What Went Down On Day 1 Of The Impeachment Hearings

I think that’s right, Sarah — maybe Castor is trying to subtly undermine Kent and Taylor as peripheral characters who really couldn’t have understood what was going on in Trump’s head. Although if that’s where he’s going, it’s hard to tell right now.

Plus, Clare, the Republican staff investigator has generally taken an aggressive and even accusatory stance toward these witnesses. That style that might underline that Republicans see this as nothing but partisan, but it could backfire too, if Republicans just look like they are not playing ball.

Castor is trying to suggest that Trump had reasons to be skeptical of Ukraine. I suppose that is true — from Trump’s point of view. Ukraine officials did investigate Manafort, who is a close Trump ally. But the real question is really not, “Did Trump have concerns about Ukraine?” but rather, “Did he have legitimate concerns about Ukraine?” Ukraine’s role in highlighting Manafort’s crimes perhaps sounds bad to Trump but not really to anyone else.