Political Quotes

“Mr. Chief Justice, I send a question to the desk for House managers and counsel to the President. The CHIEF JUSTICE. Thank you. The House managers will respond first to this question from Senator Warren. If Ukrainian President Zelensky called President Trump and offered dirt on President Trump's political rivals in exchange for President Trump handing over hundreds of millions in military aid, that would clearly be bribery and an impeachable offense. So why would it be more acceptable-- and somehow not impeachable--for the reverse, that is, for President Trump to propose the same corrupt bargain? Mr. Manager NADLER. Bribery is obviously an impeachable offense. Bribery is contained within the accusation at the House level of abuse of power. We explained in the Judiciary Committee report that the practice of impeachment in the United States has tended to envelope charges of bribery within the broader standard of other high crimes and misdemeanors. That is the historical standard. The elements of bribery are clearly established here. The abuse of power is clearly established. When the President of the United States offers something--extorts a foreign power to get a benefit for himself, withholds military aid in order to get that foreign power to do something that would help him politically--that is clearly bribery, it is clearly an abuse of power, and there is no question about it. Now, by the way, the question was raised earlier as to what the proper standard of proof is.…”