In their first day of public impeachment hearings, Democrats made clear just how weak their case is.
In beyond-dull testimony, the Dems’ first witnesses, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent and US Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine Bill Taylor, noted their displeasure with the fact that there were “two channels” (a “regular” and an “irregular” one) to Ukraine, and at some point the goals of the two diverged.
Taylor and Kent complained that President Trump conditioned US aid on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announcing that his country would investigate corruption, specifically: Ukrainian interference in the 2016 election and payoffs to then-Vice President Joe Biden’s son Hunter.
That was a policy they disliked, because they feared it would weaken Ukrainian-American ties and Kiev’s ability to defend itself from Russia.
Sorry, but it’s not their place to second-guess Trump or his policies. The president sets foreign policy, not they; if he thought it was important for Ukraine to help uncover evidence of corruption, that’s his call.
As for helping Ukraine defend itself, Trump has done far more than President Barack Obama did, sending not only financial aid but lethal weaponry.
Neither Taylor nor Kent could even offer any direct, firsthand evidence that Trump ever set such must-meet conditions — proof that should be essential to remove a duly elected president. Instead, they merely cited third- and fourth-hand rumors. Neither man ever had direct contact with the president.
And there’s evidence of just the opposite: Zelensky says he felt no pressure, and Ukraine didn’t even know the aid had been held up when he spoke to Trump during the July 25 call that set off the impeachment inquiry. Plus, the money was released without Ukraine announcing investigations.
Fact is, Democrats have already decided that Trump is guilty; the hearings are only meant to convince the public. Too bad for them that they’re so far only giving Americans more cause to be skeptical.