Tag: Trump vindictiveness

Senate braces for fight over impeachment whistleblower testimony

The Hill logoSenators are reviving the fight over the whistleblower complaint at the center of the months-long impeachment effort against President Trump.

With Trump’s trial in the rearview mirror, the Senate Intelligence Committee is quietly shifting its attention back to its investigation into the complaint process after hitting pause on the inquiry as the impeachment effort consumed Washington.

The probe will force senators to decide if, and how, they speak with the whistleblower — a controversial call that could test the bipartisan reputation the Intelligence panel has maintained even amid deeply partisan fights in Congress.  Continue reading.

Trump brags he’s all about getting revenge on those who failed to ‘kill the king’

AlterNet logoEvery day of the Senate trial, Adam Schiff made the cases that Donald Trump is not a king. He’s not free to use the weaponry of the state as his personal tool, and not exempt from the consequences of his actions. He’s a citizen, constrained by law like the rest of us.

But of course, Republicans disagreed. And on Saturday morning Donald Trump made it clear that not only does he consider himself a king, he intends to make the remainder of his rule all about “grievance, persecution and resentment.”

Trump based his morning tweets on a two-week old article from The New York Times which looked at Trump’s post-impeachment actions. Susan Collins may have claimed that Trump was going to be chastened by the hearings, impeachment,  and trial. Continue reading.

Justice Dept. won’t charge Andrew McCabe, the former FBI official who authorized the investigation of President Trump

Washington Post logoThe Justice Department will not charge former acting FBI director Andrew McCabe with lying to investigators about a media disclosure, according to people familiar with the matter and McCabe’s legal team, ending a long-running inquiry into a top law enforcement official who authorized the bureau to investigate President Trump and soon became the commander in chief’s political punching bag.

The department revealed the decision to McCabe’s team Friday. The move was said to infuriate Trump, who has raged publicly and privately in recent months that McCabe and others he considers political enemies should be charged with crimes.

The decision could amplify the tension between Trump and his Justice Department, especially Attorney General William P. Barr, who on Thursday publicly rebuked the president for tweeting about Justice Department criminal cases. Continue reading.

‘Vindman Deserves Better’: GOP Group Hits Donald Trump With New Attack Ad On Fox News

“Our military deserves better. Our country deserves better,” Republicans for the Rule of Law declares in the spot that will air on “Fox & Friends.”

A conservative group is hitting President Donald Trump with another attack ad on one of his favorite TV shows, this time declaring that “our country deserves better.”

Republicans for the Rule of Law blasts Trump’s decision to fire Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a key witness in the House’s impeachment investigation into the Ukraine scandal, in its latest spot that will air on Fox News’ flagship morning show “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday.

The promo calls out Trump for ousting Vindman, a decorated Iraq War veteran who served on the National Security Council as an expert on Ukrainian affairs, and his twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, who reportedly had no link to the impeachment investigation. Continue reading.

Republicans Silent After Trump Fires Decorated Army Officer For Testifying

Republicans have been mostly silent since Donald Trump unceremoniously fired Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a decorated Army officer and National Security Council staffer, and his twin brother on Friday afternoon.

Vindman was escorted from the White House Friday afternoon, a move largely seen as retaliation for Vindman’s congressional testimony during the House impeachment investigation. Vindman testified in November 2019 that he was troubled by Trump asking the Ukrainian government to open an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden and relayed his concerns to NSC lawyers.

Vindman received the Purple Heart after he was injured by an improvised explosive device while serving in Iraq in 2004. Until Friday, he served as one of the NSC’s top Ukraine experts. Continue  reading.

Conway vs. Conway: ‘Pure Gaslighting’ On Vindman Dismissal From NSC

Kellyanne Conway is trying to smooth over President Donald Trump’s firing of Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman and his brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, from the National Security Council, by claiming they were not fired at all.

Her husband, prominent conservative attorney George Conway, isn’t having it, appearing to call her remarks “gaslighting.”

The senior counselor to the president told Fox & Friends Monday morning it’s “typical” for someone from the NSC to be reassigned. She did not mention his brother was fired as well, nor did she note they were escorted out of the White House complex like criminals. Continue reading.

Democrats seek to drive wedge between Trump, GOP on whistleblowers

The Hill logoDemocrats are seeking to drive a wedge between President Trump and Senate Republicans on whether government whistleblowers should be protected from retaliation.

After the Senate voted last week largely along party lines to acquit Trump on impeachment charges, Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (N.Y.) is drawing on one of the tactics he used during the trial: He is trying to put GOP senators in the awkward position of defending what Democrats argue is corrupt behavior.

Democrats are now working behind the scenes on bipartisan legislation that would protect future whistleblowers, according to a senator and Senate aide familiar with the effort. Continue reading.

Schumer asks inspectors general to investigate whistleblower retaliation after Vindman firing

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, a star witness in the House impeachment inquiry, was removed from his position at the White House on Friday.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is asking that every agency inspector general investigate retaliation against whistleblowers who report presidential misconduct, after the firing of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council.

Schumer’s letters to 74 inspectors general, which will be sent Monday, comes after Vindman, a star witness in the House impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, was removed from his position at the White House on Friday, along with his twin, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, an ethics lawyer at the NSC. Both brothers are active-duty Army officers and were reassigned to the Pentagon.

Gordon Sondland, ambassador to the European Union and another key witness, was also recalled from his post. Continue reading.

‘Campaign of intimidation’: Vindman’s lawyer responds to new attacks by Trump

Trump tweeted that Vindman ‘had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information.’

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman’s attorney vigorously pushed back Saturday on President Donald Trump publicly tying the impeachment witness’ ouster to insubordination and leaking information.

In a statement, attorney David Pressman said Trump’s claims “conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware.”

Trump tweeted Saturday morning that Vindman, who was the top Ukraine policy officer on the National Security Council, “had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information.” Continue reading.

Egomaniacal Trump’s petulant actions post-impeachment highlight his position as a vengeful, lawless and corporate toad: Ralph Nader

AlterNet logoThe day after his acquittal by the Republican Party in a trial that banned witnesses, the unhinged Donald Trump gloated for over an hour on all the television networks. Trump flattered his courtiers, one by one, and fulminated against his Congressional adversaries, Hillary Clinton and ex-FBI chief James Comey.

Donald Trump’s speech degraded his office for the ages. Trump lied about himself and others and received applause from the assembled sycophants. The morning of his speech, Trump attended a prayer breakfast. Trump never goes to church to atone for his habitual, career-long violations of seven of the Ten Commandments. His hypocrisy has no bounds.

Tightening his dictatorial grip on the U.S. government, Trump pledged to destroy his opponents— from Nancy Pelosi to Adam Schiff to the “radical, socialist Democrats.” These shameful threats cannot be taken lightly. Never forget Trump saying “I have an Article II, where I have the right to do whatever I want as President.” Continue reading.