I am happy to see the Democrats are no longer using the term "quid pro quo". While it may be somewhat accurate, it doesn't reflect the true nature of the seriousness of Trump's conduct.The truth is that Trump committed a serious crime -- a crime for which he should be impeached. But what was that crime? Was it bribery or was it extortion? I've heard Democrats use both terms.
After thinking about this, I've come to the conclusion that he committed both bribery and extortion. How can this be? Bribery and extortion are not the same thing. They are very different crimes. Extortion is trying to force someone to do something with threats. Bribery is trying to get them to do something by offering something they want.
It is both because Trump didn't commit a single crime. He committed two distinct and separate crimes.
When he withheld the military aid from Ukraine to force them to announce an investigation of the Biden's, that was extortion. Ukraine desperately needed that aid, and withholding it was a definite threat.
When Trump offered a White House visit to the Ukrainian president if he would announce an investigation of the Bidens, that was bribery. He was offering something Ukraine wanted to get something he wanted (help in smearing his political opponent).
Trump badly wanted foreign help to smear a political opponent, and to get that help he committed both bribery and extortion. Both are serious crimes, and he should be impeached and removed from office.
