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GOP
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The report from The Washington Post that Donald Trump may have taken a $10 million gift from Egypt in 2016, and that the Bill Barr-led DoJ may have made the problem go away, kind of flew under the radar. Now, Senate Democrats are trying to bring it back to life. Sens. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) want the Senate Judiciary Committee, on which they both serve, to take a long look at what happened. Meanwhile, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), wants the Senate Intelligence Committee, on which HE serves, to do the same.
On the surface, the story certainly seems plausible. The Egyptians are clearly open to paying bribes, having done so with former senator Bob Menendez (D). And Trump is clearly willing to take money under shady circumstances. That said, we're not exactly sure what might be done at this point. Presumably the statute of limitations has run on any crimes committed, and besides, the president is now a king thanks to Chief Justice John Roberts and five of his closest friends. Obviously, an impeachment isn't going anywhere if Trump is reelected.
Then there is the fact that the Congressional term is almost over, and there certainly isn't time for a proper investigation in the next 6-8 weeks. The only way we can see this going anywhere is if: (1) the Democrats hold at least one chamber of the upcoming 119th Congress, and (2) it turns out that the $10 million payment was not only made, but that it was the commencement of an ongoing funneling of money to Trump.
Undoubtedly, Hirono, Booker and Wyden all know this, and they also know there's a real chance that Democrats will no longer control the Senate committees as of January 3 of next year. So, while we tend to agree that this question should be looked into, we assume that their strong words are mostly just electioneering meant to insinuate that Trump is corrupt. (Z)