As we told you earlier, the White House released an unredacted transcript of President Trump’s call with Ukraine’s president after a reported whistleblower complaint reinvigorated Democrats on the impeachment front. The media of course are in another feeding frenzy, but Kimberley Strassel has explained the “real story” in all this:
1) Having read DOJ’s Trump-Ukraine release, here’s the real story: This is another internal attempt to take out a president, on the basis of another non-smoking-gun.
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019
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
3)(Indeed, this is a big enough issue that we find out this morning that U.S. Attorney John Durham is looking at what role the Ukraine played in the FBI investigation.)
— 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
5)Trump says “good” and expresses worries that a “good” prosecutor was “shut down.” Mentions “Biden’s son” and that Biden bragged he “stopped the prosecution.” Ends that bit with “It sounds horrible to me.”
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019
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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
7)And, never mind, because: DOJ in statement says the President has not spoken to AG about investigating Biden and has not asked the AG to contact the Ukraine. Also, Barr has not communicated with Ukraine—“on this or any subject.”
— 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
But what about the whistleblower?
9) Whistleblower? Look at this nugget, referenced in the OLC opinion. The IG’s review found "some indicia of an arguable political bias on the part of the Complainant in favor of a rival political candidate.”
— Kimberley Strassel (@KimStrassel) September 25, 2019
Also the whistleblower wasn’t in the room when Trump was on the call, nor was the whistleblower on the call.
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
“The media got this so wrong” is an evergreen statement, especially in the last three years.