Updated December 18, 2019: New timeline date added for 16 Dec 2019: Rudy admits he help oust ambassador.
Trump has been caught red-handed…again. This time extorting Ukraine’s president — a direct violation of Federal laws and the Constitution. This act is considered by many to be the worst act of corruption committed by a President in American history.
Since all Americans are LAW-n-ORDER folks, we are all concerned about the following crimes:
- Federal anti-extortion laws: According to The Hobbs Act, it is illegal if Trump “in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion.” The word “extortion” is defined as “obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right.” The Hobbs Act also defines extortion as “the obtaining of property from another.”
- Federal campaign laws: it is illegal to “solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation” from a foreign national. Trump himself released a transcript that indicates he likely broke this law. This law defines a “contribution or donation” as “money” or another “thing of value”. The opposition research on Biden is a “thing of value.”
- Federal anti-bribery laws: it is a criminal act for any public official who “corruptly demands, seeks, receives, accepts, or agrees to receive or accept anything of value personally or for any other person or entity, in return for … being influenced in the performance of any official act.”
- Federal obstruction laws: “18 U.S. Code § 1519, Destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in Federal investigations and bankruptcy” law states it is an illegal act for anyone who “knowingly alters, destroys, mutilates, conceals, covers up, falsifies, or makes a false entry in any record, document, or tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, or influence” a federal investigation.
These crimes will likely morph into the following articles of impeachment:
- Abuse of Power
- Obstruction of Congress
- Obstruction of Justice
Essential Timeline
#UkraineTimeline #UkraineGate #UkraineScandal
April 1, 2019: Fake journalist John Solomon pushes Putin’s Ukraine conspiracy
Corrupt journalist John Solomon published a piece in right-wing outlet The Hill titled “Joe Biden’s 2020 Ukrainian nightmare.” Solomon gave false credence to a number of Russian-pushed Ukraine-related conspiracies linked to Putin that have found a receptive audience in Trump and some of his closest allies.
April 1-7: Parnas, Giuliani, and Solomon calls; Conspire?
From April 1 to 7, the report said, Parnas spoke with Giuliani about 16 times and Solomon about 10 times.
April 7: Solomon pushes attacks on Ambassador Yovanovitch
On April 7, Solomon published an op-ed article attacking Ambassador Yovanovitch.
April 10: Giuliani-Nunes Calls; Parnas-Solomon calls; Conspiracy?
The impeachment report documents that Giuliani and Nunes had several phone calls, and later Parnas and Solomon had a nearly five-minute call.
April 12: Congressman Nunes and Parnas 8 minute phone call
Lev Parnas, Trump´s thug, reached out to Devin Nunes, Trump´s lawyer Rudy Giuliani, and fake journalist John Solomon. Nunes and Parnas had an 8.5 minute phone call. Rudy Giuliani then called the White House.
Interestingly, on the same day the public learned about this phone call, Lev Parnas’ lawyer Joseph Bondy tweeted the following:
There are tapes!
On Nov 25, 2019 the public learned for the first time that Lev Parnas turned over tapes to Congress. The House impeachment investigators have secret recordings of Trump and Rudy Giuliani, given to them by Giuliani’s associate Lev Parnas
April 21, 2019: Zelensky Elected President of Ukraine
May 2019: Giuliani Associates Travel to Ukraine
According to the whistleblower report, two associates of Giuliani travel to Ukraine and meet with Ukrainian officials. Also in May, Giuliani meets with a top Ukrainian anti-corruption prosecutor, Nazar Kholodnytsky, in Paris, according to Kholodnytsky.
During this time, the president’s private lawyer Rudy Giuliani pursued personal business with Ukrainian officials. He was trying to secure hundreds of thousands of dollars for himself.
May 2019: Trump Coordinates with Giuliani and Sondland
Reporting in Oct 2019 has confirmed President Trump coordinated, colluded, and conspired with his personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and the European Ambassador Gordon Sondland in mid-May. Rudy, a private citizen, and Gordon, the Ambassodor elsewhere had no business running a shadow government for the personal benefit of Trump. The pressure on President-elect Zelenskiy started about a week before his inauguration.
May 7, 2019: Trump Removes Ukraine Ambassador
In a suspect move, Trump removes the Ukraine ambassador Yovanovitch. She was in good standing and this act has yet to be explained. According to the transcript released by the White House, Trump says, “The former ambassador from the United States, the woman, was bad news, and the people she was dealing with in the Ukraine were bad news so I just want to let you know that.”
Seven days later Giuliani admits to a Ukrainian journalist that Yovanovitch was “removed … because she was part of the efforts against the president.”
May 9, 2019: Giuliani to Travel to Ukraine
Giuliani announces he will travel to Ukraine to push for investigations for Trump’s campaign “because that information will be very, very helpful to my client, and may turn out to be helpful to my government.”
Two days later, Rudy cancels his Ukraine trip amid a backlash over a personal aide breaking the law for the president and seeking damaging information about a political opponent from a foreign government.
May 13: A.G. Barr is Involved!
Barr announces a probe into the origins of the investigation into Russian interference. The whistleblower cites a report claiming that the Giuliani investigators’ work will aid this probe.
May 14: V.P. Pence is Involved!
According to the whistleblower report, Trump tells Vice President Pence not to attend Zelensky’s inauguration. Trump sent Energy Secretary Rick Perry instead. According to the whistleblower, it was “made clear” to officials that “the President did not want to meet with Mr. Zelensky until he saw how Zelensky ‘chose to act’ in office.”
Update, Oct 3, 2019: On this day, Officials close to Pence denied that V.P. Pence knew about the blackmail despite the fact that his staff was on the call specifically to help Pence prep for an upcoming Ukraine visit.
About May 15th: Ukraine Told to “play ball”
According to the whistleblower, Ukrainian leaders were told and believed “that a meeting or phone call between the President and President Zelensky would depend on whether Zelensky showed willingness to ‘play ball’ on the issues that had been publicly aired by Mr. Lutsenko and Mr. Giuliani.”
May 16: Lutsenko REPEATS there is no evidence of any wrongdoing by the Bidens.
May 20: Zelensky Takes Office (Inaugurated)
Jun 13: Trump Announces he is Willing to Collude with Foreign Governments
In a taped interview in the oval office, Trump says, “I think you might want to listen, there isn’t anything wrong with listening. If somebody called from a country, Norway, ‘We have information on your opponent’? Oh, I think I’d want to hear it.”
Also the same day, the Federal Election Commission points out that this would be illegal.
About July 11th: Sondland Quid Pro Quo
About Jul 18, 2019: Trump Suspends Ukraine Aid
Trump ordered the withholding of military aid to Ukraine about one week before his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
July 21: Taylor expresses concerns from the Ukrainian government:
Taylor: Gordon, one thing Kurt and I talked about yesterday was Sasha Danyliuk’s point that President Zelenskyy is sensitive about Ukraine being taken seriously, not merely as an instrument in Washington domestic, reelection politics.
Sondland: Absolutely, but we need to get the conversation started and the relationship built, irrespective of the pretext. I am worried about the alternative.
Jul 24, 2019: Mueller Concludes Congressional Testimony
Robert Mueller testifies to Congress:
“It wasn’t a single attempt. They’re doing it as we sit here. And they expect to do it during the next campaign.” –Rober Mueller
The very next day, Trump participates in Russia’s attack on America and asks the Ukraine President:
“…I need a favor, though…” –Trump, the next day.
This is an important event because it is clear that if America does not stop Trump now, he will commit more crimes.
Jul 25, 2019: Volker tells Yermak, Zelensky needs to tell Trump he will participate in a quid pro quo
Volker to Yermak 30 minutes before the call:
“Good lunch — thanks. Heard from White House — assuming President Z convinces trump he will investigate / ‘get to the bottom of what happened’ in 2016, we will nail down date for visit to Washington. Good luck! See you tomorrow -kurt.”
The above text was read during day 1 of the Public Impeachment hearings on 13 Nov 2019.
Jul 25, 2019: Trump Phone Call with Ukraine President
According to the whistleblower, “I learned from multiple U.S. officials that senior White House officials had intervened to ‘lock down’ all records of the phone call, especially the official word-for-word transcript of the call that was produced — as is customary — by the White House Situation Room. This set of actions underscored to me that White House officials understood the gravity of what had transpired in the call.”
According to the whistleblower, White House officials told him or her that they were directed by White House lawyers to move the transcript from the normal documentation archive and to “a separate electronic system that is otherwise used to store and handle classified information of an especially sensitive nature” which was an “act of abuse” and “this was ‘not the first time’ under this Administration that a Presidential transcript was placed into this codeword-level system solely for the purpose of protecting politically sensitive — rather than national security sensitive — information.”
July 26: Trump Sends Henchmen to Ukraine to Twist Arms
According to the whistleblower, Volker and Sondland travel to Kiev and meet with Zelensky and other politicians they “reportedly provided advice to the Ukrainian leadership about how to ‘navigate’ the demands that the President had made of” Zelensky.
July 28: Trump announces that DNI Coats will resign in August.
Aug. 2: Giuliani Meets with Ukraine Officials in Madrid, Spain
Rudy meets with Andriy Yermak, an adviser to Zelensky. According to the whistleblower, this was a “direct follow-up” to call on July 25. The NYT reported that Rudy encouraged Zelensky’s government to investigate Hunter Biden and that Rudy also reached out to other Zelensky advisers. The next day, Zelensky announces he will travel to the United States to meet with Trump.
Aug 8: Acting DNI Joseph Maguire Announced
Current DNI Coats leaves office 7 days later.
Aug 12: Whistleblower Files Complaint
Late August: Congress, both sides, Raise Concerns about Ukraine Aid
Lawmakers raise concerns about Ukraine aid being withheld. They cited its importance to defend the former Soviet republic from Russia. Trump gives in a few days later and releases the aid on Sep 11th.
Aug 29: Taylor Learns of Quid Pro Quo
Taylor sent a cable to Secretary Pompeo. Received no response, but Pompeo did take it to the Whitehouse.
Source: Ambassador Taylor congressional testimony, opening statement.
Sep 1: Pence Tells Ukraine, No Aid Until they Comply with Quid Pro Quo
Zelensky met Pence where Zelensky asked about the aid. Pence replied that Zelensky needed to do more on corruption prior to getting aid. This is the day Taylor learned from Sondland that the quid pro quo included Burisma and 2016 election.
The same day, Taylor sends the following text to Sondland:
“Are we now saying that security assistance and WH meeting are conditioned on investigations?”
Source: Ambassador Taylor congressional testimony.
Sep 9, 2019: Taylor Text to Sondland
[9/9/19, 12:31:06 AM] Bill Taylor: The message to the Ukrainians (and Russians) we send with the decision on security assistance is key. With the hold, we have already shaken their faith in us. Thus my nightmare scenario.
[9/9/19, 12:34:44 AM] Bill Taylor: Counting on you to be right about this interview, Gordon.
[9/9/19, 12:37:16 AM] Gordon Sondland: Bill, I never said I was “right”. I said we are where we are and believe we have identified the best pathway forward. Lets hope it works.
[9/9/19, 12:47:11 AM] Bill Taylor: As I said on the phone, I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign
Sep 11, 2019: Ukraine Aid Released After Whistleblower Report
Aid was released AFTER we all including Trump knew publicly that Trump was withholding aid. Republicans even testified and objected to Trump’s actions in Congress. Trump knew about the whistleblower complaint prior to unfreezing military aid to Ukraine.
On September 22, 2019, Mitt Romney tweeted:
Mon Sep 23, 2019: Trump Indicates Corruption is Cause for Freeze
Trump says he froze the funds because he was worried about “corruption” and if “that country is honest.” The next day, he evolved his explanation this time claiming he wanted “Europe and other nations” to spend their own money.
Thu Sep 26, 2019: Trump Implies Whistleblowers Should be Killed
Trump told embassy workers in an official speech that whistleblowers should be shot. He said whistleblowers are like spies and we used to handle them differently. He was referring to the fact that we used to shoot spies. Wow!
Here is a Youtube video if you want to hear Trump in his own voice today saying whistleblowers are like spies, and we should handle them like we used to…which was to murder them.
Thu Sep 26, 2019: DNI Testifies to Congress
The details of the day are that the Trump-appointed ICIG determined a whistle-blower complaint is to go to Congress. By law, he gave it to Trump’s acting DNI. The DNI made a mistake, perhaps breaking the law, and went to the White House and the DOJ who are BOTH in the complaint. He went to the criminals to ask if he should pass it on.
The DNI did also give the info to the FBI but, again, Barr told the FBI not to investigate. The “acting” DNI believes he did the right thing. Republicans agree with him. Most others believe he should have followed the law and passed the complaint on to Congress.
For the record, the DNI’s “excuses” are weak. Listen to both sides and make up your mind. Ex-Republican Will Hurd is questioning was a clear calling for an update to the Whistle-Blower law to fix this ambiguity that most do not think exists.
Fri Sep 27, 2019: Special Envoy Kurt Volker Resigns
On this day, special envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker was subpoenaed to testify Oct 3, 2019. Volker then resigned. Resigning frees him up to testify without interference from Trump.
Mon Sep 28…
Three congressional committees subpoena Rudy Giuliani for documents.
We learned that William Barr personally traveled around the globe trying to disgrace our intelligence agencies on behave of the Trump campaign.
Mike Pompeo was on the Ukraine call with Trump. He was directly asked on an interview and lied to the public for no other reason other than to cover up a crime, or at least, an embarrassing act.
Thu Oct 3, 2019: Trump Asks China to Interfere in our Election
Trump literally called on China to investigate one of his political opponents, Joe Biden. Right on TV. In the open. Again. This act broke less laws than the Ukraine blackmail phone call, but is still illegal.
Crime=Federal campaign laws. It is illegal to “solicit, accept, or receive a contribution or donation” from a foreign national. Trump himself released a transcript that indicates he likely broke this law. This law defines a “contribution or donation” as “money” or another “thing of value”. The opposition research on Biden is a “thing of value.”
Trump supporters need to decide if they believe their own eyes, or that what Trump did is not a crime. Common sense says he knows he has already admitted his guilt is trying to normalize breaking the Constitution. As a reminder, the Constitution is law. In fact, it is the supreme law of the land.
Once again, the same day, the Federal Election Commission points out that this is illegal.
Tue Oct 3: Volker testifies to Congress
“I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign.” –Text sent BEFORE whistleblower complaint.
November 25: Courts rule against Trump’s nonsensical “absolute immunity” claim
“Stated simply, the primary takeaway from the past 250 years of recorded American history is that presidents are not kings.” –Judge Jackson ruling.
Dec 16: Rudy admits on TV he helped oust the Ambassador
On The Ingraham Angle, Giuliani admitted he played a leading role in last spring’s ouster of Ambassador Yovanovitch. Yovanovitch’s removal set the stage for Trump’s criminal efforts over the summer to blackmail Ukraine into announcing a fake investigation into Joe and Hunter Biden.
“I forced her out because she’s corrupt,”
Giuliani said, before alluding to sketchily sourced information he dredged up during his just-completed trip to Ukraine and adding,
“I came back with a document that will show unequivocally that she committed perjury when she said that she turned down the visa for [Viktor] Shokin because of corruption …. there’s no question that she was acting corruptly in that position, and had to be removed. She should have been fired, if the State Department weren’t part of the deep state.”
