Something reminded me of the XYZ Affair, something I read from the chapters of my history textbook that my middle school class skipped. No one is going to condemn our government for behaving like the old corrupt monarchies that the American spirit inherently despises. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impeachment_inquiry_against_Donald_Trump Sondland, Volker, and Perry, who called themselves the "three amigos" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XYZ_Affair An American diplomatic commission was sent to France in July 1797 to negotiate a solution to problems that were threatening to break out into war. The diplomats, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, John Marshall, and Elbridge Gerry, were approached through informal channels by agents of the French foreign minister, Talleyrand, who demanded bribes and a loan before formal negotiations could begin. Although such demands were not uncommon in mainland European diplomacy of the time, the Americans were offended by them, and eventually left France without ever engaging in formal negotiations.