“I must say” – Trey Gowdy's 'outhouse' impeachment defense for the White House

The White House has reached out to outside lawyers for impeachment counsel, according to a person familiar. One of the lawyers they reached out to is Trey Gowdy, @PamelaBrownCNN reports

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) October 8, 2019

NEWS: Trump advisers since late Sept. have weighed the idea of asking former US Rep Trey Gowdy to provide impeachment strategy.

Trump warmed to the suggestion and asked @TGowdySC to be part of team.

Gowdy said yes.

He’ll work from *outside* the White House, sources tell me.

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 8, 2019

UPDATE: @JenniferJJacobs of Bloomberg reports that Trey Gowdy will in fact assist President Trump during the impeachment inquiry; however, his role is not formal and he will consult from outside of the White House.https://t.co/C6NNA6KgNP

— Travis Akers (@travisakers) October 8, 2019

PLEASE @HouseDemocrats. Take the Nixon Articles of Impeachment. All three. They're a perfect template. All of Trump's corrupt conduct can be alleged w/in a nearly identical framework. Publish them and continue to gather and present evidence in the framework of the Articles. https://t.co/cJwcnGPcZE

— Elizabeth de la Vega (@Delavegalaw) October 8, 2019

Welp. That's that. The president cannot be indicted while in office and impeachment is coup. He is untouchable.

According to the Trump WH, he truly can shoot someone on 5th Avenue and there's not a damn thing anyone can do about it.

“If the president does it it's not illegal.” https://t.co/zbFxTJgC4F

— digby (@digby56) October 8, 2019

Wow. This letter is bananas. A barely-lawyered temper tantrum. A middle finger to Congress and its oversight responsibilities.

No Member of Congress should accept it, no matter his or her view on the behavior of Pelosi, Schiff, or Trump.

Things are bad. Things will get worse. https://t.co/AesJ6cGHrl

— Gregg Nunziata (@greggnunziata) October 8, 2019

Article III of Nixon impeachment addressed a president “substituting his judgment as to what materials were necessary for the inquiry..assuming to himself functions and judgments” that are solely within the constitutional power of the House.

Exactly what Trump is doing today. pic.twitter.com/YibhPt2Gij

— Chris Lu (@ChrisLu44) October 8, 2019

The White House letter has nothing to do with the law. It's a MAGA rally draped in a toga. https://t.co/Di1NwgsFnB

— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) October 8, 2019