Republicans Finalize the Cover-up in the Midst of Damning New Evidence
By: William Spivey
Tags: Donald Trump, Impeachment, Politics, Mitch Mcconnell, Senate

Mitch McConnell loves it when a plan comes together. He had gotten his flock back in line after new information from John Bolton’s book was all over the news indicating among other things; Trump was intent on firing Ukraine Ambassador Marie Yokonovitch a year before he actually did, he knew Lev Parnas who he disavowed far more than three times, and the conspiracy included most of the senior members of the administration. Republican Senators; fearful of how their voters would respond, seemed on the verge of joining Democrats in sufficient numbers to allow for witnesses. That would ensure at minimum John Bolton would get to tell his tale although they were already planning to ensure the American public would never see it; keeping it behind closed doors and out of the reach of television cameras.

It would take four Republican Senators to open the floodgates for witnesses. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) were on the record as calling for witnesses. Sen Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) seemed like the best bets to join them but McConnell was able to persuade them to stick with their Party, conscience be damned. Alexander released an extraordinary statement in which he acknowledged Trump’s guilt but felt the penalty was too severe.

“I worked with other senators to make sure that we have the right to ask for more documents and witnesses, but there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the United States Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense. …The Constitution does not give the Senate the power to remove the president from office and ban him from this year’s ballot simply for actions that are inappropriate.

“The question then is not whether the president did it, but whether the United States Senate or the American people should decide what to do about what he did. I believe that the Constitution provides that the people should make that decision in the presidential election that begins in Iowa on Monday. …Our founding documents provide for duly elected presidents who serve with ‘the consent of the governed,’ not at the pleasure of the United States Congress. Let the people decide.” — Senator Lamar Alexander

Murkowski blamed the House of Representatives and partisan politics and decided there wouldn’t be a fair trial in the Senate; strange because Republicans had complete and utter control over every aspect of the process.

“I worked for a fair, honest, and transparent process, modeled after the Clinton trial, to provide ample time for both sides to present their cases, ask thoughtful questions, and determine whether we need more.

“The House chose to send articles of impeachment that are rushed and flawed. I carefully considered the need for additional witnesses and documents, to cure the shortcomings of its process, but ultimately decided that I will vote against considering motions to subpoena.

Given the partisan nature of this impeachment from the very beginning and throughout, I have come to the conclusion that there will be no fair trial in the Senate. I don’t believe the continuation of this process will change anything. It is sad for me to admit that, as an institution, the Congress has failed.

It has also become clear some of my colleagues intend to further politicize this process, and drag the Supreme Court into the fray, while attacking the Chief Justice. I will not stand for nor support that effort. We have already degraded our institution for partisan political benefit, and I will not enable those who wish to pull down another.

We are sadly at a low point of division in this country.” — Senator Lisa Murkowski

Having secured the votes to prevent witnesses, McConnell moved ahead with the proceedings on Friday, January 31st after having slowed things down to regroup; hoping to potentially end the proceedings by the end of the day. Sessions were planned to begin at 1:00 pm but more breaking news from two sources hit the fan.

A new purported release from Bolton’s book tells of President Trump asking for John Bolton’s help (then the Director of the NSA) in putting Ukrainian leaders in touch with Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudy Guiliani. That happened in front of Acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, and White House Counsel Pat A. Cipollone who is currently leading the President’s defense in the Senate Impeachment Trial. That meeting took place months before the July 25th phone call previously thought to have kicked off the pressure on the Ukrainians to help Trump with his own political campaign.

Separately, Rudy Guiliani associate Lev Parnas wrote a letter to Mitch McConnell; not only offering to testify but naming names of those who were included in the Ukrainian scheme. They included; Vice President Mike Pence, Attorney General Bill Barr, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., Nunes adviser Derek Harvey, journalist John Solomon, pro-Trump attorneys Joe diGenova and Victoria Toensing, and America First, a pro-Trump super PAC.

News of these events spread through the Senate but Mitch had come too far to stop now. Any pretense of it not being a cover-up was gone as McConnell proceeded with the vote to hear more witnesses. Republicans carried the day, blocking additional witnesses, leaving only to decide tow to wrap up the proceedings and acquit the President. Even that didn’t go off without a hitch as Republican infighting brought the proceedings to a halt.

Many Republican Senators, realizing they looked exactly like they were part of a cover-up, wanted to have time during the trial to make statements to explain their position. While Alexander and Murkowski had made statements that were widely released, the rest of the group would be lumped together as having participated in the sham trial and needed to be able to tell their constituents something. The President and the White House wanted to get everything over with that night (Friday) which would allow the President to crow during his planned Superbowl interview with Sean Hannity on Sunday and be officially exonerated when giving his State of the Union speech on Tuesday. As currently scheduled, the final vote to Impeach or not will take place on Wednesday, February 5th, after all of that. Senators were left mulling around on the Senate floor while the defendant in the proceedings dictated to them how things would go.

Self-interest led the Senators to refuse the President’s demands and he won’t be cleared until Wednesday. McConnell made a resolution which passed along Party lines to “close the record.” That means that no new evidence that comes out between now and Wednesday can be considered and all there is left to do is let Senators take two days to make their statements and then vote on Wednesday. They chose to hear no evil so they can protect the President, who is still trying to rig the November election in his favor.

As far as Impeachment goes, the cover-up is complete. Unless whatever new information comes out between now and Wednesday is so damning and compelling that Republican Senators change their mind, it’s a done deal. But Congress has heard, the free press has heard, and the American people have heard, that as Ambassador Gordon Sondland testified during the House hearings, “Everyone was in the loop.” Nothing will stop them from digging into every individual involved, including the President, who still is facing hearings at the Supreme Court in March regarding the release of his finances. Chief Justice John Roberts presided over the Senate trial and listened to all the evidence of the President’s corruption. The last remaining question is whether the Supreme Court will be part of the cover-up as well? We will see!