Whistle-Blower’s Complaint Is Said to Involve Multiple Acts by Trump

[Dill]

(09-25-2019, 02:22 PM)Belsnickel Wrote: Just for a fun thought about history, anyone know what Article 2 of Nixon's Articles of Impeachment were about?

I am guessing it was about this: https://watergate.info/impeachment/articles-of-impeachment

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 purposed of these agencies.

Article I, is about Nixon's use of official powers to obstruct investigation into the break in (which he ordered or allowed), ordering witnesses to lie, etc.  While Article 2 is about how Nixon used his official powers to violate the RIGHTS OF OTHER CITIZENS in impeding justice, e.g. by using the IRS to get dirt on opponents and ordering FBI surveillance for purposes unrelated to national security. Article three is about withholding subpoenaed evidence (obstructing/denying oversight, violation of separation of powers).

In your view, does that distill the essential difference of 2 from 1 and 3?

Closest application of Article 2 to Trump now would be the principles driving supporting points 4 and 5:

1. He has failed to take care that the laws were faithfully executed by failing to act when he knew or had reason to know that his close subordinates endeavoured to impede and frustrate lawful inquiries by duly constituted executive, judicial and legislative entities concerning the unlawful entry into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee, and the cover-up thereof, and concerning other unlawful activities including those relating to the confirmation of Richard Kleindienst as Attorney General of the United States, the electronic surveillance of private citizens, the break-in into the offices of Dr. Lewis Fielding, and the campaign financing practices of the Committee to Re-elect the President.
2. In disregard of the rule of law, he knowingly misused the executive power by interfering with agencies of the executive branch, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Criminal Division, and the Office of Watergate Special Prosecution Force, of the Department of Justice, and the Central Intelligence Agency, in violation of his duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.