Takes issue with Republican plan for impeachment trial
So, let me get this straight.
First, the White House does everything it can to prevent the House investigation from obtaining evidence through 1) its flat refusal to supply requested documents and, 2) its refusal to allow key witnesses to appear through its convoluted claims of executive privilege. It is useful to point out here that, while the House investigating committee could have pursued the enforcement of their subpoenas through the courts, at the outset, it appeared this process could have taken months. So they elected not to drag things out. Meanwhile, Republican legislators labeled the investigation as illegitimate, a sham, and too hurried — the shortest ever (which was accurate, to be fair, but you see why). On Monday, John Bolton, former National Security advisor who was also a subpoenaed witness given his critical role at the center of whatever it was that happened in the White House dealings with Ukraine – and subsequently prevented from testifying by the White House — unexpectedly released a statement saying that he would testify in the Senate impeachment trial if subpoenaed. Immediately, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), issued a statement of his own in which he argued that the Senate trial should be limited to evidence already presented in the House. How convenient.
To sum up, then, what Senator Rubio is apparently just fine with is this:
Step 1, have the defendant obstruct the presentation of evidence in the House; then,
Step 2, have the Senate jury refuse to consider this previously obstructed evidence when it becomes readily available later.
If that sounds completely and totally wrong to you, it’s because it is. If, that is, it remains true that no one is above the law, including the President.
Steve Martin once proposed a simple, 2-step plan to get rich on Saturday Night Live, probably back in the 70’s. It went like this: First, get a million dollars. Then don’t pay your taxes. Voila, you’re rich! If only it were that easy. Senator Rubio’s “plan” shouldn’t be easy, either.
Don’t forget, though, that you have a voice in this. You can call the offices of Senators Wicker and Hyde-Smith to urge them to vote to allow the testimony of Bolton and other witnesses. If you did, you’d be in line with seven out of 10 fellow Americans — clear majorities among Democrats, Republicans, and independents — who also see the hypocrisy here.
Paul Mack
Columbus
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 41 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.