Q & A Peach Mint Highlights: Wed Jan 29 2020: page 5
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Q: Sen Burr from NC for POTUS team: House mgrs want to say that Mulvaney supported their his quid pro quo claims in his presser. What supports that?
A: Purpura: Mulvaney issued 2 stmts: one after presser and one after NYT article on Bolton book came out. Presser stmt: no quid pro quo. [there's more] Second stmt: Jan 27: Bob Driscoll, Mulvaney's atty: Bolton never conveyed concerns to Mulvaney. Nor did M converse with POTUS about quid pro quo re Biden investigation; does not recall talking to Rudy about this either.
Q: Senator from MD for both parties: What did Bolton mean re "whatever drug deal Sondland and Mulvaney are cooking up on this"? Ever raised in a mtg with Trump?
A: Schiff: [see Hill testimony; very complex and longwinded story]. Bring Bolton is and he can tell you.
A: Philbin: This comment is hearsay; there are conflicting accts. Hill vs Sondland. Not going to speculate.
Q: Sen from ND for POTUS team: Aid was released to Uk in Sept 2019. Did the Uk govt ultimately meet any of the House-alleged reqt's to receive the aid?
A: Purpura: Aid was never conditioned upon investigations done on the Bidens.
Q: Sen from VA for House mgrs: Additional info on Rudy's "conspiracy theories"? Should Senate have this info?
A: Schiff: See Virginia Williams testimony. There's some other info. 3rd category is from NSA; they are advised not to provide it. Is intel community withholding info due to influence of POTUS? 6:19 PST
Q: Sen from AL for POTUS mgrs: Dif between maladministration and abuse of power? What is the line between a policy disgreement and an impeachable offense?
A: Dershowitz: Rejection of maladmin as ground for impeachment bc it's too vague. Gives Congress too much power. [See is comments on Laurence Tribe.] So the Founders struck a balance between mentioning specific crimes and "high crimes and misdemeanors." [Dersh changed his mind based on what he sees w/impeachment of current POTUS.] Abuse of power" as a criteria [is unacceptable].
Q: Sen from MN for House mgrs: Senate has wide discretion but must have a constitutionally fair trial. Do we need witnesses for it to be fair?
A: Schiff: Yes…..then a response to Dersh (above), who previously saw abuse of power as a valid reason for impeachment. Thinks D was correct previously not now.
DINNER BREAK