The More Categorical the Statement

Mike Pompeo denies claim from Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that Qasem Soleimani was on a diplomatic mission when he was killed:

“Zarif is a propagandist of the first order … it’s fundamentally false. He was not there on a diplomatic mission" pic.twitter.com/X1pSb8eVQX

— JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) January 7, 2020

...the less I believe it, especially from this Administration.

.@SecPompeo, in response to @mitchellreports, doesn't directly contradict Trump's threat to hit cultural sites in #Iran, but says all US action will comply with international law.

— amna (@IAmAmnaNawaz) January 7, 2020

Knowing the disdain Pompeo and his ilk have for "international law," someone should ask if the list will comply with U.S. law as well (because the Convention of the Hague was passed into U.S. law under W.).

Esper probably came a little closer:

“Defense Sec Mark T. Esper sought to douse an international outcry on Monday by ruling out military attacks on cultural sites in Iran if the conflict with Tehran escalates further, despite President Trump’s threat” @maggienyt @peterbakernyt https://t.co/sMzjL4om41

— Michael Tackett (@tackettdc) January 7, 2020

Of course, this may be why Little Marco is so worried about any other evidence being presented at a Senate Impeachment Trial:

Rubio on why he would vote against a subpoena of Bolton: "I think in my view our inquiry should be based on the testimony that they took, we are acting on articles of impeachment. We should be constrained by the information that those articles are based on." pic.twitter.com/IOyCkw6ZxU

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 6, 2020

Granted, grounds for impeachment that involved violations of U.S. law (not just bribery) based on the assassination of Solmeini, or any retaliation with disproportionate force or against cultural landmarks, would probably need new articles.  But there's no reason those can't be supplied before a Senate trial, or for a second Senate trial.

Trump may be the first U.S. President who needs to be impeached twice, just to assert Congressional authority over the pursestrings as well as war-making powers.