The LuLac Edition #4, 201, January 8th, 2020

WRITE ON WEDNESDAY

Our "Write On Wednesday" logo.

This week we feature an editorial from the Citizens' Voice regarding the GOP Senate's attempt to block any witnesses from testifying at Donald Trump's impeachment trial. It's a beaut!

McCONNELL MUST AGREE TO A REAL TRIAL

Trials of all kinds — civil, criminal, impeachment — are supposed to try to get at the truth of the matter at hand. Despite Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s effort to convert the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump into a mere test of party loyalty, new revelations since the House voted to impeach Trump call for a real trial including witness testimony and documentary evidence.
The House voted Dec. 18 to impeach on two counts, abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Facts supporting both counts are clear. Trump withheld congressionally approved military aide for Ukraine and an official state visit for new Ukrainian Prsident Volodymyr Zelensky while insisting that Zelensky announce an investigation of a Trump political rival, former Vice President Joe Biden. Then, Trump clearly hindered Congress as it attempted to carry out its constitutional duty to investigate the president’s conduct.
In the ensuing weeks, The Washington Post and The New York Times, using emails among key administration officials, have reconstructed Trump’s decision to withhold the aid against the advice of the Pentagon, the State Department and national security advisers, and the scramble in the White House to concoct a rationale for that decision after it was revealed by whistleblower in the intelligence community.
More so than ever, it would be sham for McConnell to attempt to conduct a trial without testimony from key figures in the relevant events, especially former National Security Adviser John Bolton and White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi should continue to refrain from sending the passed articles of impeachment to the Senate for trial until McConnell agrees to a real trial. And, given the results of the newspapers’ continuing inquiries, Pelosi should continue the House investigations so that the public will know what actually happened, regardless of whether McConnell continues to promote a charade.