Colbert Nails What Everyone Seems To Have Missed In The Testimony Against Trump
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Colbert Nails What Everyone Seems To Have Missed In The Testimony Against Trump
Ed Mazza, HuffPost 6 hours ago
Several experts called Tuesday’s explosive new evidence against President Donald Trump “damning” as the House considers impeachment.
But “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert isn’t so sure.
William Taylor, the former top U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, reportedly told lawmakers that Trump held up military aid to force the country to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and a right-wing conspiracy theory about the 2016 election.
Former U.S. Attorney David Kelley said on MSNBC that the evidence against Trump is now so “damning” that if this were a criminal case, it probably wouldn’t even go to trial.
“When confronted with all the evidence, a reasonable defendant would likely take a plea.” he said.
Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) called the testimony a “ sea change ,” according to The Hill.
Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) called it “ damning ” on CNN.
But Colbert offered a different take.
“Do you understand what this means?” he asked. “We finally have solid evidence of the crime that Trump and his chief of staff have already confessed to committing on camera.”
See more of his monologue below:
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“Do you understand what this means?” he asked. “We finally have solid evidence of the crime that Trump and his chief of staff have already confessed to committing on camera.”
Ukraine ambassador says in 'damning' testimony that he was told Trump wanted quid pro quo deal
The US ambassador to Ukraine has told impeachment investigators that military aid to the former Soviet state was made dependent upon a declaration of an investigation into the Bidens, and that the order came from Donald Trump , contradicting the president‘s claim that no “quid pro quo” deal was arranged.
Ambassador Bill Taylor said during closed-door hearings on Tuesday that he stood by calling it “crazy” to make the military assistance contingent on an investigation into Mr Trump’s political rival Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
Mr Taylor said that after his appointment as ambassador this year he had become alarmed by the existence of a secondary, “irregular” diplomatic channel, and that other US officials had said they were working to convince Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Bidens. Rudy Giuliani, the president’s personal lawyer, was guiding the plan, he claimed.
During a conversation with EU ambassador Gordon Sondland , Mr Taylor said, according to prepared remarks, he was told the president had said aid was dependent on a public announcement that Ukraine was opening an investment into Hunter Biden ‘s business dealings with Ukrainian oil company Burisma .
“During that phone call, Ambassador Sondland told me that President Trump had told him that he wants President Zelensky to state publicly that Ukraine will investigate Burisma and alleged Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election,” Mr Taylor said in his prepared remarks.
“Ambassador Sondland also told me that he now recognised that he had made a mistake by earlier telling the Ukranian officials to whom he spoke that a White House meeting with President Zelensky was dependent on a public announcement of investigations.
“In fact, Ambassador Sondland said, ‘everything’ was dependent on such an announcement, including security assistance. He said that President Trump wanted President Zelensky ‘in a public box’ by making a public statement about ordering such investigations.”
Mr Taylor the latest official to defy State Department orders not to comply with House Democrats’ impeachment inquiry subpoenas.
“It was just the most damning testimony I’ve heard,” representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz told The Washington Post .
The testimony appeared to confirm claims that Mr Trump had used US money as leverage in order to force the investigation into Hunter Biden, who is the son of former vice president Joe Biden , a key figure who pushed for the removal of a Ukrainian prosecutor. Mr Trump has claimed, contrary to evidence, that Mr Biden had acted on behalf of his son’s interest to get the prosecutor fired, even though the effort was indicative of the Obama administration’s foreign policy and had international consensus.
Mr Trump has denied any clear quid pro quo had occurred during a 25 July phone call with Mr Zelensky, even though a rough transcript released by the White House appears to show Mr Trump pushing for the investigation as a favour to him.
“He drew a very specific direct line from President Trump to the withholding of foreign aid and the refusal of a meeting,” Ms Wasserman Schultz said of Mr Taylor’s evidence. It “directly related to both insisting on Zelensky publicly say that he’ll have an investigation, that they will investigate”.
Mr Trump has cast the impeachment investigation as an witch hunt, mirroring language he used to describe the special counsel investigation into Russian meddling, which included potential wrongdoing by the president as well. On the same day as Mr Taylor’s testimony, Mr Trump has received criticism for comparing the impeachment inquiry to a “lynching” .
Democrats have indicated they want to move quickly on impeachment, and have said they could introduce formal charges before the end of the year. That would allow Democrats to put as much distance as possible between the highly polarising measure and the 2020 election campaign.
Comedians are Funny !
Its colder in the Winter!
I've heard it's actually "Warmer".
Thanks to anthropogenic global warming, winter is actually warmer than it used to be. Used to ice skate around here as a kid but ponds haven't frozen solid enough for that in years.
Well..... some are anyways🙄
Well it takes some wit and smarts to appreciate Mr. Colbert's humor.
So Colbert really isn't "News" ?
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Just what is "traditional America" exactly?
Where EVERYONE but white men know their place, have no rights and need to just shut up about it....
Who ever said he was?
Other than what he says is truth, that's news in tRump world.
From In depth "Investigations" ?
I like your definition but I want to hear jungknoservative's definition
Do you think he has one?
Don't know, I bet it's very close to what I posted.
It will probably get deleted anyways. Why waste the effort. Stating facts tends to trigger some people I guess.
What facts make up traditional America?
I didn't flag your comment. I want to hear your facts. Please
When you post any facts, I'll let you know I'd love to hear your definition though. I promise not to flag it or report it. Doubt you'll provide anything though.
It depends on what aspect you want to cover.
Religion : Traditional America has always been a Judaeo christian God fearing country
Marriage : Man and a woman with structured families who raise their children
Immigration: From many one, traditional Americans have always been expected to assimilate to American culture. That means they learn English, salute the flag, pledge allegiance, all of it.
Genders : 2
Which part of traditional America should I define?
I'd say a traditional family is any family - all different kinds of families make up a family nowadays and in the past - there is no such thing as a traditional family anymore, as least according to jungkon's opinions in my opinion
Let's start with this one. I'm neither Jewish or Christian. Does that mean I'm not an American?
I raised my children alongside my husband while holding down a job and wearing pants. Does that make me unAmerican?
Did the Native Americans who were here before the Europeans speak English? Did you know there are still pockets of French speakers in Louisiana? Many Amish don't really speak English, either.
What about people that are actually born hermaphroditic? Are they man or woman? Or are they a third gender?
Colbert Nails What Everyone Seems To Have Missed
He always does!
Only to the looney tune left; who seem to take their truths from politically biased Democrats in the House; and leftist comedians.
Ah yes, 'the looney left' the ultimate explainer. Ah hell, got a plate of windmill dead birds for dinner. Want to help pluck the feathers?
Other than all those dead windmill birds, don't they also cause cancer?
Not if you wash them in fracking brine. Esp. if the brine is from a MAGA enterprise.
And the Putin loving Trump supporters take their truths from talking points developed at the Kremlin...…
See I can do it too.
C'mon people. The Trump said Putin said he, The Trump, was a smart guy. Let it go. Trump has Ivanka and we don't.