Watergate's John Dean on Cohen filing: Congress will have to 'start impeachment proceedings'

[workinclasszero]

BY BROOKE SEIPEL - 12/07/18 08:51 PM EST

John Dean, a key figure in the Watergate scandal, says allegations made against President Trump in a bombshell court filing released Friday are evidence enough for Congress to begin impeachment proceedings.

Dean's comments were made in an appearance on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront" shortly after the memo in a case involving Trump's former longtime attorney Michael Cohen was released by federal prosecutors in New York.

One of the most shocking revelations in the filing — which recommends prison time for Cohen, despite his cooperation with federal prosecutors and special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation — is Cohen's claim that he was instructed by Trump to approve payments that violated campaign finance law.

Asked by Burnett about those illegal payments, Dean said Friday that Cohen "implicated Trump directly,” and it could lead to impeachment proceedings.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/420373-watergates-john-dean-on-cohen-filing-congress-will-have-to-start

[still_one]

1. As long as there is hard evidence, such as documents, tapes etc. to directly link Trump, it would be

a dereliction of duty for the House NOT to introduce articles of impeachment, regardless whether the Senate votes to convict or not, though I think the Senate would be under extreme pressure to convict if there was irrefutable evidence

[Buckeyeblue]

4. I'm not so sure the Senate won't convict

The repugs have a problem because things are going to start piling up. If you just have one scandal you can manage it. But there are problems for them on multiple fronts. If they could impeach on this one, could they potentially bury the Russian problems?

There would have to be a couple of things in place:

1. Turtle would have to guarantee Nancy that he had the votes to convict. She is not going to call attention to the Dems for an impeachment that doesn't lead to a conviction. 45 would run victory laps around that for the next two years (or more).

2. Because Pence may be implicated in the Russian problem, Turtle would have to have a deal in place for a repug to get confirmed as VP by the House. He's not going to allow Nancy to potentially become president. And I would say that she doesn't want to become president that way. It would be a very difficult position to be in. My guess is that it would have to be a moderate with no presidential ambitions.

3. No Supreme Court replacements until the next presidential election.

If those details could be worked out, I think the House and Senate could impeach and convict in short order.

[still_one]

6. If trump has coluded with a foreign power to subvert our democracy, they have to impeach. It has

nothing to do with what McConnel would guarantee or not. This isn't a bill or legislation, each Senator is on their own to convict or not.

If the evidence is overwhemling, and they don't bring articles of impeachment, the Democrats will have to answer to the people why coludding with a foreign government to compromise our election and Democracy isn't an impeachable offense. That question WILL be asked if the evidence is there, and this will be ON Democrats if they neglect their duty.

The midterms were an affirmation that the American public expects the House to hold Trump accountable.

[Buckeyeblue]

7. This is very complicated

As a country we are in uncharted territory where the crimes committed tie directly to the president. Yes, we have Watergate but in reality that was childish compared to this. These crimes are going to be shown to be blatant, aggressive and extremely careless. On its face, it seems like a slam dunk. But I think the recklessness of these crimes makes it more difficult, ironically enough. It's almost like 45 is saying, who cares.

But I don't agree with the approach that you put it out there and each Senator must grapple with the vote to convict individually. I think you need consensus before you start. In over 200 years we have never removed a president from office. I don't care how strong the evidence is, if we expect everyone to operate in a vacuum it won't work. The vote needs to be as close to unanimous as possible. And that takes work.

These aren't average people you are dealing with. They have constituents. They have special interests. They need to assess downstream impacts. They need to be assured that they are doing the right thing.

And the need some reasonable assurance of what's going to happen next. The entire country does. It needs to be organized and orderly. And it needs to be unified.

Who addresses the nation once a president is removed? How does it even work?

[still_one]

8. The Civil War was uncharted terrority. That is not a valid argument NOT to impeach. Impeachment is

put in the Constitution for a reason.

If the evidence is there that Trump worked with a foreign power to alter our election, and the House takes no action,
the question will be asked WHY, and the answer "because it wouldn't be politically feasible" won't cut it with the American people.

[Buckeyeblue]

9. I'm not saying don't impeach

I'm laying out an argument of what I think has to happen if the impeachment is going to be successful. I don't think my argument is unreasonable. If the evidence that we believe is coming is as good as I think it's going to be, it shouldn't be a problem for the House and Senate to work together to impeach and convict, which includes an implementation plan to address the country, our allies and ensure that our national security remains stable during this potentially vulnerable transition period.

[still_one]

10. I am not saying your argument is unreasonable, and no doubt I misinterpreted your

statement, which meant we should proceed carefully, not because removal from office is a precedent

I also am not saying we should impeach. It depends on the evidence. So I think we agree there also

Where I guess we disagree is through some kind of negotiation we McConnell. Sure if it is possible, but McConnell has made it very clear, not only through the eight years of President Obama, but the last two years, he has no intention negotiate or compromise with the Democrats on anything. His refusal to allow President Obama to nominate a SC justice made that very clear. The ACA was kept alive in spite of McConnel who did everything in his power to try to repeal it.


That is why I said if articles of impeachment are introduced, and passed by the House, it will be up to each Senator to decide to convict or not

[Buckeyeblue]

11. I agree with you

I think coordination with McConnell is a long shot. If the evidence is clear and strong and McConnell refuses to do anything, then the House will have to impeach on their own to, if nothing else, force McConnell and the others to address the crimes.

In that instance, I don't think the public will react the same way they reacted to the Clinton impeachment. That impeachment was about a lie told about a consenting sexual relationship. Collusion with Russia is a whole different ballgame.

I think public will hold them accountable for doing nothing.

Have a great weekend!

[still_one]

12. you too

[Volaris]

13. I think all of that assumes that Yertle isn't also guilty of conspiracy and obstruction

If anyone knew the fix was in that actually work on the fix, it was Ryan and Yertle.

[Hortensis]

2. Meh. Dean doesn't say WHEN he thinks it must "start," only

that is "could" lead to impeachment hearings and that this is too important to "forever disappear into some dark hole of unprosecutable presidents," which we know but the rest of the nation still has to start coming around to.

I'm an admirer of Dean's books and insights about the people who control the Republican Party, but not of The Hill's deliberately misleading clickbait headline.

[Iliyah]

3. Shithole does not have an ounce of

decency and he will never resign for the sake of the country which he claims he loves so much (lie). The senate Republicans gained seats, and I know of one Democrat that would side with them. McTurtle has done nothing to reel shithole in for any damn thing. Republicans are stacking the courts with crazy unqualified judges and have stacked the US SC to do shithole and right wingers biddings.

Mueller and state courts have much more criminal activity on shithole, family, WH, GOPers, Pence and his administration.

It's going to get really ugly. Shithole and crew will fight and commit more crimes. But I think we are ready and will win!

[MyOwnPeace]

5. Ugly as it is.......

I think your idea of how this will continue to unfold is spot on. What needs to happen is to continue to expose the illegal activities and by 2020 we should be able to capture the Senate and White House, as well as keep the House.
Let the Blue Wave become a Tsunami!