Richard Painter: 'Not Only Trump, But Also Pence, Should Be Impeached and Removed'

[ffr]

Bush-Era Ethics Lawyer Suggests Not Only Trump, But Also Pence, Should Be Impeached and Removed After Sondland Testimony

Richard Painter, who served as the chief White House ethics lawyer in the administration of President George W. Bush, suggested on Wednesday that not only President Donald Trump, but also Vice President Mike Pence should be impeached and removed from office.

"Sondland -- in a last ditch effort to avoid going to the slammer for perjury - comes clean (at least partly). Trump is going down," Painter tweeted as U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland testified before the House Intelligence Committee in the ongoing impeachment inquiry against Trump. "Senate Republicans need to demand his resignation TODAY!"

In a follow-up tweet, he wrote: "Game over. Send Trump home. Swear in Pence. Continue the investigation." He then added in another post: "In a few weeks the only open question should be whether the evidence is sufficient for President Pence to be impeached by the House and removed by the Senate."

Link to tweet

- Newsweek

This is what we've come to. The only thing stopping justice are stonewalling republicans.

[BigmanPigman]

1. Meanwhile half the country is apathetic to the impeachment hearings.

My local TV station in San Diego showed a new poll which said 51% are not interested at all while the rest were slightly or very interested. This is how the fucking moron won last time. Stupid American voters! I am more and more embarrassed by my fellow countrymen and women.

[lastlib]

5. .

I'm with you!

[a la izquierda]

6. I'm in England right now

And despite what's going on here with Brexit and the General Election, every single time I go to the pub there are people talking about impeachment. If they hear me speaking, they ask me about it.
I'm pretty sure average western Europeans know (and care) more about it than millions of US Americans.

[BigmanPigman]

7. THAT is exactly what I mean!

It is so frustrating. When I was a teacher I taught my First Graders about Civics, History, Geography and practiced voting since I knew they would not be getting much in their futures.

[Ilsa]

11. I think too many people now are too far removed

from the experience of their parents or grandparents, etc during World War II. They don't understand fascism or what it would be like to live under a dictator. They don't fully appreciate what democracy means.

Maybe they need more History, or maybe just movies, if they'll even watch them.

[democratisphere]

2. Save time, money and agony.

Impeach "individual-1", his entire family and cabinet.

[Hekate]

3. Poor Painter: if he ever smiled his face would crack. I like him though...

He is right

[Totally Tunsie]

13. You do realize his face is partially paralyzed

by Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2, right? I'm sure he'd smile if he could.

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Painterdiv class="excerpt"]

In July 2015 Painter was diagnosed with shingles and Ramsay Hunt syndrome type 2, which left his face partially paralyzed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramsay_Hunt_syndrome

It is sometimes called herpes zoster oticus, and has variable presentation which may include a lower motor neuron lesion of the facial nerve, deafness, vertigo, and pain.[2][3] A triad of ipsilateral facial paralysis, ear pain, and vesicles on the face, on the ear, or in the ear is the typical presentation.

[Hekate]

14. I had no idea of that, & I'm sorry for his health troubles. Rachel M has many guests & panelists...

...several of whom neveral crack a smile. They are serious people with serious gravitas, and we are living through horrendous times for people who believe the rule of law has real value.

It might have been Chuck Rosenberg that caused my husband to exclaim once "He smiled! I can't believe it!" Mind you, we respect Mr. Rosenberg's contributions a lot. And Mr. Painter, and all the rest of these good people.

[Wawannabe]

4. And Madame Pelosi

Has played the long game very very well if both of them are removed at the same time at least. Her intel must be epic to be able to hold out this long and possibly take the presidency!!! She’s been making all the right moves in this chess game.

A girl can dream I know wishful thinking

[triron]

15. Would ne nice but I somehow am dubious.

[VOX]

8. Rec & kick!

Impeach ‘em all!

[Buckeyeblue]

9. While warranted I think that would be a disaster

At this point our best bet for removal is that Trump cuts a deal and resigns. But our best bet for winning next year might be for him to stay put and continue to be himself.

I think we should impeach Trump, though. I think it's important to get Republican Senators on record about why they think Trumps actions are acceptable. It will be important to have that to throw back in their faces for years to come.

[ffr]

10. In the perfect world where respresentatives REPRESENT

tRump would be gone, imprisoned or worse, Pence too, Barr too, McConnell & Nunes too, tRump's family too, Sessions too, and on and on, all of them and everyone one of them who had a hand in every treasonous act going back to before 2016. I want them all imprisoned for what the laws they have violated, just as regular citizens would be held to account.

So I respectfully disagree with you and I am unwavering in my demands and my goals. Until they are imprisoned, I will hold out for nothing less.

[NewJeffCT]

12. I like him, but

he's living in a fantasy world if he thinks Republicans are going to vote to impeach and convict/remove.

[calimary]

16. I wish more people would listen to you right now, Richard Painter.

[Kentonio]

17. Really bad idea.

Yes Pence probably should go, but to get impeachment it requires enough Republican voters to support impeachment to sway the repug senators. If we go after both Trump and Pence together it just adds rocket fuel to the Republican bullshit about a coup and attempting to overturn the 2016 election.

Pence is an irrelevance, get Trump out and then beat the crap out of Pence at the ballot box next year.

[ffr]

19. Should

The key word is should. If republicans were law abiding, they should do what's right for the country and follow the facts. I think that is his point. Your conclusion is the same as his, in this regard, which comes full circle, we know republicans are ethically bankrupt and won't do what they should do.

[Takket]

18. One step at a time...