What Could Be More Impeachable Than Clemency for Roger Stone?

[Nevilledog]

https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-07-11/commuting-roger-stone-s-sentence-should-get-trump-impeached

By commuting the prison sentence of Roger Stone, President Donald Trump has made his contempt for the rule of law plain for all to see. Clemency for a crony convicted of interfering with an investigation of presidential malfeasance is a flagrant abuse of power. President Richard Nixon wasn’t willing to pardon the Watergate criminals who broke into Democratic Party offices in the run-up to the 1972 presidential campaign because he knew how bad it would look; the evidence that Nixon hinted at clemency for his convicted associates was part of the reason he was eventually forced to resign or face certain impeachment by the House of Representatives and conviction and removal by the Senate.

Stone, Trump’s friend and a longtime Republican political operative, was sentenced to more than three years in prison for lying to congressional investigators and witness tampering in matters related to inquiries about Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. The investigation by Robert Mueller, the special counsel who conducted the probe of Russia’s activities, concluded not only that Stone had behaved improperly, but that Trump’s public actions praising him were part of what amounted to obstruction of justice. 1 The decision Friday night to commute Stone’s sentence comes after other presidential actions taken after the impeachment acquittal by the Senate that include the firing of several inspectors general, retaliation against officials who testified truthfully to Congress, and of course Trump’s continuing refusal to submit to normal oversight by Congress. All were abuses of presidential power, exactly what the impeachment and removal power of Congress is designed for.

No more investigations are needed to establish that fact. Trump simply has given up on even the pretense of respecting the rule of law and honoring his oath of office. Rather than follow his oath to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” Trump is trampling on that document and all it means.

The only question is what to do about it.

And that comes down to Republicans.

*snip*

[unblock]

1. This is on the entire Republican Party. They are thoroughly corrupt now

As corrupt as Nixon and his crew were, there were enough Republican with some semblance of integrity, or at least who valued the appearance of integrity, that they couldn't openly support his corruption.

Today's Republican Party is beyond redemption.

They are all in for blatant corruption, as long as it's their party doing it.

[ProfessorGAC]

2. As Transparent & Odious As It May Be...

...the constitution says POTUS can do this.
I don't think it's spinnable as impeachment worthy.
Unfortunately.

[customerserviceguy]

5. Especially

with less than four months until the election.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. He'd Call It A Political Hit...

...and some in the middle would side with him.
Yes, it would be bad politics to try it, especially since they wouldn't succeed.

[customerserviceguy]

7. Agreed

Best to let him self-destruct between now and then.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. He's Self-immolating

Let's not hand him the extinguisher.

[Yeehah]

3. George AWOL Bush invaded the wrong country

and he didn't get impeached. So, I'm afraid I'm unclear on what line must be crossed.

[abqtommy]

4. Rampant corruption brought tRUMP and the reTHUGS into power. We responded with

Impeachment as Plan A. Due to rampant corruption that failed. We responded with The Election as Plan B. At this time that appears promising but still uncertain due to rampant corruption. Now there are demonstrations and much anger resulting in demonstrations against rampant corruption that has led to many unnecessary deaths. This anger will necessarily result in Plan C which nobody wants but is
historically always the answer to Rampant Corruption. Plan C will be rioting and violence in the streets
on a scale never before seen in this country.

Let us all resolve to show no mercy and take no prisoners.

[gulliver]

9. If Biden wins, we should still impeach Trump to deny him finishing his full term.

I hope Nancy has this Stone abuse of power and a couple of other impeachment articles warmed up. Once Biden wins, and, assuming it's a convincing win with at least some gains in the Senate, we can impeach Trump again. It should be a lot easier to impeach a lame duck president who has gotten his party shellacked.

It would keep Trump from trying to make mischief in his last couple of months, show the world we're done with Trumpism, and give a few Republican Senators a second bite at the apple, reclaiming some of their integrity.

Just the thought of this makes me want a landslide even more.

[Cosmocat]

10. Knowing Putin put hits on our troops

while relentlessly giving him reach arounds in every possible way is tops on my list.

[Kid Berwyn]

11. Lock him up.

And the rest of the KGOP.