We have all seen the photos, the videos and heard the testimonials of children being separated from their parents for the "crime" of seeking asylum in the United States. This nation has always offered refuge to individuals seeking to escape discrimination, inhuman treatment and unconscionable violence in their own lands. We value immigration because the founders of our independent democracy were themselves refugees seeking to escape intolerance in their native land. Though we cannot neglect the intolerance, violence and discrimination that our founders dealt to Native and African Americans, we cannot allow any president to close the border by practicing inhuman and inhumane treatment of innocent children and families to dissuade them from seeking and claiming asylum.
It has been a long time since anyone in our government demanded that individuals who dissent from the majority view should leave the country. That is the very definition of un-American yet this president made that request of four members of congress. In so doing he has demonstrated an intolerance that crosses the boundaries of inhumanity and demonstrates unfitness for office.
6. The president has profited from the presidency in violation of constitutional prohibitions against accepting gifts or equivalent items of value.
The president and his family have collected large sums of money from the family hotels and business ventures. They have accepted loans from foreign interests and encouraged corporate interests to invest in Trump business concerns, including stays at Mar-a-Lago and Trump International Hotel the old Post Office in Washington D.C. The president has somehow persuaded the military and government officials to spend millions for stays and unnecessary refueling at Trump properties in Scotland and Ireland.
Trump business ventures have made record profits at Trump Tower in NYC, memberships at Trump country clubs and his Florida resort. Every time Trump holds an event at one of his properties, profits soar. Corporations and foreign governments courting the Trump administration's favor book rooms at his Washington hotel and spend lavishly. Trump has zealously guarded his financial records, including his tax returns, so that we do not know the full extent of his profiteering but we certainly know enough. Open Secrets has estimated that Trump business interests have received in excess of $35 million from Republican Party organizations since becoming president. Open the books and we will learn how boldly the president has sold his office.
7. The president attempted to extort the president of Ukraine by withholding military aid in exchange for compromising information on a political rival.
Within a week of the Mueller Report's release, the president withheld congressionally mandated military assistance to Ukraine and requested on a phone call to President Volodymyr Zelensky that the Ukrainian government re-investigate the business dealings of Hunter Biden, son to former vice president Joe Biden. At the time of the call Joe Biden was clearly the leading candidate for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. [2, 3]
While the underlying story should offer cause for doubting Biden's squeaky-clean reputation and his claim of electability, that President Trump would consider it acceptable to withhold allocated aid for political advantage even after an investigation of his dealings with Russia in their attempt to interfere in a presidential election, suggests that this president is far beyond redemption. He truly believes he was vindicated. He truly believes he can conspire with foreign governments to interfere in our elections. He truly believes he is above the law.
Let us stipulate that you cannot and should not be impeached for being a being a man of substandard character. Let us stipulate that you cannot and should not be impeached for despicable behavior toward women even if that behavior may have included criminal acts. Let us stipulate that you cannot and should not be impeached for being a common con man and a crook.
Let us focus on what he has done and why he is a danger to the nation. Let us place no value on what the United States Senate may or may not do. It is sufficient that we compel each and every senator to stand with us or stand with Trump. If we value our democracy, if we value our system of justice, if we value human rights and common decency, we must impeach the president.
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