(10-29-2019, 02:31 PM)mikesez Wrote:

(10-29-2019, 02:16 PM)MalabarJag Wrote:
Here is the quote I found:


I read that as a political concern, rather than an claim of wrongdoing.

The text of the call that was released (and it was detailed enough that I don't expect the actual call to have been different in spite of your skepticism) never demanded (or even asked for) Ukraine to investigate Biden, those words are just a lie being propagated by those opposed to Trump. What was requested was to contact Barr with any information. Note also that, although there was no follow through on the request, Ukraine still received their requested military aid. At most you could claim it was an empty threat, but Ukraine did not take it as a threat, and Trump claims he didn't intend it as a threat. If both parties in the conversation both agree to that then the investigation is a meaningless waste of time.

If what a president might ask for is wrong because requesting foreign information about a possible crime is off limits if the criminal is related to a political opponent, that amounts to a "get out of jail free" card for criminals. Of course most of the prominent Dems are above the law anyway.

This is about more than a phone call.  The abuse of power could have taken place in any number of communication channels.
It could have been indirect.  If any US official testifies, "the president told us to say X to Ukraine," that's the same as the President himself saying it on the phone for the purpose of this conversation.
The question is, was X something in our national interest, or was it only in private or partisan interest?  If the latter, that is naked abuse of power that must be remedied by removal from office.  However, that question is not easy to answer.