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[quote=Anonymous]If we call it BRIBERY, which is specifically mentioned as a justification for impeachment, will that make you feel better?

For the nerds out there, good discussion of the Framers' understanding of "bribery."

https://www.lawfareblog.com/constitution-says-bribery-impeachable-what-does-mean

[quote]Similarly, “Russell on Crimes,” originally published in 1819, described bribery as [b]“the receiving or offering [of] any undue reward by or to any person whatsoever, in a public office, in order to influence his behaviour in office, and incline him to act contrary to the known rules of honesty and integrity.”[/b]...

...[b]The understanding of bribery at the Founding maps perfectly onto Trump’s conduct in his call with Zelensky. As noted above, Trump made clear to Zelensky that he was asking him for a “favor”—not a favor to benefit the United States as a whole or the public interest, but a favor that would accrue to the personal benefit of Trump by harming his political rival.[/b] Trump’s request that Zelensky work with his private attorney, Rudy Giuliani, underscores that Trump was seeking a private benefit. And Trump was not seeking this “undue reward” (to quote “Russell on Crimes” and the Delaware statute) as a mere aside unrelated to the president’s official role. Rather, he did so in the course of an official diplomatic conversation with a head-of-state.

[b]The transcript makes clear that Trump tied together the request for a personal favor with the delivery of military aid. [/b]But even if he had not made such a direct connection, this sort of corrupt use of public office to obtain a private benefit fits squarely within the definition of bribery when the Constitution was written.[/quote][/quote]

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