Texts Detail Trump Administration’s Pressure On Ukraine | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC

Texts from former U.S. Envoy to Ukraine, Kurt Volker, to lawmakers speak directly to the issue at the heart of the impeachment inquiry. NBC’s Josh Lederman, NBC’s Keir Simmons, Daily Beast World News Editor Christopher Dickey, Director Of The Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution, Thomas Wright, and USA Today Columnist Tom Nichols join Stephanie Ruhle to break down the extraordinary text messages. Aired on 10/4/19.
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Texts Detail Trump Administration’s Pressure On Ukraine | Velshi & Ruhle | MSNBC

77 comments

  1. If some fool pushes a button right now to take advantage of the distraction in the U.S… where is leadership within this mess on Capitol hill? THIS IS WHY you need stable leaders

    1. @kenway leviathian – but what do you do with the 25% or so of the population that are too stupid to pay attention to politicians and too dumb to check on a politicians background?? People like @NPC#8675309.

    2. John Dwyer I am tempted to use part of your comment about making that little thing swell up….LOL

    1. Dawn Oceanside a durrrrrrrrr!!! You shouldn’t type while angry. Clearly you can’t even understand what you wrote

    2. @Deplorable – I seriously DOUBT if you understand your first amendments rights. I have yet to meet a tRumpoid who knows ANYTHING.

    1. Trump is really going down, as once this plays out, 
      the Republicans in Congress will want to see Trump Swing slowly in the wind…

  2. …and yet with all these criminal transgressions this mosnter is still in the White House. The U.S. is a joke now for all the world to see. The once mighty beacon of democracy with integrity in upholding the Constitution is now a complete utter joke.

    1. @Shawn William Hi Shawn 🙂 It’s true that some posts are trolls. A lot are russian bots / intel etc. But if they’re american trump supporters it’s going to take time for them to adjust to being scammed by someone they believed understood their concerns and was ‘on their side’. Trump’s first victims were those who trusted him. It’s very, very difficult to believe you’ve been used. We can’t do much more than be patient. No-one can hear / read anything that is inconsistent to the construct they created with a lifelong scam artist and criminal. Fox made a fortune by using methods that would make Goebles (sp?) blush.

      These are americans, not monsters and definately not enemies. So long as someone is respectful, they should express themselves. Otherwise free speech is conditional that a post is more like others. Trump is now a danger to world peace and not limited to the US. I hope someone has the courage to say, “NO!”, if he goes full crazy.

    2. @stephen glover please stop. Can’t believe you could bend the facts like that. Are there any honesty, integrity and dignity left in your body and soul?

  3. It’s so painfully clear at this point. The man is 100% guilty in using American foreign policy and Congressional funds in order to strong arm a foreign leader into investigating a political rival.
    Let’s count the laws Trump has broken.
    1. Federal law defines as criminal the solicitation of aid – anything of value – for a political campaign from a foreign national or foreign government, whether the thing of value arrives or not.
    2. Federal law also prohibits bribery and attempted bribery, which is defined as withholding the performance of an official duty conditioned upon the personal receipt of a thing of value, whether the thing of value arrives or not.
    3. The law further prohibits intimidating witnesses, which is defined as the use of language designed to deter witnesses from giving testimony, whether the intimidation is successful or not.
    Trump has also admitted to accusing the as-yet publicly unnamed whistleblower of treason, and suggesting that the whistleblower and those who have helped him are spies and ought to be treated as spies were in “the old days” (Trump’s phrase) – that is, by hanging.

    1. Why did he not care about corruption in 2017. He gave aid to them then for anti corruption and free healthcare. Great he gave our healthcare to Ukraine and we have none. Oh right Biden was not running for prez and leading the polls like now. Remember Putin and XI will be prez for life trumpee will not. Eventually they will have to deal with a new prez. Let’s see what they get then.

    2. Looks good and times some of these by 2,3,4 .There are multiples of the same crimes and not many many others.

    3. “Trump has also admitted to accusing the as-yet publicly unnamed whistleblower of treason, and suggesting that the whistleblower and those who have helped him are spies and ought to be treated as spies were in “the old days” (Trump’s phrase) – that is, by hanging.”
      Because Trump is into Projection, and this suggests that Trump is guilty of treason and should swing…

    1. Yes, Jeffrey, that is the danger. This is what Hannah Arendt meant when she used the term “the banality of evil” in reference to Nazi Germany.

    2. Jennifer Gordon Thank you for reminding people of Hannah Arendt’s famous phrase. Let us not ever forget it.

    3. What concerns me is that Putin isn’t blackmailing Trump,
      Rather Trump has been Laundering Money for Sanctioned Russians,
      Sanctioned Russians who are friends of Putin,
      So it is fair to say that Trump is working for Putin…..

    4. Smoking texts there isn’t anything there – The text message what the left media has exploded over :-

      B. Taylor – As I said on the phone I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a poltical campaign (not only does this sound like a complete trap, irrespective who gives a f&ck, it doesn’t matter if it says Trump wants to commit mass genocide because of the reply)

      Reply G. Sondland – Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump’s intentions, The President has been crystal clear no quid pro’s of any kind….

      THERE IS BLACK AND WHITE TRUMP WANTS NO QUID QUO PROS – THE DEMS HAVE GOT NOTHING AGAIN !!

      NEXT WEEK THE MEDIA WILL BE EXPLODING OVER SOMETHING ELSE AND IT WILL LEAD TO NOTHING AGAIN

      Why can’t the democrats release the transcript of the interview with Volker – where is the transparency ?? – if they are that sure Trump is guilty then why can’t they show this to the American public – this speaks volumes about the Democrats as well as the process they are handling this. The reason why is because the Volker interview undermines the Dems narrative, stick to the narrative Dems, don’t base your impeachment on facts – THIS IMPEACHMENT IS GOING NO WHERE

    1. America it is not a dictatorship to just go arrest someone because you don’t like them.. adam Schiff is going to go to jail for the same way thing you are doing now parody. Against the law to talk about the president the way you do.

    2. @Jerry Vida You posted “Against the law to talk about the president the way you do.”
      Ivan, you need to work on your English Language if you want to appear to be an American…

  4. Imagine if Obama did half of what Mango Mussolini has done! Republicans would be having a heart attack daily!

    1. @Gabe Dudley your comment helps me realize that Trump supporters can get dumb and dumber every single day. It emphasizes how important the education is. We have failed so far cause those ppl like Trump like you exist.

    2. @Kevin Jacobs – Text messages released late Thursday night by House Democrats revealed top US diplomats to Ukraine discussing a quid pro quo at the heart of the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump: that aid to the country — in the form of either military funding or the president’s support — would be withheld until it did the bidding of the president’s personal political interests.

      “As I said on the phone, I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a political campaign,” Bill Taylor, a top US diplomat to Ukraine, texted to Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, on Sept. 9.

      THAT LOOKS LIKE QUID PRO QUO

      tRump is TOAST.

    1. NPC#8675309 🙊🤔😇You are a russian troll. No doubt about that! You are payed by TrumPutin to harm our democratic institutions? Shame on your traitorous being!!! Sad enough, for real.🇺🇸😇🤔🤔🤔👋👋👋

    2. Frank Winkhorst 🙊🇺🇸🤔🤔🤔That is exactly what I thought! Well said.👍🙏🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

    3. Andreja Calibri 🇺🇸🤔🤔🤔Paper ballots yes!!! Not those voting machines that are being hacked by Putin and the KGB for TrumPutin, MoscowMitch, LeninGraham and the Republicrooc Party of enablers.🙊👍🇺🇸America wake up to make every vote hand counted. End of the game for this no credible policies but conspiracy theories lies, insults, diversions, money greed, corruptions upon corruptions and false accusations of the others for their own evil doings. Sad enough for these despicable traitors.🤔🤔🤔😎🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👋👋👋

    4. Smoking texts there isn’t anything there – The text message what the left media has exploded over :-

      B. Taylor – As I said on the phone I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a poltical campaign (not only does this sound like a complete trap, irrespective who gives a f&ck, it doesn’t matter if it says Trump wants to commit mass genocide because of the reply)

      Reply G. Sondland – Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump’s intentions, The President has been crystal clear no quid pro’s of any kind….

      THERE IS BLACK AND WHITE TRUMP WANTS NO QUID QUO PROS – THE DEMS HAVE GOT NOTHING AGAIN !!

      NEXT WEEK THE MEDIA WILL BE EXPLODING OVER SOMETHING ELSE AND IT WILL LEAD TO NOTHING AGAIN

      Why can’t the democrats release the transcript of the interview with Volker – where is the transparency ?? – if they are that sure Trump is guilty then why can’t they show this to the American public – this speaks volumes about the Democrats as well as the process they are handling this. The reason why is because the Volker interview undermines the Dems narrative, stick to the narrative Dems, don’t base your impeachment on facts – THIS IMPEACHMENT IS GOING NO WHERE

  5. Trump’s conversation with Ukraine WAS perfect … a perfect example of abuse of power and misuse of the Office of the Presidency!

    1. Out of curiosity, what’s more important to you RIGHT NOW? Investigating Hillary, investigating Obama, or Investigating Joe Biden’s son? LOL

    2. @Jake Lebowski it is a crime to ask a foreign power to interfere in US elections and matters relating to that. It is a crime to withhold granted monies in return for a favour. Comprende? Now go buy some lube so the share price goes up and then Humpty Dumpty Trumpty, the Mango Mussolini and Agolf Twittler of Nazi America can make some coin whilst bent over in his prison shower when the time “comes” and his fellow inmates 😂😂😂

    3. @iiishaneomaciii who cares? He’s on the lubed up Love Train headed for prison. Humpty Dumpty Trumpty didn’t even get chance to sit on his WALL 😂 before he had his great fall. And all The King’s men couldn’t put Mango Mussolini / Agolf Twittler back together again. Too much lube around his nether regions 😂😂😂

    4. @Beaukneaus impeaching Humpty Dumpty Trumpty / Mango Mussolin / Agolf Twittler because they are one and the same majority stakeholder in lube 😂😂😂

    5. @Thien Le Correct. I worry about moral compass of Trump supporters, they can’t tell the difference between a strongman and a bully.

    1. Smoking texts there isn’t anything there – The text message what the left media has exploded over :-

      B. Taylor – As I said on the phone I think it’s crazy to withhold security assistance for help with a poltical campaign (not only does this sound like a complete trap, irrespective who gives a f&ck, it doesn’t matter if it says Trump wants to commit mass genocide because of the reply)

      Reply G. Sondland – Bill, I believe you are incorrect about President Trump’s intentions, The President has been crystal clear no quid pro’s of any kind….

      THERE IS BLACK AND WHITE TRUMP WANTS NO QUID QUO PROS – THE DEMS HAVE GOT NOTHING AGAIN !!

      NEXT WEEK THE MEDIA WILL BE EXPLODING OVER SOMETHING ELSE AND IT WILL LEAD TO NOTHING AGAIN

      Why can’t the democrats release the transcript of the interview with Volker – where is the transparency ?? – if they are that sure Trump is guilty then why can’t they show this to the American public – this speaks volumes about the Democrats as well as the process they are handling this. The reason why is because the Volker interview undermines the Dems narrative, stick to the narrative Dems, don’t base your impeachment on facts – THIS IMPEACHMENT IS GOING NO WHERE

    1. RUDY WAS THE MAYOR OF THE BIG APPLE WHEN BUSH RELATIVE CONTRACT SECURITY AND AID THE DIMILITION, EXPLOSION OF THE TWIN TOWERS’S, PLUS, FIVE OTHER BUILDINGS!!! RUDY, COLLUSION, CONSPIRATOR, AID AND IN BED!!!
      WITH, D.C.’S FALON, DONALD DUCK!!! !!!

    2. RUDY WAS THE MAYOR OF THE BIG APPLE WHEN BUSH RELATIVE CONTRACT SECURITY AND AID THE DIMILITION, EXPLOSION OF THE TWIN TOWERS’S, PLUS, FIVE OTHER BUILDINGS!!! RUDY, COLLUSION, CONSPIRATOR, AID AND IN BED!!!
      WITH, D.C.’S FALON, DONALD DUCK!!! !!!

    3. Criminality runs deep amongst the wealthiest Americans, the old adage that “crime doesn’t pay” only holds for those who don’t have positions of power or large bank balances in America.

  6. Michael goes down then Rudy pick up the baton. 🤔….. Michael warned everyone about Tramp and doing his dirt. Rudy is going to end up behind bars just like Michael. 🤦🏽‍♂️

  7. Soldiers died waiting for aid that the USA promised and was delayed for trumps personal gains.
    That in itself should be a crime.

    1. Tomandtob Americans. Saudis too. I’d expect. The ones who put the Iran deal together in the first place. Seeing how Iran is suspected for being behind the attacks on Saudi Arabia’s oil refineries. And other attacks.
      Anyone who wants to pay less than 3 dollars a gallon for gasoline. The stock market. Who are YOU referring to???

  8. #impeachTrump. Trump is simple a liar, corrupt criminal, and a con man. Trump sure has played his supporters as fools.

    1. Trump’s supporters only wanted to hate on other people, so it was easy for Trump to do that…

  9. Trump’s “wiggle room” is in the lack of patriotism and integrity in most Republican politicians.

    1. Republicans that are not politicians also have the same attitudes. I know a slew of them and don’t bother with them anymore.

  10. Seems like he’s upset about Joe’s son. Perhaps he should also put himself in the investigation as well. How many billions have the Trump children received from foreign ‘sweetheart’ deals (just look at Ivanka!!) because their father is the President? Poor Hunter’s dad was only the Vice President! Such hypocrisy!!!

    1. Yup it is double standards ,alright . The ‘elite’ need to follow the same laws as we do, but money talks along with threats ….. oh, just like Rump is doing.

  11. This is like taking a selfie with a horses head in the “Godfather” then saying that’s not me in that picture.

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