Do Trump’s Tweets Indicate Impeachment Fear?

During Robert Mueller’s Russia Investigation, the word “impeachment” was frequently tossed about in association with Donald Trump. In Trump’s most recent scandal, involving evidence that Trump may have used the powers of his office to get information from a foreign head of state about a political opponent, “impeachment” is no longer just a murmur.

Over the weekend, Trump sent out no less than 80 tweets to express his disdain for what he calls “another witch hunt,” as Democrats moved to go forward with an impeachment inquiry into Trump’s phone calls with the new president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Though Trump publicly tries to maintain a demeanor that alternates between indifference and scorn, the frequency and outrageousness of his recent tweets seem to indicate otherwise. Trump frequently tweets out preposterous pronouncements, but his tweeting over the weekend seems to have reached a new magnitude of extreme and threatening overtone.

“If the Democrats are successful in removing the President from office (which they will never be), it will cause a Civil War like fracture in this Nation from which our Country will never heal,'” Trump tweeted, quoting Pastor Robert Jeffress.

Republican House member Adam Kinzinger  (Illinois) responded, “I have visited nations ravaged by civil war.@realDonaldTrump. I have never imagined such a quote to be repeated by a President. This is beyond repugnant.”

Trump attacked Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., chairman of the House Intelligence Committee via Twitter, claiming that Schiff had misrepresented Trump’s phone call with Zelenskiy, and suggesting Schiff be arrested for treason.

In response, Republican strategist Mike Murphy tweeted, ”Out. Of. Control. Treason? A POTUS saying this? #UnfitAndUnstable.”

Michael Steele, a former Republican National Committee chairman, said about Trump’s manic tweeting, “That’s the president wetting his pants a little bit. This has him nervous. There’s real concern here. The flashing tweets that keep jumping out is his way of trying to get control of something that he’s losing a grip on.”

Trump sent menacing-sounding tweets regarding the whistleblower whose complaint opened this investigation, as well. “…In addition, I want to meet not only my accuser, who presented SECOND & THIRD HAND INFORMATION, but also the person who illegally gave this information, which was largely incorrect, to the ‘Whistleblower.’ Was this person SPYING on the U.S. President? Big Consequences!”

Trump’s tweets, along with his comments last week that the whistleblower was something “close to a spy,” and that in the old days, spies were dealt with differently, prompted three house members to respond: “…Threats of violence from the leader of our country have a chilling effect on the entire whistleblower process, with grave consequences for our democracy and national security.”

Over the weekend, lawyers for the whistleblower expressed concerns for their client’s safety, asking that leaders “condemn any intimidation against our client and others.”

It’s a little surreal that a U.S. president would say something that reasonable people would interpret as a potential threat to the safety of one of his constituents. 

It’s not improbable that Trump’s growing nervousness about an impeachment inquiry, coupled with his lack of impulse control, could cause him, in the weeks ahead, to build a stack of menacing or power-abusing tweets that in themselves could be grounds for an impeachment inquiry.

President Donald Trump fights back amid US impeachment inquiry |
Al-Jazeera [2019-09-30]

Pelosi says impeachment inquiry is worth losing the House in 2020 |
Fox News [2019-09-29]

Democrats Seek Kavanaugh’s Impeachment Following New Reporting

Democrats are now seeking impeachment of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was confirmed in 2018 despite multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. On Sunday, Democrats called for a new investigation following a recent New York Times piece by journalists Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly, who have been examining last year’s accusations against Kavanaugh while doing research for their forthcoming book, The Education of Brett Kavanaugh: An Investigation. 

In addition to Christine Blasey Ford, who testified that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her during high school, Deborah Ramirez, a Yale classmate of Kavanaugh’s, also accused Kavanaugh in 2018 of sexual assault. Ramirez alleged that while both were students at Yale, Kavanaugh exposed himself to her, and forced her to touch his penis as she tried to avoid him.

Ramirez did not testify in 2018, and even though she and her attorneys presented the FBI with 25 witnesses, the Justice Department did not follow up with any of them.

In 2018, Kavanaugh denied Ramirez’ allegation, saying that if it had taken place, it would have been the talk of the campus. Evidently, though, it was. 

Though Kavanaugh’s supporters claimed Ramirez’ accusation was uncorroborated, the New York Times reported: 

“At least seven people, including Ms. Ramirez’s mother, heard about the Yale incident long before Mr. Kavanaugh was a federal judge. Two of those people were classmates who learned of it just days after the party occurred, suggesting that it was discussed among students at the time.”

During their investigation, the two Times journalists detailed additional corroborations of Ramirez’ allegations, as well as turning up a witness with an additional allegation that is nearly identical to that of Ramirez.

According to the Times journalists, “A classmate (of Kavanaugh, Ramirez, and the newly revealed additional victim), Max Stier, saw Mr. Kavanaugh with his pants down at a different drunken dorm party, where friends pushed his penis into the hand of a female student. Mr. Stier, who runs a nonprofit organization in Washington, notified senators and the F.B.I. about this account, but the F.B.I. did not investigate and Mr. Stier has declined to discuss it publicly.” 

It should be noted that friends of this alleged victim say she does not remember the incident. Stier and others concede that that is often the case with events that take place when one is drunk. 

The Times journalists continue, “(We corroborated the story with two officials who have communicated with Mr. Stier.)”

Donald Trump continues to support Kavanaugh while blasting those calling for a new investigation: “Now the Radical Left Democrats and their Partner, the LameStream Media, are after Brett Kavanaugh again, talking loudly of their favorite word, impeachment,” Trump tweeted. “He is an innocent man who has been treated HORRIBLY. Such lies about him. They want to scare him into turning Liberal!”

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) tweeted, “Last year the Kavanaugh nomination was rammed through the Senate without a thorough examination of the allegations against him. Confirmation is not exoneration, and these newest revelations are disturbing. Like the man who appointed him, Kavanaugh should be impeached.”

Beto O’Rourke tweeted, “Yesterday, we learned of another accusation against Brett Kavanaugh—one we didn’t find out about before he was confirmed because the Senate forced the F.B.I. to rush its investigation to save his nomination. We know he lied under oath. He should be impeached.”

Multiple other Democrats have tweeted their support of impeachment for Kavanaugh. Though they must surely realize that the chances of impeaching Kavanaugh are slim to none, perhaps going on record in support of impeachment is enough of a message.

NYT reveals new Kavanaugh assault allegation | Newsy [09-15-2019]

Trump rips new claim against Kavanaugh | Fox News [2019-09-15]