As if we did not need more proof that the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump is insincere from the Democrats.
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, the king of hyperbole, began the hearing with DNI Director Joseph Maguire with fake quotes from the phone call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This is what Schiff said:
And what is the President’s response — well it reads like a classic organized crime shake down. In essence, what the President Trump communicates is this: We’ve been very good to your country. Very good. No other country has done as much as we have. But you know what, I don’t see much reciprocity here. You know what I mean? I hear what you want. I have a favor I want from you though. And I’m going to say this only seven times, so you better listen good. I want you to make up dirt on my political opponent, understand? Lots of dirt, on this and on that. I’m going to put you in touch with people, and not just any people. I’m going to put you in touch with the Attorney General of the United States — my Attorney General, Bill Barr — he’s got the whole weight of American law enforcement behind him. And I’m going to put you in touch with Rudy, you’re going to love him. Trust me. You know what I’m asking, so I’m only going to say this a few more times, in a few more ways. And don’t call me again. I’ll call you when you’ve done what I asked.
This is from the phone call transcript:
After people called him out, Schiff tried to save face:
Later in the hearing, Schiff admitted that his fictional account of the transcript was a “parody.”“My summary of the president’s call was meant to be at least part in parody,” Schiff tried to clarify. “Of course the president never said if I — if you don’t understand me, I’ll say it seven more times.”
Schiff previously described the phone call as a mafia-like shakedown and “far more damning” then he could possibly ever imagine.
The transcript did not show any of that. It told the story of Trump showing support for Ukraine as it still battles a war with Russia in the east.
Trump never threatened to withhold aid from Ukraine if the new prosecutor did not investigate Vice President Joe Biden over the firing of the previous Ukrainian prosecutor. Biden supposedly wanted the prosecutor to stop investigating the energy company that employed his son Hunter.
Trump suggested an investigation and Zelensky happily agreed. Zelensky said the situation has become important to him as well.
Later on Wednesday Zelensky said no one pressured him at all.
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