Jose Fly
Fisker of men
After the public hearings in the House Select Committee on Intelligence, we have a unanimous basic narrative from everyone who testified. The main gist of that narrative is that Rudy Giuliani was working in Ukraine with various figures, including people in the State Department. That alone raises some important questions and issues.
In what capacity was Giuliani acting? Was he working for the US government? Or was he acting as a private citizen? This can be answered by looking at who was paying him to be there (who paid for his travel, his time, etc.). Each of those possibilities raises further questions.
Working for the US government
In what position was he employed? At what salary? Did he compete for the position, or was he appointed? Who appointed him? What was the process for him getting the position? What accounts was he charging his time and travel to?
Also, if he was working for the US government, then all his records are therefore federal records and must be preserved, and are also public records, which means the public should have access to them.
Working as a private citizen
The primary concern here is that it is illegal (Logan Act) for private citizens to conduct foreign policy contrary to US national interests. Over the last week we've heard from multiple government officials that Giuliani's activities in Ukraine were harming US relations with Ukraine, were bolstering Russia's positioning with Ukraine, and were generally contrary to US national interests.
Then we also have the same questions as above, i.e., who was paying Giuliani to work in Ukraine? For what purposes? This is concerning because we already know that two of the people he was working with in Ukraine, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, have been arrested and charged with illegally funneling foreign money to Republican campaigns. Further, Parnas' lawyer has stated in court that Giuliani directed him to convey to the Ukrainian government that their military aid was contingent on announcing an investigation into the Bidens.
Some of the other key questions remaining include....
Why is the State Department withholding documents and such from the impeachment inquiry? They are not arguing they're classified nor are they arguing "executive privilege", so what is the justification? Remember, these are federal records, which are supposed to be documentation of government workings. The intent is that since the US taxpayer is paying for everything that goes on in the US government, we have a specific right to know what that money is paying for. Federal employees are trained every year in how to preserve federal records and how to provide them should they be requested.
My point here is that these are the people's records, and as such we have a specific right to see them. So why is the State Department not allowing US taxpayers to see the records?
Why are Pompeo, Mulvaney, Pence, and Perry not testifying? Since it's now apparent that they would be able to shed light on key events, why are they refusing to say what they know? One would think if they have information that's favorable to themselves and/or the President, they would be eager to provide it. Doesn't the US taxpayer have a right to know what their government is doing?
In what capacity was Giuliani acting? Was he working for the US government? Or was he acting as a private citizen? This can be answered by looking at who was paying him to be there (who paid for his travel, his time, etc.). Each of those possibilities raises further questions.
Working for the US government
In what position was he employed? At what salary? Did he compete for the position, or was he appointed? Who appointed him? What was the process for him getting the position? What accounts was he charging his time and travel to?
Also, if he was working for the US government, then all his records are therefore federal records and must be preserved, and are also public records, which means the public should have access to them.
Working as a private citizen
The primary concern here is that it is illegal (Logan Act) for private citizens to conduct foreign policy contrary to US national interests. Over the last week we've heard from multiple government officials that Giuliani's activities in Ukraine were harming US relations with Ukraine, were bolstering Russia's positioning with Ukraine, and were generally contrary to US national interests.
Then we also have the same questions as above, i.e., who was paying Giuliani to work in Ukraine? For what purposes? This is concerning because we already know that two of the people he was working with in Ukraine, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, have been arrested and charged with illegally funneling foreign money to Republican campaigns. Further, Parnas' lawyer has stated in court that Giuliani directed him to convey to the Ukrainian government that their military aid was contingent on announcing an investigation into the Bidens.
Some of the other key questions remaining include....
Why is the State Department withholding documents and such from the impeachment inquiry? They are not arguing they're classified nor are they arguing "executive privilege", so what is the justification? Remember, these are federal records, which are supposed to be documentation of government workings. The intent is that since the US taxpayer is paying for everything that goes on in the US government, we have a specific right to know what that money is paying for. Federal employees are trained every year in how to preserve federal records and how to provide them should they be requested.
My point here is that these are the people's records, and as such we have a specific right to see them. So why is the State Department not allowing US taxpayers to see the records?
Why are Pompeo, Mulvaney, Pence, and Perry not testifying? Since it's now apparent that they would be able to shed light on key events, why are they refusing to say what they know? One would think if they have information that's favorable to themselves and/or the President, they would be eager to provide it. Doesn't the US taxpayer have a right to know what their government is doing?