Jokes On Jokes
A couple of weeks ago, a whistleblower complaint regarding President Trump started causing a row in Washington D.C. At the time, all that was reported was the president’s engagement in some unsavory behavior with another foreign national leader. We soon learned more - the aforementioned leader was Ukraninan president Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A few weeks ago, the details came fully to light: Trump had asked Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, and his business dealings in Ukraine. Trump is in no position to do this - a president cannot ask for a citizen to be criminally investigated - this can amount to harassment of a political opponent as well as a violation of Hunter Biden’s rights.
Full disclosure - this impeachment inquiry is not a stagnant topic. We are getting new information surrounding this information every day, and there is a good chance that some of this new information will paint a different picture than the one we have right now. However, I think this is important enough that we need to discuss exactly what is happening as it unfolds before us.
In response to the whistleblower complaint, House Democrats started impeachment inquiry proceedings, giving out subpoenas like no one’s business. Even though several Republican lawmakers have criticized Trump for his call to Ukraine, most of them have - as shown time and time again - defended Trump through the entire controversy, citing the far-right “deep-state” theory, or ascertaining this as another political hack job. However, had the whistleblower not filed the complaint, Trump could’ve used his position to undercut one of his political opponents without leaving a trace. The 45th president would have warped foreign policy in order to fill his personal political agenda, and no one would have been the wiser.
The way Trump portrays the story, asking for interference in our elections is legal and ethical. Last week on Twitter, he explained, “As the President of the United States, I have an absolute right, perhaps even a duty, to investigate, or have investigated, CORRUPTION, and that would include asking, or suggesting, other Countries to help us out!”. The way Trump distorts his actions into a crusade against corruption is a sardonic joke. The fact is, he abused his position for personal political gain and violated FEC (Federal Election Commission) law. Trump clearly believes that he is bulletproof after the Mueller investigation lost steam. This latest scandal will test the resilience of this administration.
Gabriel Zita is a junior studying psychology.