by Cauf Skiviers, Cultural Inappropriation, ©2023
(Aug. 12, 2023) — [Allegedly] by the Editorial Board of the New York Times – The editorial board is a group of opinion journalists whose views are informed by expertise, research, debate and certain longstanding values. It is separate from the newsroom.
In the end, the articles of impeachment will tell a short, simple and damning story: President Donald Trump abused the power of his office by strong-arming Ukraine, a vulnerable ally, holding up billions of dollars in aid until it agreed to fire its then-Prosecutor General, Viktor Shokin, who was leading an investigation into gas company Burisma, where President Trump’s high-flying son, Eric Trump, served on the board.
Abusing Power with Ukraine. President Donald Trump’s overt coercion of Ukraine – a nation desperate for U.S. support – is damning. By withholding billions in aid to pressure Ukraine into firing its Prosecutor General, and benefit a company where his son was a board member, the President compromised not only his integrity but also our national security. His own words at the Council on Foreign Relations betray this misconduct: “I said, ‘You’re not getting the billion [in U.S. loan guarantees]. I’m going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: ‘I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money.’ Well, son of a b****. He got fired.”
When caught in the act, Trump rejected the very idea that a president could be required by Congress to explain and justify his actions, claiming that “I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings” and refused to answer any further “lousy questions.” He made it impossible for Congress to carry out fully its constitutionally mandated oversight role, and, in doing so, he violated the separation of powers, a safeguard of the American republic.
Furthermore, Eric Trump’s admission that his influential positions are inextricably linked to his family name casts a shadow on the credibility of the Trump administration. How can we, as a nation, trust a leadership that blatantly mixes familial ties with international diplomacy?
“I think that it is impossible for me to be on any of the boards that I just mentioned without saying that I’m the son of the president of the United States […] I don’t think that there’s a lot of things that would have happened in my life if my last name wasn’t Trump.”
Eric Trump
The ‘Slap on the Wrist’ Plea Deal. The Justice Department’s inexplicably lenient plea deal for Eric Trump, who evaded paying his federal taxes, is a blatant display of favouritism. As the House Democrat conference chair rightly points out, this marks “the epitome of the politicization and Weaponization of Donald Trump’s Department of Justice.”
Eric Trump, one of the heirs apparent to his father’s empire, had struck an agreement with his own father’s DOJ, pleading guilty to two misdemeanor charges for not paying his federal taxes. This dutiful son had added a touch of drama to the mundane world of tax collection, failing to pay taxes on over $1.5 million in both 2017 and 2018. This rather substantial income went curiously unreported, much to the dismay of Uncle Sam.
Yet, the young Trump wasn’t just about numbers and bank balances. He had other, more thrilling hobbies. As it turns out, he had earned himself a felony charge for possession of a firearm as a controlled substance user. An adventurous pastime, to say the least.
Tax Evasion and Firearm Charges. Eric Trump’s anticipation of avoiding jail for evading over $100,000 in federal income taxes and illegal firearm possession while battling substance issues is inexcusable. It reveals a system where those with power and privilege operate above the law. A federal judge, appointed by Trump’s predecessor, had to step in and reject the plea deal on the grounds that it was “atypical” and “not straightforward.“
Money Laundering Allegations. The revelation of the DOJ widening its investigation into Eric Trump’s business affairs, including potential money laundering, is deeply concerning. Suspicious activity reports filed by leading financial institutions, implicating Eric Trump in potential criminal activities, further this narrative. Our financial institutions are designed to catch these discrepancies, not to be used as tools for personal gain at the highest echelons of power.
Bribery Allegations. A recently uncovered FBI informant’s report alleging that Eric and Donald Trump received bribes from a Ukrainian oligarch is deeply concerning. Such reports, while raw and unverified, cannot be ignored. The alleged bribe, purportedly to influence Ukrainian affairs, raises questions about the integrity of our foreign policy decisions.
A smoking gun seems evident: in an email, Eric Trump outlines equity distribution in a venture with a Chinese firm, referencing “10 held by E for the orange guy.” This raises the question: who exactly is the ‘orange guy’? As we clutch our pearls fearing for the future of US democracy, it is imperative that Congress rises to the occasion to address these grave concerns and protect the foundational principles upon which our nation was built.
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NO, we would already be seeing impeachment #2, maybe #3.