the South Carolina senator went on : ‘ If the whistleblower is a former employee of , associate of , Joe Biden , I think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was working with people on Schiff ’ s staff that wanted to take Trump down a year and a half ago , I think that would be important .
If the Schiff staff people helped write the complaint , that would be important .
We ’ re going to get to the bottom of all of this to make sure this never happens again.
’ ‘ I can prove beyond any doubt that Joe Biden ’ s effort in the Ukraine to root out corruption was undercut because he let his son sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company in the Ukraine and we ’ re not gon na give him a pass on that.
’ Graham summed his speech up with : A number of people in the unique poll knew they were talking about POTUS .
Graham came to the forefront with his assurances in his honey-combed voice .
Regardless of the Republican senator ’ s strong words , he did not have unity in his own party .
He noted that ’ they had no plans to force the party ’ s traditional pathway : “ Let me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect us to do this .
If we don ’ t do it , we ’ re letting you down.
, I guarantee you … .
if the shoe were on the other foot , Democrats would be eating us alive if Republicans had done any of these things.
’ The Mueller Report Adventures : In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page .
These quick , two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people .
Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery .
Interestingly enough , Mueller Bite-Sizes @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Donald Trump has been acting as if he has already been acquitted from his criminal activities. The Republicans only forced a no vote to exclude all witnesses and documentary evidence-making theirs a non-trial trial. It should not take long for America to see what an unleashed POTUS looks like. Unfortunately, it will not be pretty.
The GOP waited until that first straight party-line vote was over to launch their attack. Then, they came out to open up their own investigations. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) gave a heads-up warning that the Senate Intelligence Committee planned on calling the whistleblower and outing him or her. That struck a death knell for those who understood how much this will rain dire threats down on the whistleblower’s head.
The Foreign Relations Committee also planned an investigation into another of Trump’s top 2020 candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden. Graham said to Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures:
‘The Senate Intel committee under Richard Burr has told us that we will call the whistleblower. Why is it important? I want to know how all this crap started.’
Then, the South Carolina senator went on:
‘If the whistleblower is a former employee of, associate of, Joe Biden, I think that would be important. If the whistleblower was working with people on Schiff’s staff that wanted to take Trump down a year and a half ago, I think that would be important. If the Schiff staff people helped write the complaint, that would be important. We’re going to get to the bottom of all of this to make sure this never happens again.’
The tweet began attacking:
Next, Graham said:
‘I’m gonna bring in State Department officials and ask them, ‘Why didn’t you do something about the obvious conflict of interest Joe Biden had? Biden’s effort to combat corruption in the Ukraine became a joke.’
The Senate Judiciary Committee chair Graham said:
‘I can prove beyond any doubt that Joe Biden’s effort in the Ukraine to root out corruption was undercut because he let his son sit on the board of the most corrupt company in the Ukraine and we’re not gonna give him a pass on that.’
Graham summed his speech up with:
‘Senate Intel will deal with the whistleblower, Foreign Relations committee will deal with Joe Biden’s conflict of interest, the Judiciary Committee will deal with all things FISA.’
A number of people in the unique poll knew they were talking about POTUS. Graham came to the forefront with his assurances in his honey-combed voice. Regardless of the Republican senator’s strong words, he did not have unity in his own party. He noted that’they had no plans to force the party’s traditional pathway:
“Let me tell Republicans out there. You should expect us to do this. If we don’t do it, we’re letting you down., I guarantee you …. if the shoe were on the other foot, Democrats would be eating us alive if Republicans had done any of these things.’
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-03--House Democrat Makes ‘State Of The Union’ Announcement

This Wednesday , President Donald Trump is slated to deliver the traditional annual State of the Union address before the U.S. House , and with just days to go , one House Democrat has announced he ’ s bringing a guest whose very presence will serve as a poignant reminder of Trump ’ s failures .
Rep. Gerry Connolly ( D-Va. ) , who serves as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has introduced the Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act , is bringing journalist Jamal Khashoggi ’ s widow Hatice Cengiz , he announced on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reported demand of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself , but Trump has adamantly refused to issue any kind of blanket condemnation of Salman .
‘ Hatice ’ s courage to sit in the House Chamber Tuesday night should serve as a clarion call to the President that no matter how high it goes , Saudi Arabia must be held accountable for the murder of this loving father and fiancée , respected journalist , U.S. resident , my constituent , and reformer .
Congress has acted .
Now too must the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he was killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey .
It didn ’ t take long for the reports to start circulating that the October 2018 execution had been ordered from the highest ranks .
Besides the added wrinkle of the bizarrely outlandish personal relationship that Salman has with Trump ’ s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner — you ’ re not supposed to be palling around with dictators !
— Trump has cited economic concerns in trying to justify refusing to take the Saudis on over Khashoggi ’ s killing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working “ to ensure that , in a very dangerous world , America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm .
Very simply it is called America First !
” In other words , rather than even attempt to confront one of his dictator pals , Trump opted to employ vague platitudes about the supposed danger of the universe or whatever .
And he ’ s backed that up with action — in the time since Khashoggi ’ s murder , Secretary of State Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the country with claims that the sales are in the national interest of the U.S. Connolly ’ s proposed response to the aggression includes a suspension in arms sales to the country for 120 day periods at a time until the country proves that it ’ s in line with basic human rights standards .
The Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act would also demand reports from the intelligence community on Khashoggi ’ s case in particular and Saudi harassment of dissidents in general .
Wednesday , when Khashoggi ’ s widow is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chamber as Trump , is the same day on which Senate Republicans are planning to vote to acquit the president in his Senate impeachment trial , no matter the ample evidence against him .

This Tuesday, President Donald Trump is slated to deliver the traditional annual State of the Union address before the U.S. House, and with just days to go, one House Democrat has announced he’s bringing a guest whose very presence will serve as a poignant reminder of Trump’s failures. Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), who serves as a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and has introduced the Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act, is bringing journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s widow Hatice Cengiz, he announced on Monday. Khashoggi was executed by Saudi authorities on the reported demand of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman himself, but Trump has adamantly refused to issue any kind of blanket condemnation of Salman.
Connolly commented:
‘Hatice’s courage to sit in the House Chamber Tuesday night should serve as a clarion call to the President that no matter how high it goes, Saudi Arabia must be held accountable for the murder of this loving father and fiancée, respected journalist, U.S. resident, my constituent, and reformer. Congress has acted. Now too must the President.’
Khashoggi was a U.S. resident, but he was killed at the Saudi consulate in Turkey. It didn’t take long for the reports to start circulating that the October 2018 execution had been ordered from the highest ranks. Besides the added wrinkle of the bizarrely outlandish personal relationship that Salman has with Trump’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner — you’re not supposed to be palling around with dictators! — Trump has cited economic concerns in trying to justify refusing to take the Saudis on over Khashoggi’s killing.
At one point, Trump flippantly commented:
‘The world is a very dangerous place!.. Our intelligence agencies continue to assess all information, but it could very well be that the Crown Prince had knowledge of this tragic event – maybe he did and maybe he didn’t!’
He added that he’s working “to ensure that, in a very dangerous world, America is pursuing its national interests and vigorously contesting countries that wish to do us harm. Very simply it is called America First!” In other words, rather than even attempt to confront one of his dictator pals, Trump opted to employ vague platitudes about the supposed danger of the universe or whatever. And he’s backed that up with action — in the time since Khashoggi’s murder, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo himself has fast tracked arms sales to the country with claims that the sales are in the national interest of the U.S.
Connolly’s proposed response to the aggression includes a suspension in arms sales to the country for 120 day periods at a time until the country proves that it’s in line with basic human rights standards. The Protection of Saudi Dissidents Act would also demand reports from the intelligence community on Khashoggi’s case in particular and Saudi harassment of dissidents in general.
On Wednesday, the day after Khashoggi’s widow is set to sit in the same Congressional chamber as Trump, Senate Republicans are planning to vote to acquit the president in his Senate impeachment trial, no matter the ample evidence against him.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-03--Dems’ Planned Protest At Trump’s SOTU Revealed

Quite a few members of the House intend to protest against Trump ’ s State of the Union address .
They want him voted out of office .
The House Democratic women will be wearing white as a form of protest and a number of the Democrats will simply not make an appearance at the event .
The vote to impeach or acquit Trump will come after the Senate ’ s trial that was not a trail .
The Democrats were shaken after the Republican-led Senate refused to allow any first-hand witnesses or any documentary evidence into the trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well .
Representative Steve Cohen ( D-TN ) did not attend the previous two State of the Union addresses : He spoke to The Hill about why he made that choice , The Hill reported : Another Democratic Representative Al Green ( D-TX ) has long boycotted the State of the Union and tried to make the House vote on three separate attempts .
He claimed that he was undecided about his choice of Democratic candidate : Representative Lois Frankel ( D-FL ) was a co-chair of the Democratic Women ’ s Caucus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phillips ( D-MN ) has been promoting bipartisanship and try .
to gin up the “ impeachment fever : ” The Democrats have been fighting mad , but they intend to use the State of the Union as a way to protest via their dress , their guests , or being absent .
They wanted to protest where the Republicans were taking the country Lois Frankel ( D-FL ) said : The country will see the Democrats protesting Donald Trump ’ s so-called rigged trial as evidence of their efforts .
The Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had little time to help their party carry them through the various protests .
Six House Democrats boycotted the State of the Union last year .
A full 14 boycotted the event in 2018..
The Dems who boycotted the speech two years in a role included : Pelosi said that she and the president had not talked since Trump announced he intended to pull troops from northern Syria .
That Trump act betrayed a fine , long-term ally .
The Mueller Report Adventures : In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page .
These quick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal English for busy people .
Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery .
Interestingly enough , Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order .

Quite a few members of the House intend to protest against Trump’s State of the Union address. They want him voted out of office. The House Democratic women will be wearing white as a form of protest and a number of the Democrats will simply not make an appearance at the event.
The vote to impeach or acquit Trump will come after the Senate’s trial that was not a trail.
The Democrats were shaken after the Republican-led Senate refused to allow any first-hand witnesses or any documentary evidence into the trial. The party-line results did not serve them well.
Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) did not attend the previous two State of the Union addresses: He spoke to The Hill about why he made that choice, The Hill reported:
‘[I have no attention to] go in a very cold room and hear a bunch of puff and lies.’
Another Democratic Representative Al Green (D-TX) has long boycotted the State of the Union and tried to make the House vote on three separate attempts. He claimed that he was undecided about his choice of Democratic candidate:
‘The things that caused me to stay away have not changed,’
Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL) was a co-chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus. She remarked:
‘I think it’s important to be there. The country is watching. I want them to know that we are there and sending the message that we are fighting back and we’re fighting for the people.’
Freshman Representative Dean Phillips (D-MN) has been promoting bipartisanship and try . to gin up the “impeachment fever:”
‘With all the division in politics right now, I believe the cooperation in Brooklyn Park sends a powerful message on what we can do together to solve problems and restore the American people’s faith in our government.’
The Democrats have been fighting mad, but they intend to use the State of the Union as a way to protest via their dress, their guests, or being absent. They wanted to protest where the Republicans were taking the country Lois Frankel (D-FL) said:
‘Even though we’re sitting down, we’re not taking it sitting down.’
The country will see the Democrats protesting Donald Trump’s so-called rigged trial as evidence of their efforts. The Republican senators carried the majority, but they had little time to help their party carry them through the various protests.
Six House Democrats boycotted the State of the Union last year. A full 14 boycotted the event in 2018.. The Dems who boycotted the speech two years in a role included:
Pelosi said that she and the president had not talked since Trump announced he intended to pull troops from northern Syria. That Trump act betrayed a fine, long-term ally.
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-03--Trump Continues Monday Morning Impeachment Rant

Donald Trump is the revenge King .
Before , there were people on his team that held him in check as best they can , but POTUS has been flaking them off of his administration ASAP .
Now , he has a bunch of minion who when he says “ jump , ” they reply “ on what ?
” Trump complained that the Republicans should listene to him when he said this was an “ impeachment hoaxlz ; Then , POTUS ordered the Republicans in Iowa to do their happy dance , because Trump had just announced “ great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , go out and Caucus today .
Your great Trade Deals with China , Mexico , Canada , Japan , South Korea and more , are DONE .
Great times are coming , after waiting for decades , for our Farmers , Ranchers , Manufacturers and ALL .
Nobody else could have pulled this off !
’ Then , he said MAGA aka “ Make America Great Again : ” He must have liked this version better : Then , the Revenge King went after his whistleblower.
” Twitter world went wild .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ below : The Mueller Report Adventures : In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page .
These quick , two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people .
Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery .
Interestingly enough , Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order .

Donald Trump is the revenge King. Before, there were people on his team that held him in check as best they can, but POTUS has been flaking them off of his administration ASAP. Now, he has a bunch of minion who when he says “jump,” they reply “on what?”
Trump complained that the Republicans should listene to him when he said this was an “impeachment hoaxlz;
‘I hope Republicans & the American people realize that the totally partisan Impeachment Hoax is exacty (sic) that, a Hoax. Read the Transcripts, listen to what the President & Foreign Minister of Ukraine said (“No Pressure”). Nothing will ever satisfy the Do Nothing, Radical Left Dems!’
Then, POTUS ordered the Republicans in Iowa to do their happy dance, because Trump had just announced “great trade deals.”
‘Republicans in Iowa, go out and Caucus today. Your great Trade Deals with China, Mexico, Canada, Japan, South Korea and more, are DONE. Great times are coming, after waiting for decades, for our Farmers, Ranchers, Manufacturers and ALL. Nobody else could have pulled this off!’
Then, he said MAGA aka “Make America Great Again:”
‘MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!’
He must have liked this version better:
‘KEEP AMERICA GREAT!’
Then, the Revenge King went after his whistleblower.”
‘Where’s the Whistleblower? Where’s the second Whistleblower? Where’s the Informer? Why did Corrupt politician Schiff MAKE UP my conversation with the Ukrainian President??? Why didn’t the House do its job? And sooo much more!’
Twitter world went wild. Check out some of our favorite responses below:
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-03--House Dems Deliver Fierce Monday Closing Trial Arguments

This Monday morning , the final stretch of President Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial kicked off with fiercely direct closing arguments from House impeachment case managers .
Although the Republican majority in the Senate and the party ’ s many past capitulations to Trump essentially lock in an acquittal for the president when the final vote is taken on Wednesday afternoon , over the weekend on Face The Nation , lead case manager ( and House Intel Committee Chairman ) Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) pointed out that Dems have still managed some wins thanks to the chance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , case co-manager Rep. Jason Crow ( D-Colo. ) spoke first and tied the question of whether or not to rule the president guilty to the duty that Senators are supposed to be fulfilling in the chamber to begin with .
Meanwhile , Crow also pointed out that impeachment is meant as “ a tool only to be used in rare instances of grave misconduct , ” and that ’ s exactly what ’ s transpired ahead of these proceedings via the president ’ s plot to bribe Ukraine into investigating his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theories about the Bidens and Democrats in general that underlined Trump ’ s attempt to get Ukraine to launch investigations .
Crow asked : Fellow impeachment case manager Rep. Val Demings ( D-Fl . )
spoke next .
She discussed the huge scope of the president ’ s plot not just to carry out that initial abuse of power but also to obstruct any attempts at investigating his behavior and holding him accountable .
Although a couple of Republicans broke with the party line and voted last week in favor of hearing from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close , that wasn ’ t enough for a necessary majority in favor of witnesses , and there ’ s no indication that any Republican Senators plan to break with the party again and vote to declare the president guilty on Wednesday .
Meanwhile , a few moderate Democratic Senators , including Arizona ’ s Kyrsten Sinema , West Virginia ’ s Joe Manchin , and Alabama ’ s Doug Jones have been reported to be not immediately sure of which way they ’ ll vote on Wednesday .
The impeachment is already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Trump campaign has featured impeachment in a very large portion of their ads , and there ’ s no sign that Trump is going to stop trying to drive home his poor me response to the proceedings as November gets closer .
In the meantime , the first official votes will be tallied on Monday at the Iowa caucuses .

This Monday morning, the final stretch of President Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial kicked off with fiercely direct closing arguments from House impeachment case managers. Although the Republican majority in the Senate and the party’s many past capitulations to Trump essentially lock in an acquittal for the president when the final vote is taken on Wednesday afternoon, over the weekend on Face The Nation, lead case manager (and House Intel Committee Chairman) Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) pointed out that Dems have still managed some wins thanks to the chance to make their case publicly.
On Monday, case co-manager Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) spoke first and tied the question of whether or not to rule the president guilty to the duty that Senators are supposed to be fulfilling in the chamber to begin with.
He commented:
‘Today you have a duty to perform, with fidelity, not without a sense of surrounding dangers, but also not without hope. I submit to you on behalf of the House of Representatives that your duty demands you convict President Trump.’
That’s pretty direct!
Schiff added a similar comment, sharing:
‘Donald Trump has betrayed his oath to protect and defend the Constitution. But it is not too late for us to honor ours, to wield our power to defend our democracy.’
Schiff: "Donald Trump has betrayed his oath to protect and defend the Constitution. But it is not too late for us to honor ours, to wield our power to defend our democracy." — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 3, 2020
Meanwhile, Crow also pointed out that impeachment is meant as “a tool only to be used in rare instances of grave misconduct,” and that’s exactly what’s transpired ahead of these proceedings via the president’s plot to bribe Ukraine into investigating his opponents.
Crow also discussed the conspiracy theories about the Bidens and Democrats in general that underlined Trump’s attempt to get Ukraine to launch investigations. Crow asked:
‘How many falsehoods can we take? When will it be one too many?’
Fellow impeachment case manager Rep. Val Demings (D-Fl.) spoke next. She discussed the huge scope of the president’s plot not just to carry out that initial abuse of power but also to obstruct any attempts at investigating his behavior and holding him accountable.
She pointed out:
‘Even as President Trump has orchestrated this cover-up and obstructed Congress’s impeachment inquiry, he remains unapologetic, unrestrained, and intent on continuing his sham to defraud our elections… President Trump’s Constitutional crimes, his crimes against the American people and the nation remain in progress.’
Although a couple of Republicans broke with the party line and voted last week in favor of hearing from witnesses before the trial wound to a close, that wasn’t enough for a necessary majority in favor of witnesses, and there’s no indication that any Republican Senators plan to break with the party again and vote to declare the president guilty on Wednesday. Meanwhile, a few moderate Democratic Senators, including Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema, West Virginia’s Joe Manchin, and Alabama’s Doug Jones have been reported to be not immediately sure of which way they’ll vote on Wednesday.
The impeachment is already looming large ahead of the 2020 elections. The Trump campaign has featured impeachment in a very large portion of their ads, and there’s no sign that Trump is going to stop trying to drive home his poor me response to the proceedings as November gets closer. In the meantime, the first official votes will be tallied on Monday at the Iowa caucuses.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Trump Devolves Into Crap During Uneducated Online Rant

Trump only mentioned those he believed to be of any risk to him .
The day of the important Iowa caucuses , he started off indicating that the Democratic National Committee ( DNC ) was going to swift-boat 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders : ‘ THE DNC ON BERNIE SANDERS , “ LOOKS LIKE THEY ’ RE GOING TO DO IT TO HIM AGAIN , DOESN ’ T IT ?
” @ STEVEDOOCY @ FOXANDFRIENDS ’ In the strangely solitary tweet , Trump went after Sanders , but why did he tweet just once ?
Maybe , it was due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Super Bowl winners brought it home in an exciting game after 50 years roaming the desert of no-wins , according to The Sports Illustrated magazine : ‘ CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS ON A GREAT GAME , AND A FANTASTIC COMEBACK , UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE .
YOU REPRESENTED THE GREAT STATE OF KANSAS AND , IN FACT , THE ENTIRE USA , SO VERY WELL .
OUR COUNTRY IS PROUD OF YOU !
’ Someone must have whispered in the president ’ s ear , because Trump changed it to : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ON A GREAT GAME AND A FANTASTIC COMEBACK UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE .
WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND THE GREAT STATE OF MISSOURI .
YOU ARE TRUE CHAMPIONS !
’ Former New York mayor and presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg wrote :

Trump only mentioned those he believed to be of any risk to him. The day of the important Iowa caucuses, he started off indicating that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) was going to swift-boat 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders:
‘THE DNC ON BERNIE SANDERS, “LOOKS LIKE THEY’RE GOING TO DO IT TO HIM AGAIN, DOESN’T IT?” @STEVEDOOCY @FOXANDFRIENDS’
In the strangely solitary tweet, Trump went after Sanders, but why did he tweet just once? Maybe, it was due to his gross mistake Sunday, saying the Super Bowl winners brought it home in an exciting game after 50 years roaming the desert of no-wins, according to The Sports Illustrated magazine:
‘CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS ON A GREAT GAME, AND A FANTASTIC COMEBACK, UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE. YOU REPRESENTED THE GREAT STATE OF KANSAS AND, IN FACT, THE ENTIRE USA, SO VERY WELL. OUR COUNTRY IS PROUD OF YOU!’
Someone must have whispered in the president’s ear, because Trump changed it to:
‘CONGRATULATIONS TO THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS ON A GREAT GAME AND A FANTASTIC COMEBACK UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE. WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND THE GREAT STATE OF MISSOURI. YOU ARE TRUE CHAMPIONS!’
Former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill Twitter bombed him:
“IT’S MISSOURI YOU STONE COLD IDIOT.’
Former New York mayor and presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg wrote:


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Republican Tries Racist Statue Removal Stunt W/ Dems

A Republican state legislator in Virginia got a wakeup call last week when , on Friday , the Democratic majority on the House Rules Committee flatly rejected his request to cancel a bill that he had filed to demand the removal of a statue of Democrat Harry Byrd , who served as both a U.S .
Senator and a governor of the state and was a segregationist who fought against racial integration in schools .
The Republican legislator , Wendell Walker , says that he originally introduced the bill demanding his statue ’ s removal out of political animosity after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of racist Confederate leaders .
The thing is — Democrats actually liked the idea of removing a statue of Byrd while taking care of monuments to figures like Robert E. Lee as well .
Now , after he ’ s apparently cowered at his accidental stumble into an area on which there could be bipartisan work , Walker says that he actually thinks it ’ s supposedly important to keep statues of racists like Byrd up .
At least he ’ s not pretending otherwise anymore !
Originally , after — as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the state ’ s Governor Ralph Northam had “ made remarks about his support for allowing local governments to remove Confederate monuments as well as creating a commission to recommend a replacement of the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that Virginia contributed to the U.S. Capitol ground , ” Walker insisted : But now , he ’ s stuck with the bill that he filed in place .
State House Majority Leader Charniele Herring ( D ) has requested that Walker speak before the House Rules Committee about his request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparently did not expect would attract support from Democrats .
Statues have been looming large in the U.S. political scene for quite some time at this point .
The on paper reason for the massive gathering of white supremacists in Charlottesville , Virginia , that culminated in the murder of a counterprotester was to protest the planned removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee .
President Donald Trump himself has spoken out in support of those demonstrators and others pushing for the preservation of racist statues .
In August of 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments… the beauty that is being taken out of our cities , towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced !
’ America likely will be just fine without a few extra statues of racists lying around !

A Republican state legislator in Virginia got a wakeup call last week when, on Friday, the Democratic majority on the House Rules Committee flatly rejected his request to cancel a bill that he had filed to demand the removal of a statue of Democrat Harry Byrd, who served as both a U.S. Senator and a governor of the state and was a segregationist who fought against racial integration in schools.
The Republican legislator, Wendell Walker, says that he originally introduced the bill demanding his statue’s removal out of political animosity after state Democrats planned the removal of monuments of racist Confederate leaders. The thing is — Democrats actually liked the idea of removing a statue of Byrd while taking care of monuments to figures like Robert E. Lee as well. Now, after he’s apparently cowered at his accidental stumble into an area on which there could be bipartisan work, Walker says that he actually thinks it’s supposedly important to keep statues of racists like Byrd up. At least he’s not pretending otherwise anymore!
Walker admitted, discussing his bill:
‘The reason I put that in was more of a political reason… I think history is very important, whether it’s good, bad or ugly. I was not willing to allow the governor to have the opportunity to remove statues.’
Originally, after — as the Lynchburg-area paper The News & Advance explained — the state’s Governor Ralph Northam had “made remarks about his support for allowing local governments to remove Confederate monuments as well as creating a commission to recommend a replacement of the statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that Virginia contributed to the U.S. Capitol ground,” Walker insisted:
‘If we’re going to do this, then I’m going to request to remove the Harry Byrd statue. He was a Democrat and advocated for Massive Resistance.’
But now, he’s stuck with the bill that he filed in place. State House Majority Leader Charniele Herring (D) has requested that Walker speak before the House Rules Committee about his request to withdraw the bill, which he apparently did not expect would attract support from Democrats.
Herring commented:
‘I thought he was serious and had a reason for taking the statue down, and so he put in a bill in good faith.’
Statues have been looming large in the U.S. political scene for quite some time at this point. The on paper reason for the massive gathering of white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia, that culminated in the murder of a counterprotester was to protest the planned removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee.
President Donald Trump himself has spoken out in support of those demonstrators and others pushing for the preservation of racist statues.
In August of 2017, he rambled on Twitter:
‘Sad to see the history and culture of our great country being ripped apart with the removal of our beautiful statues and monuments… the beauty that is being taken out of our cities, towns and parks will be greatly missed and never able to be comparably replaced!’
America likely will be just fine without a few extra statues of racists lying around!


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Schiff Delivers Powerful Closing Argument To Senators

This Monday , House Democrats managing the impeachment case against the president delivered their closing arguments in Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial .
After a trial stretching over weeks , not even enough Republicans were even willing to break with the party line to allow witnesses at the trial , and the final vote — when that Republican majority seems slated to acquit the president — is set for Wednesday .
In the meantime , lead case manager and House Intel Chairman Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) delivered a personal appeal to Republican Senators to consider the long-range precedent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — or when — they vote to acquit Trump .
Directly addressing the Republicans in the Senate , Schiff commented , referring to Trump : ‘ Truth matters to you .
Right matters to you .
You are decent .
He is not who you are .
History will not be kind to Donald Trump .
I think we all know that .
Not because it will be written by ‘ never Trumpers , ’ but because whenever we have departed from the values of our nation , we have come to regret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the pages of our history .
If you find that the House has proved its case and still vote to acquit , your name will be tied to his with a cord of iron and for all of history .
But if you find the courage to stand up to him , to speak the awful truth to his rank falsehood , your place will be among the Davids who took on Goliath.
’ A handful of GOP Senators have publicly acknowledged that the House has proven their allegations against Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support any kind of subsequent , substantive action against the president in response .
Tennessee ’ s Lamar Alexander is among those who ’ ve employed that argument — he claimed that although he was convinced of the existence of Trump ’ s plot to pressure Ukraine to investigate his opponents , he thought the behavior was simply “ inappropriate.
” Schiff pointed out that half-hearted white flag responses to the truth aren ’ t about to land figures like Alexander on the right side of history .
Alexander had argued that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s behavior in the future because he ’ d have some kind of regret or sense of the consequences of his actions — but there ’ s no real evidence of this .
The Ukraine plot came after years of the Russia investigations targeting the president and his team for their connection to Russian meddling .
Trump just tried a different country .
‘ When the president tries to coerce an ally to help him cheat in our elections and then covers it up , we must say ‘ enough.
’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security and he will do so again .
He has compromised our elections and he will do so again .
You will not change him .
You can not constrain him .
He is who he is .
Truth matters little to him .
What is right matters even less , and decency matters not at all.
’ Voters will get a chance to get that behavior out of office this November .
The voting process of selecting a Democrat to take Trump on is officially getting underway this Monday at the Iowa @ @

This Monday, House Democrats managing the impeachment case against the president delivered their closing arguments in Trump’s Senate impeachment trial. After a trial stretching over weeks, not even enough Republicans were even willing to break with the party line to allow witnesses at the trial, and the final vote — when that Republican majority seems slated to acquit the president — is set for Wednesday. In the meantime, lead case manager and House Intel Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) delivered a personal appeal to Republican Senators to consider the long-range precedent that they’ll be setting if — or when — they vote to acquit Trump.
Directly addressing the Republicans in the Senate, Schiff commented, referring to Trump:
‘Truth matters to you. Right matters to you. You are decent. He is not who you are. History will not be kind to Donald Trump. I think we all know that. Not because it will be written by ‘never Trumpers,’ but because whenever we have departed from the values of our nation, we have come to regret it, and regret is written all over the pages of our history. If you find that the House has proved its case and still vote to acquit, your name will be tied to his with a cord of iron and for all of history. But if you find the courage to stand up to him, to speak the awful truth to his rank falsehood, your place will be among the Davids who took on Goliath.’
Watch:
A handful of GOP Senators have publicly acknowledged that the House has proven their allegations against Trump, but they have not been willing to support any kind of subsequent, substantive action against the president in response. Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander is among those who’ve employed that argument — he claimed that although he was convinced of the existence of Trump’s plot to pressure Ukraine to investigate his opponents, he thought the behavior was simply “inappropriate.” Schiff pointed out that half-hearted white flag responses to the truth aren’t about to land figures like Alexander on the right side of history.
Alexander had argued that the impeachment proceedings would be enough to restrain Trump’s behavior in the future because he’d have some kind of regret or sense of the consequences of his actions — but there’s no real evidence of this. The Ukraine plot came after years of the Russia investigations targeting the president and his team for their connection to Russian meddling. Trump just tried a different country.
Schiff pointed out:
‘When the president tries to coerce an ally to help him cheat in our elections and then covers it up, we must say ‘enough.’ Enough. He has betrayed our national security and he will do so again. He has compromised our elections and he will do so again. You will not change him. You cannot constrain him. He is who he is. Truth matters little to him. What is right matters even less, and decency matters not at all.’
‘[The founding fathers] gave you a remedy, and they meant for you to use it. They gave you an oath, and they meant for you to observe it’ — Adam Schiff ended his impeachment argument with a call for senators to do their duty pic.twitter.com/fWCtjgCvde — NowThis (@nowthisnews) February 3, 2020
Voters will get a chance to get that behavior out of office this November. The voting process of selecting a Democrat to take Trump on is officially getting underway this Monday at the Iowa caucuses.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Man Indicted For Threatening Schiff Blames Fox News

Arizona man Jan Peter Meister ’ s trial over criminal charges stemming from a violent voicemail that he left at the office of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff ( D-Calif. ) apparently is blaming Fox News for his meltdown , according to a court filing from last week in which a portion of his comments to authorities were revealed .
In that filing , authorities ’ summary of their interactions with Meister states : ‘ Meister responded that he watches Fox News and likely was upset at something that he saw on the news .
He stated that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are to blame for the country ’ s political issues .
Meister stated that he likely Goggled [ sic ] the congressman ’ s office number to make the call.
’ Meister has been in custody ahead of his trial , which authorities argued was necessary considering that he “ should be considered a flight risk because of his minimal ties to the community ” and already has a long list of criminal activities .
That includes “ convictions for a 1989 rape as well as another sex offense , a DUI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conduct in 2001 , ” POLITICO notes .
The original incident that sparked his latest charges unfolded all the way back in October , when Meister — who is a registered sex offender and has been arrested numerous times — left an expletive-laden , unhinged , threatening voicemail at Schiff ’ s D.C. office .
When federal agents showed up at his door , after he cursed them ( and Schiff ) out , they discovered illegally held firearms , which sparked their own criminal charge for Meister of illegal possession of firearms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried the “ defense ” of claiming that there ’ s no way that the angry drunk they ’ re representing could have actually carried out his threat of violence against the Congressman .
In November , the attorneys attempted to secure Meister ’ s release with the argument that : ‘ Mr .
Meister is charged with making a drunken phone call in which he threatened a United States Congressman .
Although serious , the congressman lived in Washington , D.C. and Mr. Meister lives in a trailer in Tucson .
Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ability to travel there and there is little evidence he could have carried out his alleged threat.
’ Schiff , who has been accompanied by permanent police details throughout recent months , did not comment on these latest developments , but he has been facing rounds and rounds of sometimes violent criticism from the president himself .
Trump , in a rage over the investigations into his corruption that Schiff has dared to help lead , has even suggested that Schiff ( and other top Democrats ) should be prosecuted for treason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself , is supposed to be punished by death .
In other words , if Fox News airs a violent tweet from the president , and people like Meister are watching — it ’ s a very short way from the president of the United States to violent threats against a top Congressman that warrant a police response .
Voters will have a chance to get that kind of behavior out of the White House this November , when the general elections get underway .

Arizona man Jan Peter Meister’s trial over criminal charges stemming from a violent voicemail that he left at the office of House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) apparently is blaming Fox News for his meltdown, according to a court filing from last week in which a portion of his comments to authorities were revealed.
In that filing, authorities’ summary of their interactions with Meister states:
‘Meister responded that he watches Fox News and likely was upset at something that he saw on the news. He stated that he strongly dislikes the Democrats, and feels they are to blame for the country’s political issues. Meister stated that he likely Goggled [sic] the congressman’s office number to make the call.’
Meister has been in custody ahead of his trial, which authorities argued was necessary considering that he “should be considered a flight risk because of his minimal ties to the community” and already has a long list of criminal activities. That includes “convictions for a 1989 rape as well as another sex offense, a DUI and assault in 2000, and disorderly conduct in 2001,” POLITICO notes.
The original incident that sparked his latest charges unfolded all the way back in October, when Meister — who is a registered sex offender and has been arrested numerous times — left an expletive-laden, unhinged, threatening voicemail at Schiff’s D.C. office. When federal agents showed up at his door, after he cursed them (and Schiff) out, they discovered illegally held firearms, which sparked their own criminal charge for Meister of illegal possession of firearms.
Meister’s legal team has tried the “defense” of claiming that there’s no way that the angry drunk they’re representing could have actually carried out his threat of violence against the Congressman.
In November, the attorneys attempted to secure Meister’s release with the argument that:
‘Mr. Meister is charged with making a drunken phone call in which he threatened a United States Congressman. Although serious, the congressman lived in Washington, D.C. and Mr. Meister lives in a trailer in Tucson. Mr. Meister has no ties to Washington or the ability to travel there and there is little evidence he could have carried out his alleged threat.’
Schiff, who has been accompanied by permanent police details throughout recent months, did not comment on these latest developments, but he has been facing rounds and rounds of sometimes violent criticism from the president himself. Trump, in a rage over the investigations into his corruption that Schiff has dared to help lead, has even suggested that Schiff (and other top Democrats) should be prosecuted for treason, which, according to the Constitution itself, is supposed to be punished by death. In other words, if Fox News airs a violent tweet from the president, and people like Meister are watching — it’s a very short way from the president of the United States to violent threats against a top Congressman that warrant a police response.
Voters will have a chance to get that kind of behavior out of the White House this November, when the general elections get underway.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--AG Barr’s Attorneys Argue Before SCOTUS For Trump

Attorney General ( AG ) William Barr auditioned for his job with a 19-page memo and on Fox News .
That letter just happened to drop in a line that argued a president should never be charged with obstruction of justice .
The man filling Donald Trump ’ s lackey , disbarred attorney Roy Cohn ’ s shoes had arrived .
Barr has not diverted from that rare viewpoint .
Over and over , he has been getting his boss off of the hook , even traveling the globe to do so .
Other attorneys general have recognized that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
Not this man .
It should not have come as any surprise that the Department of Justice ( DOJ ) took that argument all the way to the Supreme Court to keep POTUS ’ financial statements out of the hands of the people .
The DOJ argued against the Manhattan District Attorney ’ s subpoena in its filing submitted Monday , according to the Supreme Court filings : The DOJ continued , saying that the Constitution forbids law enforcement from even investigating the president .
That argument was so far to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell off of the cliff of possibility .
Then , the DOJ claimed that Congress should have exceedingly high barriers to cross before they could get Trump ’ s financial records .
Barr ’ s department referred to congressional committees demanding the president ’ s personal records : The House Oversight and Reform Committees sent out legal subpoenas requesting Trump ’ s personal financial records from his accounting firm , Mazars USA .
Secondly , and the House Intelligence and House Financial Services Committees issued broader subpoenas for personal and business records from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The committees referred to former Special Counselor Robert Muller III investigation into Russia ’ s cyber-attack on America ’ s elections and into money laundering specifically .
At approximately the same time , Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance sent out a subpoena to Mazars for Trump ’ s tax returns and financial records .
The DOJ attorneys continued arguing against subpoenas that would “ permit the committees to reconstruct ” his financial records from a financial institution .
Those would include “ fund transfers , deposits , withdrawals , ” among other records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money laundering ” was just a “ far-reaching public problem , ” according to the Supreme Court : The Mueller Report Adventures : In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page .
These quick , two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people .
Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery .
Interestingly enough , Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order .

Attorney General (AG) William Barr auditioned for his job with a 19-page memo and on Fox News. That letter just happened to drop in a line that argued a president should never be charged with obstruction of justice. The man filling Donald Trump’s lackey, disbarred attorney Roy Cohn’s shoes had arrived.
Barr has not diverted from that rare viewpoint. Over and over, he has been getting his boss off of the hook, even traveling the globe to do so. Other attorneys general have recognized that they worked for the people of this great country. Not this man.
It should not have come as any surprise that the Department of Justice (DOJ) took that argument all the way to the Supreme Court to keep POTUS’ financial statements out of the hands of the people. The DOJ argued against the Manhattan District Attorney’s subpoena in its filing submitted Monday, according to the Supreme Court filings:
‘State grand-jury subpoenas for a sitting President’s personal records pose serious risks to the independent functioning of the Office of the President. State prosecutors could use such subpoenas to harass the President in retaliation for the President’s official policies. Such subpoenas could also subject the President to significant burdens, threatening to divert the President’s time and energy from his singularly important public duties.’
The DOJ continued, saying that the Constitution forbids law enforcement from even investigating the president. That argument was so far to the right of legal opinions, it fell off of the cliff of possibility.
Then, the DOJ claimed that Congress should have exceedingly high barriers to cross before they could get Trump’s financial records. Barr’s department referred to congressional committees demanding the president’s personal records:
‘That use of their limited and implied investigatory powers poses a serious risk of harassing the President and distracting him from his constitutional duties.’
The House Oversight and Reform Committees sent out legal subpoenas requesting Trump’s personal financial records from his accounting firm, Mazars USA. Secondly, and the House Intelligence and House Financial Services Committees issued broader subpoenas for personal and business records from the Deutsche Bank and Capital One.
The committees referred to former Special Counselor Robert Muller III investigation into Russia’s cyber-attack on America’s elections and into money laundering specifically. At approximately the same time, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance sent out a subpoena to Mazars for Trump’s tax returns and financial records.
The DOJ attorneys continued arguing against subpoenas that would “permit the committees to reconstruct” his financial records from a financial institution. Those would include “fund transfers, deposits, withdrawals,” among other records:
‘Together, those documents encompass a constellation of transactions that would permit the committees to reconstruct in detail the President’s financial history with those institutions—including fund transfers, deposits, withdrawals, investments, loans, mortgages, and lines of credits.’
The DOJ continued arguing that “money laundering” was just a “far-reaching public problem,” according to the Supreme Court:
‘To be sure, congressional committees ordinarily have considerable latitude about which private transactions and events to examine,” the department’s filing added. “But committees investigating far-reaching public problems, such as money laundering, do not properly exercise that discretion by making the President the primary target of their inquiries.’
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Kushner Charged With Ethics Violations By Watchdog

Now that the GOP has anointed Donald Trump as its dictator-in-chief , it is impossible to anticipate what he will do next .
After all , he already took us to the edge of rude and crude and fell off of the edge dragging the country behind him .
A quick look at his roaming son-in-law might give us a hint .
An ethics watchdog organization filed a complaint under the Hatch Act against the first son-in-law Jared Kushner .
It indicated that this senior adviser was campaigning for Trump in his 2020 bid for president during a CNN interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear his government hat .
The Hatch Act forbids federal employees from doing just that .
Kushner spoke about his father-in-law ’ s campaign to return to the White House in 2020 .
This was the problem for the ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ( CREW ) .
Crew ’ s Executive Director Noah Bookbinder released a press release that read , according to Axios : Kushner has not been the only one stepping over the do-not-cross line to violate the Hatch Act .
Counselor to the President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last summer .
Watchdog groups urged the president to fire her for : She completely ignored the House Ethics Committee subpoena requesting her presence to testify about other violations .
Donald Trump ignored the request to fire her .
White House officials had not responded to efforts to obtain a comment .
The Mueller Report Adventures : In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page .
These quick , two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people .
Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery .
Interestingly enough , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order .

Now that the GOP has anointed Donald Trump as its dictator-in-chief, it is impossible to anticipate what he will do next. After all, he already took us to the edge of rude and crude and fell off of the edge dragging the country behind him. A quick look at his roaming son-in-law might give us a hint.
An ethics watchdog organization filed a complaint under the Hatch Act against the first son-in-law Jared Kushner. It indicated that this senior adviser was campaigning for Trump in his 2020 bid for president during a CNN interview. The problem was he was invited to wear his government hat.
The Hatch Act forbids federal employees from doing just that. Kushner spoke about his father-in-law’s campaign to return to the White House in 2020. This was the problem for the ethics watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW).
Crew’s Executive Director Noah Bookbinder released a press release that read, according to Axios:
‘Kushner’s blatantly political behavior while acting in his official capacity is a clear violation of the Hatch Act.’
Kushner has not been the only one stepping over the do-not-cross line to violate the Hatch Act. Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway also violated the Hatch Act last summer. Watchdog groups urged the president to fire her for:
‘[For’ disparaging Democratic presidential candidates while speaking in an official capacity during television interviews and on social media.’
She completely ignored the House Ethics Committee subpoena requesting her presence to testify about other violations. Donald Trump ignored the request to fire her.
White House officials had not responded to efforts to obtain a comment.
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Dems Announce Boycott Of Trump’s State Of The Union

This Tuesday , shortly before the Republican majority in the Senate formally votes to acquit him in his ongoing impeachment trial , President Donald Trump will be delivering his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress gathered in the U.S. House chamber .
Seven Congressional Democrats and counting have announced ahead of the event that they ’ ll be skipping the speech as a protest measure against his ongoing volatile and belligerent behavior , which Congressional Republicans have largely refused to work to rein in .
As of early Tuesday afternoon , those who ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Union address include Reps. Maxine Waters ( Calif. ) , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( N.Y. ) , Al Green ( Texas ) , Steve Cohen ( Tenn. ) , Earl Blumenauer ( Ore. ) , Hank Johnson ( Ga. ) and Frederica Wilson ( Fla. ) , all of whom have also boycotted Trump ’ s speeches in the past .
Some of them , like Ocasio-Cortez and Wilson , have also themselves been targeted by the president and his supporters with angry public rants .
For example , in 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ wacky ” after she criticized his behavior towards Gold Star families .
Wilson referenced the incident in her explanation for skipping Trump ’ s speech , insisting that the president is “ too disrespectful toward women , immigrant children , Gold Star families and poor people.
” Green — who was one of the very first members of Congress to come out in support of impeaching Trump — got even more direct .
On Twitter , he commented : Back in 2018 , a full 14 Democrats ended up skipping Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversy raged about his reported dismissal of countries in Africa as “ shithole countries.
” This time around , as of early Tuesday , it ’ s unclear what references that Trump might include to the impeachment process in his speech .
White House press secretary and committed Trump shill Hogan Gidley told reporters : In other words — it appears as though his advisers may have wanted Trump to stay away from impeachment during his remarks , but anyone who ’ s observed the president for any significant amount of time is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veering wildly off script with egomaniacal , campaign rally-style rants .
He has previously used the opportunity of the State of the Union speech to rail against his opponents who have dared to investigate his behavior .
In 2019 , shortly after Democrats became the majority in the House , he railed : Democrats did not exactly heed his call .

This Tuesday, shortly before the Republican majority in the Senate formally votes to acquit him in his ongoing impeachment trial, President Donald Trump will be delivering his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress gathered in the U.S. House chamber. Seven Congressional Democrats and counting have announced ahead of the event that they’ll be skipping the speech as a protest measure against his ongoing volatile and belligerent behavior, which Congressional Republicans have largely refused to work to rein in.
As of early Tuesday afternoon, those who’ve announced boycotts of Trump’s State of the Union address include Reps. Maxine Waters (Calif.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Al Green (Texas), Steve Cohen (Tenn.), Earl Blumenauer (Ore.), Hank Johnson (Ga.) and Frederica Wilson (Fla.), all of whom have also boycotted Trump’s speeches in the past. Some of them, like Ocasio-Cortez and Wilson, have also themselves been targeted by the president and his supporters with angry public rants. For example, in 2017, Trump whined that the Florida Rep. was “wacky” after she criticized his behavior towards Gold Star families.
Wilson referenced the incident in her explanation for skipping Trump’s speech, insisting that the president is “too disrespectful toward women, immigrant children, Gold Star families and poor people.”
Meanwhile, on Twitter, Ocasio-Cortez added:
‘None of this is normal, and I will not legitimize it.’
This is a deeply personal decision for each member to make, and a choice I did not take lightly. I will be hopping on Instagram Live later this evening to connect with my constituents and follow up with their questions about #SOTU. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 4, 2020
Green — who was one of the very first members of Congress to come out in support of impeaching Trump — got even more direct. On Twitter, he commented:
‘Because of an impeached, reckless, ruthless, lawless, shameless, corrupt, & unapologetically bigoted president – who is still engaging in a coverup, the state of the House, the state of the Senate, and the #StateOfTheUnion are divided.’
Because of an impeached, reckless, ruthless, lawless, shameless, corrupt, & unapologetically bigoted president – who is still engaging in a coverup, the state of the House, the state of the Senate, and the #StateOfTheUnion are divided. I will NOT attend #SOTU2020. — Congressman Al Green (@RepAlGreen) February 4, 2020
Rep. Johnson observed:
‘During normal times, I would consider it my duty to attend and hear the President’s agenda for the upcoming year. Unfortunately, these are not normal times.’
This Tuesday is the State of the Union #SOTU2020 address. During normal times, I would consider it my duty to attend and hear the President’s agenda for the upcoming year. Unfortunately, these are not normal times. — Hank Johnson (@ReElectHank) February 3, 2020
Back in 2018, a full 14 Democrats ended up skipping Trump’s State of the Union speech as controversy raged about his reported dismissal of countries in Africa as “shithole countries.” This time around, as of early Tuesday, it’s unclear what references that Trump might include to the impeachment process in his speech. White House press secretary and committed Trump shill Hogan Gidley told reporters:
‘I’ve read through the speech and I’ve not seen the word impeachment. As he likes to say, we’ll see what happens, but I haven’t seen it.’
In other words — it appears as though his advisers may have wanted Trump to stay away from impeachment during his remarks, but anyone who’s observed the president for any significant amount of time is likely very familiar with his penchant for veering wildly off script with egomaniacal, campaign rally-style rants.
He has previously used the opportunity of the State of the Union speech to rail against his opponents who have dared to investigate his behavior. In 2019, shortly after Democrats became the majority in the House, he railed:
‘If there is going to be peace and legislation, there cannot be war and investigation. It just doesn’t work that way! We must be united at home to defeat our adversaries abroad.’
Democrats did not exactly heed his call.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Rand Paul Names Whistleblower During Senate Floor Rant

The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump is drawing to a close this week , and on Tuesday , ardent Trump defender and Republican Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul took the floor to deliver his own closing remarks .
In that brief rant , he named the alleged whistleblower whose complaint to the intelligence community ’ s inspector general helped kickstart the investigation into Trump that culminated in his impeachment .
The facts of Trump ’ s scheme to bribe Ukraine into investigating his domestic opponents are straightforwardly , publicly available ; yet , Paul is still pursuing this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whistleblower anyway .
In his Senate floor commentary that he delivered this Tuesday , Paul featured a question that he ’ d originally written up for the question-and-answer period of the trial last week , which presiding officer U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts refused to read .
Paul names the alleged whistleblower in that question — which this time , he brought printed out on a big posterboard , which he stood next to while he spoke — although he doesn ’ t explicitly insist that the named individual is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s building off a conspiracy theory web developed by pro-Trump media outlets .
‘ I ’ m going to ask that question again this morning because the Constitution does protect debate .
I think they made a big mistake not allowing my question .
My question did not talk about anybody who is a whistleblower , my question did not accuse anybody of being whistleblower , it did not make a statement believing that someone was a whistleblower .
I simply named two people ’ s names because I think it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Paul ’ s question asked if those managing the House ’ s impeachment case were aware of the supposed personal connection of the alleged whistleblower and a House Intelligence Committee staffer , who together were supposedly plotting a way to get Trump impeached .
Paul claimed : ‘ In the first month of Trump ’ s office , in January of 2017 , they were already plotting the impeachment .
And you say ‘ Well , we should protect the whistleblower , and the whistleblower deserves anonymity.
’ The law does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supposed to say anything about him , he ’ s not supposed to be fired .
I ’ m for that.
’ Paul can make a big show out of supposedly not explicitly tying the named individual to the whistleblower all he wants , but the only reason that their name is relevant to anyone is because of the allegations that they filed the complaint revealing Trump ’ s Ukraine bribery scheme , which helped drive the impeachment proceedings .
The president has explicitly threatened those involved in developing the complaint — at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House sources for information should be dealt with like spies used to be , which entails execution .
Paul doesn ’ t care .
At a rally with Trump awhile back , he took the stage and made a public plea for mainstream media outlets to name the alleged whistleblower publicly , but they have not exactly fallen in line with that demand .
Besides , again — the facts outlined in that complaint have since been duly confirmed .

The Senate impeachment trial of President Donald Trump is drawing to a close this week, and on Tuesday, ardent Trump defender and Republican Senator from Kentucky Rand Paul took the floor to deliver his own closing remarks. In that brief rant, he named the alleged whistleblower whose complaint to the intelligence community’s inspector general helped kickstart the investigation into Trump that culminated in his impeachment. The facts of Trump’s scheme to bribe Ukraine into investigating his domestic opponents are straightforwardly, publicly available; yet, Paul is still pursuing this angry and dangerous vendetta against this alleged whistleblower anyway.
In his Senate floor commentary that he delivered this Tuesday, Paul featured a question that he’d originally written up for the question-and-answer period of the trial last week, which presiding officer U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts refused to read. Paul names the alleged whistleblower in that question — which this time, he brought printed out on a big posterboard, which he stood next to while he spoke — although he doesn’t explicitly insist that the named individual is, in fact, the whistleblower. He’s building off a conspiracy theory web developed by pro-Trump media outlets.
Paul complained:
‘I’m going to ask that question again this morning because the Constitution does protect debate. I think they made a big mistake not allowing my question. My question did not talk about anybody who is a whistleblower, my question did not accuse anybody of being whistleblower, it did not make a statement believing that someone was a whistleblower. I simply named two people’s names because I think it’s very important to know what happened.’
Paul’s question asked if those managing the House’s impeachment case were aware of the supposed personal connection of the alleged whistleblower and a House Intelligence Committee staffer, who together were supposedly plotting a way to get Trump impeached. Paul claimed:
‘In the first month of Trump’s office, in January of 2017, they were already plotting the impeachment. And you say ‘Well, we should protect the whistleblower, and the whistleblower deserves anonymity.’ The law does not preserve anonymity. His boss is not supposed to say anything about him, he’s not supposed to be fired. I’m for that.’
Watch:
Paul can make a big show out of supposedly not explicitly tying the named individual to the whistleblower all he wants, but the only reason that their name is relevant to anyone is because of the allegations that they filed the complaint revealing Trump’s Ukraine bribery scheme, which helped drive the impeachment proceedings. The president has explicitly threatened those involved in developing the complaint — at one point, he suggested that White House sources for information should be dealt with like spies used to be, which entails execution.
Paul doesn’t care. At a rally with Trump awhile back, he took the stage and made a public plea for mainstream media outlets to name the alleged whistleblower publicly, but they have not exactly fallen in line with that demand. Besides, again — the facts outlined in that complaint have since been duly confirmed.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--New Hampshire Primary Poll Sets Sanders At #1

Although the Iowa caucuses were marked by chaos and long delays in any official results at all even emerging , the Democratic presidential primary race is marching on .
The first actual paper ballot-driven primary will be unfolding on February 11 in New Hampshire , where a new poll has top national candidate Bernie Sanders with a large , six percent lead over Joe Biden , who currently has just a thin average leading margin over Sanders in national polls .
In New Hampshire , according to the new Boston Globe/WBZ-TV/Suffolk University poll , Sanders captures 24 percent compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s all downhill from there — the only other candidates with double digit levels of support , Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg , received 13 and 11 percent of the support in the poll , respectively .
The Suffolk University Political Research Center ’ s director David Paleologos commented , discussing Sanders ’ s significant lead in the state : The figures mirror Sanders ’ s support elsewhere .
A NBC News entrance poll of Iowa caucusgoers showed 48 percent of those from the ages of 17 to 29 were for Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age bracket was for Biden .
( Some 12 percent of them went for Warren . )
Meanwhile , on the flipside of that , Biden captured the support of a full 34 percent of those 65 or older — while just 5 percent of those in that age bracket supported Sanders .
In other words , younger voters are driving his campaign ’ s success — and in New Hampshire , there ’ s the added benefit of Sanders representing the next door state of Vermont in the U.S. Senate for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters say their minds are made up ahead of the primary , ” the Boston Globe notes , adding that the figure is “ the highest share for any of the top tier of candidates.
” Also adding to Sanders ’ s strong coalition is the fact that , as the paper adds , “ Undeclared voters , or those not affiliated with a party , also heavily favored Sanders , at 30 percent.
” All of the top candidates — along with Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar , who had a seemingly startlingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hosting long lists of campaign events in New Hampshire as primary day approaches .
Sanders in particular will be delivering what his team has billed as a direct response to Trump ’ s State of the Union address , which the president is set to deliver this Tuesday .
Sanders has delivered direct responses before ; this year , the “ official ” one from the Democratic Party will come from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer .
Nationally , most of the top Democratic presidential candidates have consistently strong showings against Trump .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beats Trump by an average of 5.4 percent , Sanders wins by an average of 3.7 percent , Warren wins by an average of 1.8 percent , but Buttigieg currently loses by an average of a margin of less than one percent — which is not a good sign for those hoping for a candidate to convincingly take on Trump .

Although the Iowa caucuses were marked by chaos and long delays in any official results at all even emerging, the Democratic presidential primary race is marching on. The first actual paper ballot-driven primary will be unfolding on February 11 in New Hampshire, where a new poll has top national candidate Bernie Sanders with a large, six percent lead over Joe Biden, who currently has just a thin average leading margin over Sanders in national polls. In New Hampshire, according to the new Boston Globe/WBZ-TV/Suffolk University poll, Sanders captures 24 percent compared to just 18 percent for Biden. It’s all downhill from there — the only other candidates with double digit levels of support, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg, received 13 and 11 percent of the support in the poll, respectively.
The Suffolk University Political Research Center’s director David Paleologos commented, discussing Sanders’s significant lead in the state:
‘In two words: generation and geography. He’s got a 31-point lead over Warren [among younger voters]. That’s really what’s driving his lead… I think there is a lot of fluidity. I think it’s indicative of the fact that you have so many people in the top tier.’
The figures mirror Sanders’s support elsewhere. A NBC News entrance poll of Iowa caucusgoers showed 48 percent of those from the ages of 17 to 29 were for Sanders, while just 3 percent of that age bracket was for Biden. (Some 12 percent of them went for Warren.) Meanwhile, on the flipside of that, Biden captured the support of a full 34 percent of those 65 or older — while just 5 percent of those in that age bracket supported Sanders. In other words, younger voters are driving his campaign’s success — and in New Hampshire, there’s the added benefit of Sanders representing the next door state of Vermont in the U.S. Senate for many years.
“Sixty-four percent of Sanders voters say their minds are made up ahead of the primary,” the Boston Globe notes, adding that the figure is “the highest share for any of the top tier of candidates.” Also adding to Sanders’s strong coalition is the fact that, as the paper adds, “Undeclared voters, or those not affiliated with a party, also heavily favored Sanders, at 30 percent.”
All of the top candidates — along with Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who had a seemingly startlingly strong showing in Iowa — will be hosting long lists of campaign events in New Hampshire as primary day approaches. Sanders in particular will be delivering what his team has billed as a direct response to Trump’s State of the Union address, which the president is set to deliver this Tuesday. Sanders has delivered direct responses before; this year, the “official” one from the Democratic Party will come from Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Nationally, most of the top Democratic presidential candidates have consistently strong showings against Trump. In hypothetical general election match-up polls, Biden beats Trump by an average of 5.4 percent, Sanders wins by an average of 3.7 percent, Warren wins by an average of 1.8 percent, but Buttigieg currently loses by an average of a margin of less than one percent — which is not a good sign for those hoping for a candidate to convincingly take on Trump.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Trump Caught On Video Disrespecting National Anthem

Donald Trump is easily bored , so kudos to First Lady Melania Trump .
His top security advisers noticed this as they tried to read him in on the top-secret developments involved in running this great machine — America .
They tried adding pictures in a desperate attempt to reign in his interest , even resorting to studding them with Trump ’ s name .
Now this .
Leave it to the impeached one to demean that which has been most sacred and moving to patriotic Americans from “ sea to shining sea.
” At the 100th Super Bowl , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ half a century , the president was already bored as patriots stood for our moving national anthem , America The Beautiful .
Then , an Instagram turned up with POTUS standing but fidgeting , pointing his finger , then Trump did an air conducting to invisible marching band .
Those around him stood with their attention focused on one of the few things that unite Americans right now .
As amber waves of grain in song rose to the stars , this is what the president was doing , according to the Miami @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Fox & Friends for an interview , where he said : During the 2019 World Cup , co-captain of the U.S. Women ’ s World Cup team Megan Rapinoe tweeted : Trump has tweeted angry messages about the football star Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the nation ’ s anthem for years .
Kaepernick was silently and powerfully protesting police brutality in the black community .
POTUS claimed he was disrespecting members of the military .
The Lyrics for America The Beautiful are as follows : • Who more than self @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than life !
That sees beyond the years The Mueller Report Adventures : In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page .
These quick , two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people .
Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery .
Interestingly enough , Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order .

Donald Trump is easily bored, so kudos to First Lady Melania Trump. His top security advisers noticed this as they tried to read him in on the top-secret developments involved in running this great machine — America. They tried adding pictures in a desperate attempt to reign in his interest, even resorting to studding them with Trump’s name. Now this.
Leave it to the impeached one to demean that which has been most sacred and moving to patriotic Americans from “sea to shining sea.” At the 100th Super Bowl, where the Kansas City Chiefs won after half a century, the president was already bored as patriots stood for our moving national anthem, America The Beautiful.
Then, an Instagram turned up with POTUS standing but fidgeting, pointing his finger, then Trump did an air conducting to invisible marching band. Those around him stood with their attention focused on one of the few things that unite Americans right now.
As amber waves of grain in song rose to the stars, this is what the president was doing, according to the Miami Courier-Journal:
‘Trump caught mocking the National Anthem during the #SuperBowl. Since we know the GOP takes a zero-tolerance stand against any display of disrespect toward the flag, I expect the right will be offering a full-throated condemnation….Any day now.pic.twitter.com/lMcwYfkPog — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) February 3, 2020’
Trump caught mocking the National Anthem during the #SuperBowl. Since we know the GOP takes a zero-tolerance stand against any display of disrespect toward the flag, I expect the right will be offering a full-throated condemnation. …Any day now.pic.twitter.com/lMcwYfkPog — Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) February 3, 2020
In 2018, Trump appeared on Fox & Friends for an interview, where he said:
‘You have to stand, proudly, for the national anthem or you shouldn’t be playing. You shouldn’t be there. Maybe you shouldn’t be in the country.’
During the 2019 World Cup, co-captain of the U.S. Women’s World Cup team Megan Rapinoe tweeted:
‘Maybe they should try another country that allows them a little more freedom & success?’
Trump has tweeted angry messages about the football star Colin Kaepernick taking a knee during the nation’s anthem for years. Kaepernick was silently and powerfully protesting police brutality in the black community. POTUS claimed he was disrespecting members of the military.
The football player was blackballed.
The Lyrics for America The Beautiful are as follows:
Oh, beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea. Oh, beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress A thoroughfare of freedom beat Across the wilderness! America! America! God mend thine ev’ry flaw, Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law. Oh, beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness, And ev’ry gain divine. Oh, beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years Thine alabaster cities gleam, Undimmed by human tears! America! America! God shed his grace on thee, And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea.
The Mueller Report Adventures: In Bite-Sizes on this Facebook page. These quick, two-minute reads interpret the report in normal English for busy people. Mueller Bite-Sizes uncovers what is essentially a compelling spy mystery. Interestingly enough, Mueller Bite-Sizes can be read in any order.


bipartisanreport--2020-02-04--Democrat Proposes Congressional Censure Of Trump

On Wednesday , the Senate is set to take its final vote on President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment , when — thanks to the Republican majority in the chamber — he ’ s expected to be acquitted .
In the meantime , on Monday , West Virginia ’ s moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has formally introduced an alternative method for holding the president accountable , or at least trying to : Congressional censure .
Although the resolution censuring the president that he introduced would need to get a highly unlikely approval from ardent Trump defender Senate Majority Leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get voted on , Manchin defended his proposition in comments on the Senate floor .
Censure would entail a formal rebuke of the president without the added step of a removal from office .
Manchin spoke during the final trial segment before the final vote , which featured Senators finally getting a chance to publicly make their individual cases for their individual positions .
‘ I see no path to the 67 votes required to impeach President Trump and haven ’ t since this trial started .
However , I do believe a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to censure President Trump… Censure would allow this body to unite across party lines and as an equal branch of government to formally denounce the President ’ s actions and hold him accountable .
His behavior can not go unchecked by the Senate , and censure would allow a bipartisan statement condemning his unacceptable behavior in the strongest terms.
’ There ’ s no apparent indication that any Republicans are actually willing to get on board with that proposal .
Many of them haven ’ t even been willing to admit the facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although a handful have done so .
One of those , Tennessee ’ s Lamar Alexander , justified his decision to admit to the facts of the case but decline to pursue any further action against Trump by claiming that the president ’ s behavior had simply been “ inappropriate.
” He added that he hoped the impeachment proceedings would serve as some kind of lesson to Trump and he ’ d restrain himself in the future .
There ’ s no evidence of this .
His plot to bribe Ukraine which sits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came after years of investigation into the same kind of foreign help attempts involving Russia .
When it comes to those who ’ ve been unwilling to even admit any presidential wrongdoing at all , Manchin had more condemnation .
He added : ‘ The most dangerous , the most troubling to me , is the false claim that the President can do no wrong , that he is above the law and if it ’ s good for the reelection of the President that it ’ s good for our country .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ controversial Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz made the claim he ’ s referencing during a question-and-answer period of the Senate trial .
He claimed that legality went along with the president working to help his re-election campaign , which is an outlandish power grab of an argument .
This Tuesday , the day before the final impeachment trial vote , Trump is slated to deliver his State of the Union address , which will no doubt feature some commentary on impeachment .

On Wednesday, the Senate is set to take its final vote on President Donald Trump’s impeachment, when — thanks to the Republican majority in the chamber — he’s expected to be acquitted. In the meantime, on Monday, West Virginia’s moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has formally introduced an alternative method for holding the president accountable, or at least trying to: Congressional censure. Although the resolution censuring the president that he introduced would need to get a highly unlikely approval from ardent Trump defender Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to actually get voted on, Manchin defended his proposition in comments on the Senate floor.
Censure would entail a formal rebuke of the president without the added step of a removal from office. Manchin spoke during the final trial segment before the final vote, which featured Senators finally getting a chance to publicly make their individual cases for their individual positions.
He commented:
‘I see no path to the 67 votes required to impeach President Trump and haven’t since this trial started. However, I do believe a bipartisan majority of this body would vote to censure President Trump… Censure would allow this body to unite across party lines and as an equal branch of government to formally denounce the President’s actions and hold him accountable. His behavior can not go unchecked by the Senate, and censure would allow a bipartisan statement condemning his unacceptable behavior in the strongest terms.’
There’s no apparent indication that any Republicans are actually willing to get on board with that proposal. Many of them haven’t even been willing to admit the facts of the case against the president, although a handful have done so.
One of those, Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander, justified his decision to admit to the facts of the case but decline to pursue any further action against Trump by claiming that the president’s behavior had simply been “inappropriate.” He added that he hoped the impeachment proceedings would serve as some kind of lesson to Trump and he’d restrain himself in the future. There’s no evidence of this. His plot to bribe Ukraine which sits at the core of the impeachment proceedings came after years of investigation into the same kind of foreign help attempts involving Russia.
When it comes to those who’ve been unwilling to even admit any presidential wrongdoing at all, Manchin had more condemnation. He added:
‘The most dangerous, the most troubling to me, is the false claim that the President can do no wrong, that he is above the law and if it’s good for the reelection of the President that it’s good for our country. That is simply preposterous.’
The already controversial Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz made the claim he’s referencing during a question-and-answer period of the Senate trial. He claimed that legality went along with the president working to help his re-election campaign, which is an outlandish power grab of an argument.
This Tuesday, the day before the final impeachment trial vote, Trump is slated to deliver his State of the Union address, which will no doubt feature some commentary on impeachment.