Letter to the editor:

Biden immaterial to Trump’s guilt

Tue, Nov 19, 2019 (2 a.m.)

The Republican defense to impeachment is, to a large extent, to explain that President Donald Trump is justified in fighting corruption in Ukraine, including that of the Biden family. But any alleged corruption by the Bidens is no defense to Trump’s crimes.

Trump’s basic wrongdoing is using the power of the president to investigate his political rivals, of which Biden is one. Former President Richard Nixon’s break-in of the Watergate would be a prime example. This wrong is compounded by a second wrongdoing, the crime of involving a foreign country (Ukraine) in our political process for personal benefit. This crime is further compounded by using duly allocated aid to extort Ukraine.

These crimes would be committed even if Joe Biden and/or his son were the most corrupt people on the planet. Trump’s crimes would be committed even if he was trying to get Ukraine to make a statement that Trump is the best president in the history of the world, as this would still be withholding aid for Trump’s political benefit.

For Republicans to argue that investigation of corruption makes Trump’s actions justified misses the point, as Trump’s belief in corruption is a motivating factor in the crime and makes him more likely to be guilty, not innocent. It is like a murderer saying the victim had it coming because he was a bad man. Murder is still murder, despite the good or evil of the deceased. Trump still used government money for his personal benefit.

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