TRUMP’S OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
To watch this video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3Bnv1cubug
Steve Bannon recently called Trump’s
firing of James Comey the biggest political mistake in modern political
history. But it was more than that.
It was outright obstruction of
justice – another impeachable offense to add to the impeachable offenses Trump
has already committed (violation of the Constitution’s “emolument’s clause,”
failure to faithfully execute the laws, and abuse of power).
Obstruction of justice was among the
articles of impeachment drafted against both Presidents Nixon and Clinton.
The parallel between Nixon and Trump
is almost exact. White House tapes revealed Nixon giving instructions to
pressure the acting FBI director into halting the Watergate investigation.
It’s worth recalling that two weeks
after Trump told Comey privately “I need loyalty. I expect loyalty,” he had
another private meeting with Comey in the Oval Office.
After shooing out his advisers – all of whom had top security clearance – Trump said to Comey, according to Comey’s memo written shortly after the meeting,“I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.”
Then on May 9, Trump fired Comey.
In a subsequent interview with NBC Trump said he planned to fire Comey “regardless of [the] recommendation” of the Attorney and Deputy Attorney General, partly because of “this Russia thing.”
Trump also revealed in the interview that he had had several conversations with Comey about the Russia investigation, and had asked Comey if he was under investigation.
In a subsequent interview with NBC Trump said he planned to fire Comey “regardless of [the] recommendation” of the Attorney and Deputy Attorney General, partly because of “this Russia thing.”
Trump also revealed in the interview that he had had several conversations with Comey about the Russia investigation, and had asked Comey if he was under investigation.
The federal crime of obstruction of
justice applies to “[w]hoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any
threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or
endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration
of the law” in a proceeding or investigation by a government department or
agency or Congress.
As in Nixon’s case, a decision to
support an “inquiry of impeachment” resolution in the House—to start an
impeachment investigation—doesn’t depend on sufficient evidence to convict a
person of obstruction of justice, but simply probable cause to believe a
president may have obstructed justice.
There’s already more than enough evidence of probable cause to begin that impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump.
There’s already more than enough evidence of probable cause to begin that impeachment inquiry of Donald Trump.
ROBERT
B. REICH is Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of
California at Berkeley and Senior Fellow at the Blum Center for Developing
Economies. He served as Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, for
which Time Magazine named him one of the ten most effective cabinet secretaries
of the twentieth century. He has written fourteen books, including the best
sellers "Aftershock", "The Work of Nations,"
and"Beyond Outrage," and, his most recent, "Saving
Capitalism." He is also a founding editor of the American Prospect
magazine, chairman of Common Cause, a member of the American Academy of Arts
and Sciences, and co-creator of the award-winning documentary, INEQUALITY FOR
ALL.