President Trump released the transcript of his call with Ukraine’s president on Wednesday amid outcry from the Democrats over a hearsay whistleblower.
Wall Street Journal writer Kimberly Strassel read the transcript and explains why it is a massive dud for the Democrats.
2)As to call transcript itself: Trump’s actual “favor” is that Ukraine look backward, to what happened in the 2016 election. This is a legitimate ask, since election meddling looks to have come from both Russia and Ukraine.
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019
4)It is actually Zelensky who brings up Rudy Giuliani—saying they can’t wait to “meet him.” And it is Zelensky who references “that investigation,” as he goes on to promise that “all investigations will be done openly and candidly.”
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019
6)Trump’s several references to Giuliani are mostly to say what a great guy he is. He says he will have Giuliani and AG Barr call. He asks Zelensky to speak/work with both.
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019
8)Meanwhile, the IG back in August referred this to DOJ as potential violation of campaign finance law, based on whistleblower complaint. Criminal Division evaluated and determined no violation: “All relevant components of the Department agreed with this legal conclusion.”
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019
10)Media got all this so wrong. And Democrats look all the more partisan and radical to have moved toward impeachment.
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019
Democrats, of course, are trying to spin the transcript to suit their newly re-launched impeachment inquiry.
However, the most concerning takeaway from this is the fact that a second internal takedown attempt has occurred against President Trump.