Democrats accuse Trump of 'criminal' conduct in Judiciary Committee impeachment report


Bribery didn't work its way into the House's articles of impeachment, but the Democrat-led House Judiciary Committee accused President Trump of the crime anyway in a 658-page report released Monday.
The committee notes that while proof of a crime isn't necessary to impeach a president, Trump pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals registered as offenses "both constitutional and criminal in nature." The committee specifically mentioned bribery, which is an impeachable offense but won't be voted on as such by the House this week.
Still, the committee said there is "little doubt" the constitutional definition of the crime can be "satsified" considering Trump solicited a favor of personal value to him from Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky in an attempt to benefit himself and his political future. The committee's report will be considered by the full House when it goes to vote, so it's likely the bribery section will have some influence despite getting left out of the articles. Tim O'Donnell
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
Ottawa Treaty: why are Russia's neighbours leaving anti-landmine agreement?
Today's Big Question Ukraine to follow Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia as Nato looks to build a new ‘Iron Curtain' of millions of landmines
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A strong kick, a T-Rex race, and more
-
Quiz of The Week: 28 June – 4 July
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami