Norway, If You’re Listening…
“If somebody called from a country, Norway, [and said] ‘we have information on your opponent’ — oh, I think I’d want to hear it.” – President Donald Trump, Wednesday, 6/12/19
“We don’t want to come to the United States, we have nothing to say to Donald Trump, and we wouldn’t help him anyway. We won’t call. Please stop saying ‘Norway.’” – Norwegian Foreign Secretary – Thursday, 6/13/19
Ok, I made the second one up. Norway, to my knowledge, has not responded to President Trump’s comment yesterday. But they should, they’ve got to be tired of being his “example.”
The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, admitted yesterday that if a foreign power gave his campaign intelligence about a political opponent, Trump would listen to that intelligence, and would not notify the US counter-intelligence agency, the FBI. This is despite the fact that when that event actually happened in 2016, and Russian operatives offering “dirt” on Hillary Clinton, the Trump campaign did then and continues now to lie about it.
Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, holding the highest office in the nation, is willing to commit criminal acts to remain President. He said so himself. Taking anything of value from a foreign source, including “dirt” on an opponent, “oppo research,” is a violation of Federal campaign laws, at the least. It might be more, including espionage.
Note: for those, including media commentators, who claim that this might be “treason,” that is overreaching. Treason in the “common” sense may feel right, but the Constitutional definition of treason is:
“Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort.”
We are not at war, so any of the nations that might give the President campaign intelligence aren’t technical enemies; therefore charges couldn’t include treason. Even the Rosenbergs, who were convicted and executed for stealing the atom bomb plans and giving them to the Soviet Union, were charged with espionage, not treason.
There is a Saturday Night Live sketch of the Lester Holt (played by Michael Che) interviewing the President, when Trump admitted that he fired FBI Director Comey because of “Rush-y-a.” In the sketch, Holt turns to the camera and says, “…did I get him, is it over.” The answer was; “…no, nothing matters.”
George Stephanopoulos, the ABC interviewer, had the same look on his face when Trump made his statement Wednesday. So far, the answer is still the same; nothing matters.
Norway is an unlikely source of information on American political campaigns. But there are four international actors who actively seek “opposition” information from US computers, trying to find some way to disrupt American politics. Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran all are interested in weakening the American government and democracy, and they all have shown the capability of hacking and disrupting American networks.
And, they all have reason to “help” the President, especially as that help would include “benefits.” Russia has benefited from their aid in the 2016 campaign, the President has consistently denied his own intelligence findings rather than contradict Putin’s assertions. China, the President’s buddy in North Korea, and even the Iranians could all use that help.
The 2020 Trump campaign has already threatened to get “dirt” on Joe Biden’s son from Ukraine, with Rudy Giuliani planning on making the trip. The Russian-supported opposition in Ukraine certainly would be willing to help, whether the actual “dirt” is true or not.
The issue isn’t the information, it’s the influence over the President that using the information creates. The people of the United States already question the influence of Russia; how many other nations will “get a piece” of Trump for a second term.
And, if this is the new “norm,” then every candidate will get in on the fun.
The President has already demonstrated that he is willing to attack and even fire anyone in the executive branch that has the courage to investigate his campaign or Presidency. The Courts, dependent on prosecutors to bring cases, can do little if the prosecution can’t do their job. There is only one branch that has the authority to “check” this seemingly unlimited Presidential power: the Congress.
Yesterday changed the political calculations. Before, using the impeachment power of the House of Representatives seemed to be futile, the Senate would never convict, and the President would claim “victory and exoneration” after a Senate vote. But now, the President, in the open, claimed he would commit a crime that his campaign already committed in 2016. For the House to ignore that open confession is impossible.
It’s time for the hearings to start. The nation should have the opportunity to hear witnesses, see exhibits, and determine for themselves what the standards should be for holding the office of President. Whether those proceedings result in a bill of impeachment reaching the floor of the House is really irrelevant. “We the People” have the right to see the facts, and if nothing else, make our own judgment at the polls in 2020.
Since the Senate Republicans don’t have the courage to withstand Presidential tweets, the voters of America can be the jury. I have faith in their common sense, and common decency. They will make the right decision. So the House must give them the information to decide. Speaker Pelosi: let impeachment proceedings begin.
