The dispute between Trump and Twitter did divert a portion of the public's attention away from "Russiagate."
But in mid-August, what was coming still came.
Trump was impeached.
This was the third time the House of Representatives had passed an impeachment resolution against a president, following former Presidents Johnson and Clinton, making him the third president to be impeached.
The reasons the House of Representatives brought Trump to the impeachment stage were "Abuse of Power" and "Obstruction of Congress."
The House Democrats' impeachment managers submitted the articles of impeachment and a summary of the case to the Senate on the same day, asserting that the president's actions were the "worst nightmare" of the drafters of the US Constitution.
The Senate comprised 100 seats: 53 Republicans and 47 held by Democrats and two independent senators. This meant that while the House could easily pass the impeachment articles against Trump, it was almost impossible to pass them in the Senate.
As a Republican senator stated: Trump could become the first US president in history to be wrongly impeached and then return to the presidency.
One US CNN commentator called it: "This is the darkest day in America"!
The president's legal team responded to the House's impeachment articles on the first day, asserting that the articles were a dangerous attack on "the American people's free choice of president."
In August 2019, a whistleblower alleged that during a July phone call with the Ukrainian President, Trump attempted to seek help from Ukraine to smear his political opponent.
US media reported that at least a week before the call with the Ukrainian President, Trump told White House officials to withhold nearly $400 million in military aid to Ukraine.
After the incident came to light, Trump claimed this move was due to concerns that US aid to Ukraine exceeded that of European countries.
However, the impeachment investigators believed this action involved using the power of the office to pressure Ukraine, influencing the 2020 election, and that withholding military aid could harm national security, which Trump attempted to conceal.
On August 19, the Chairman of the US House Oversight Committee, Elijah Cummings, threatened that if the White House did not hand over all documents related to "Russiagate" and the "Ukraine threat" case, a subpoena would be issued to the White House.
Some said that to further the impeachment investigation against President Trump, the White House was required to hand over all relevant case documents within about four days, otherwise a subpoena would be issued around the 4th day.
On August 21, the US "Politico" website reported that Trump considered the White House leaker a "spy," directly naming and attacking the related reporter.
According to revelations by an anonymous former White House official, Trump wanted every White House staffer to take a lie detector test to find out who was leaking secrets to the media.
Some White House staff even proactively requested lie detector tests to prove their innocence.
However, early in Trump's term, his former special ethics counsel, Stefan Passantino, had previously investigated whether it was legal to administer lie detector tests to White House staff and concluded it was "not permissible."
Subsequently, the US House Intelligence Committee issued a subpoena to US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, demanding he produce documents related to the "phone call" event between US President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky, to cooperate with the House's impeachment investigation against Trump.
The subpoena was issued after discussions by the House Intelligence Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee, and Oversight and Reform Committee, requiring Perry to produce relevant documents by August 29.
According to media reports, the call between Trump and Zelensky occurred on July 25, initiated by Perry.
Democrats also wanted Perry to explain media reports that he had pressured Ukraine to adjust the membership of an advisory committee for a state-owned energy company.
Three days later, Trump announced that Energy Secretary Rick Perry would leave his current position by the end of the year.
Trump said he had found a new candidate for the position and would announce it soon.
As one of the key figures in the "phone call" incident, Perry was a target for Trump's "enemies." Trump had previously told the media that he only spoke with Ukrainian President Zelensky at Perry's request.
Perry also stated that he had repeatedly requested Trump to speak with Zelensky, but the content merely involved energy cooperation and had nothing to do with the Democratic presidential candidate, Biden.
Clearly, Trump was making Perry the fall guy.
The impeachment case was arguably the biggest crisis Trump had faced since taking office.
Trump was somewhat panicked, but then again, he wasn't. His rogue instincts kicked in. He publicly raged at his subordinates in the Oval Office:
"I know there are some of them among you. I don't care. Now, I want these words to reach their ears: if I'm impeached and removed, I'm taking them down with me. You should know I'm not joking. I'm capable of anything..."
That night, Ivanka spoke with Martin on the phone.
"Tell to your dad not to worry. He won't be removed. This is just a 'warning.' The Senate is Republican territory. Even if they don't like your father, they won't let him be removed so disgracefully. Besides, issues like the 'Ukraine Phone Call' and 'Russiagate' lack real evidence..." Martin vowed solemnly.
"Are you sure?"
Trump's voice came from the other end of the phone; clearly, he had been listening nearby.
Martin, already aware, laughed upon hearing this: "I wouldn't lie to you. Right, since you've adopted a tough stance, you must see it through to the end. Absolutely do not cut off contact with Ukraine, to avoid being seen as having a guilty conscience. Also, if the other side strongly demands you publish materials, just publish them. You can release some unimportant stuff, mainly to give the public an explanation. I'll have the media cooperate on my end."
"Haha, that's fantastic." Trump smiled.
Two days later, Trump told the media, "I would gladly invite Ukrainian President Zelensky to visit the White House. I believe he will accept my invitation. Then you will all know that this is all slander against me. I never pressured Ukraine during the conversation. The Democrats' impeachment investigation against me is 'Political Persecution.' Zelensky will come and testify for me."
A few days later, Zelensky actually spoke up. While attending the UN General Assembly, he told US media: "I never thought I'd be involved in the US election. No one pressured me. Ukraine is an independent country. Trump is a good guy."
Later, Trump indicated he would release the records of several conversations with Ukrainian President Zelensky on Wednesday—these conversations took place in June of the previous year, before the key conversation that triggered the presidential impeachment investigation.
"I am innocent. The truth will prove everything." Trump vowed solemnly.
The end