Mr. Write's Page

A crime of moral turpitude is conduct that is corrupt or degenerate. An offense that gravely violates accepted standards.

Black’s Law Dictionary defines it an act of “baseness, vileness, or the depravity in private and social duties which man owes to his fellow man, or to society in general, contrary to the accepted and customary rule of right and duty between man and man.”

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals once called it “an act which is per se morally reprehensible and intrinsically wrong.”

People, it’s long past time to do the deed.

Donald Trump, the Orange Vulgarian — grifter, swindler, cheater, liar, modern-day Benedict Arnold — corrupt, incompetent, spectacularly unqualified to serve — a man who commits crimes of moral turpitude as readily as he breathes — should have been impeached long ago.

The House Democrats need to suck it up and proceed. Trump’s offenses are so numerous and so egregious, the House could pick Articles of Impeachment out of a hat.

Trump is guilty of a plethora of crimes, to some of which he has admitted. Every few days, he seems to add a new offense.

Pelosi — House Democrats — let’s get on with this! Impeach him!

If you’re having trouble drafting the Articles, maybe I can help.

I am a humble journalism major, so I have to depend on the Google to help me with the technicalities of the impeachment process. No problem. I looked up the Nixon Articles from 1974, and they are relatively simple and straightforward. Consider this excerpt from the articles.

———

Article 2

Using the powers of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, in violation of his constitutional oath faithfully to execute the office of President of the United States and, to the best of his ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in disregard of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, has repeatedly engaged in conduct violating the constitutional rights of citizens, impairing the due and proper administration of justice and the conduct of lawful inquiries, or contravening the laws governing agencies of the executive branch and the purposes of these agencies.

This conduct has included one or more of the following:

1. He has, acting personally and through his subordinates and agents, endeavoured to obtain from the Internal Revenue Service, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, confidential information contained in income tax returns for purposed not authorized by law, and to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be initiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.

———

That was how the House accused Nixon of using the IRS to dig up dirt on his enemies. Which is, you know, illegal. And which easily qualifies in the “high crimes and misdemeanors” department.

Okay, specifically, what has Trump done to warrant impeachment? Plenty.

— Trump accepted help from Russia (Russia!) during the 2016 election, coordinating with them as they sabotaged the Democrats and flooded social media with false and misleading information designed to sway and/or confuse voters. Impeachable.

— Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who was overseeing the investigation into Trump’s ties with Russia. Trump then publicly admitted he fired Comey because of the “Russia thing.” Impeachable.

— Trump has failed to produce papers and witnesses required by lawful subpoenas from House committees. Impeachable.

— Trump instructed Border Patrol agents to illegally block migrants from entering the United States. “If judges give you trouble,” he told the agents, just say “we don’t have the room.” He further offered to pardon the head of the Border Patrol if necessary. Impeachable.

— Trump withheld funds Congress appropriated for Ukraine to pressure the Ukrainian President into announcing an investigation of Joe Biden and his son. (When the facts came out and reporters asked Trump about it, he repeated the call for Ukraine to investigate the Bidens.) Textbook quid pro quo. Impeachable.

— Trump has refused to divest from his business interests and therefore routinely accepts illegal benefits when government officials, foreign or domestic, spend money at a Trump property. A textbook violation of the Emoluments Clause. Impeachable.

— Trump recently announced that the 2020 G-7 Conference would be held at his golf resort in Doral, Florida. Doing so would generate massive illegal profits for Trump. He was pressured to back down, but he made the attempt. Impeachable.

— In order to deter immigrants from crossing the southern border, Trump separated up to 5,000 children from their families and held them in makeshift camps widely described as inhumane. No provisions were made to reunite the children with their families. That sorry episode is a crime of moral turpitude on steroids. Impeachable.

— Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen is in jail for lying about paying hush money to women who had affairs with Trump. Cohen paid the women, and Trump reimbursed him — after they discussed the matter in (drum roll) the Oval Office. Deplorable. Impeachable.

The foregoing list, which I compiled quickly and easily, is neither comprehensive nor complete. But it probably includes enough ammunition for two dozen solid Articles of Impeachment.

And I didn’t even mention Trump’s unbelievable betrayal of the Kurds to benefit his Turkish and Russian dictator pals. Compared to Trump, ordinary traitors are choir boys.

Pelosi — House Democrats — assemble the lawyers. Let’s get on with this. Impeach him.