The Argument for Impeachment

-by Bill Watkins 5/17/2017 edited 5/18/2017

There are matters under investigation by professionals at the FBI.  Pending matters that will bear in any Trump impeachment argument.

Extent of Trump involvement in coordinating the Russian infiltration of the 2016 U.S. election process is just not known at this time.

What is known?  And is what we know so far enough for an impeachment?

January 4th, 2017:

Dereliction of Duty, Security Breach, Vetting

According to multi-sourced reporting, Michael Flynn attorneys warn the White House transition team that Flynn was under FBI investigation for being an unreported foreign agent.

January 20th, 2017:

Michael Flynn is sworn in as National Security Advisor anyway.

January 27th, 2017:  (https://travelingpoet.net/2017/05/12/the-optics-of-trumps-january-27th/)

1. Dereliction of Duty

*Sally Yates makes a second in-person warning about Michael Flynn, which is ignored by the White House.

*Trump issues an unconstitutional travel ban—an order not likely to be enforced by Yates, allowing Trump “grounds” for firing her the following Monday.

2. Comey Dinner, Tampering with an Ongoing FBI investigation, Possible Obstruction of Justice

*Suspicious Comey/Trump Dinner planned and executed for the evening of January 27th, while travelers are stranded and detained nation-wide due to Trump’s unconstitutional ban unlikely to be enforced by whistleblower AG Sally Yates.

February 14th, 2017:

Obstruction of Justice.

According to a James Comey memo, reported on first by the New York Times just yesterday—Donald Trump pulled his FBI director aside in a personal meeting, asked him to “this this go,” referring to any Michael Flynn investigation.

This was a day after Flynn resigned under the pressure of a Washington Post piece that outed Flynn’s inappropriate talk with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyac about U.S. sanctions.

March 22nd, 2017:

Nunes Dance – Obstruction/White House Involved

House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes runs around the White House, collecting top secret documents from White House staff, then claiming to inform the White House/Trump on the matter the next day.  (https://travelingpoet.net/2017/03/31/trump-coordination-with-nunes-obvious/)

March 25th, 2017:

Devin Nunes cancels a House Intelligence public hearing scheduled for the following Tuesday, where Sally Yates was due to testify, thwarting the Committee’s investigation into Russian interference with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and possible coordination between Trump’s campaign and that interference.

April 25, 2017:

According to sourced reporting, Trump reaches out to Michael Flynn, fired since February and still under FBI investigation—tells him to “stay strong.”

May 9th, 2017:

Firing Comey – Obstruction of Justice

Trump fires James Comey, chief investigator into Trump’s campaign.  Lester Holt’s (NBC) May 11th interview reflects Trump’s intent to fire the FBI chief over the Russia/Trump investigation.

May 10th, 2017:

Treason, Dereliction, Mishandling Classified Documents

Trump does a Russian tap-dance in Oval Office with Lavrov and Kislyac.

Trump allegedly gives classified information to the Russians, allows Russian photographers into the meeting, barring U.S. press.

May 16th, 2017:

Comey Memo leaks to the New York Times, more Republicans speaking of the need for an “independent investigator” to handle the Russia case.

Justin Amash (R, Michigan), Walter Jones (R, North Carolina) and Carlos Curbelo (R, Florida) are the first Republicans to talk of possible impeachment proceedings.