At this late stage, days before Trump’s tenure ends, what’s going on aims to discredit and humiliate him more than already — for unjustifiable reasons, not the other way around.
On Friday, Dem House Speaker Pelosi said the following:
“It is the hope of members that (Trump) will immediately resign,” adding:
“But if he does not, I have instructed the rules committee to be prepared to move forward with Congressman Jamie Raskin’s 25th Amendment legislation and a motion for impeachment.”
Days ahead of his tenure’s end, Trump remains in office.
Pence reportedly opposes invoking the 25th Amendment.
While legal to take this step, using it to try removing Trump would defy why it became the law of the land.
It was done for succession in cases when a president dies in office or becomes unable to serve because of illness or incapacity.
It would corrupt the amendment’s purpose by seeking Trump’s removal from office for fabricated reasons — notably when his time in office is nearly over.
According to NBC News, at least two Dem House members intend to introduce one or more articles of impeachment on Monday.
Its draft obtained by NBC is titled “Incitement of Insurrection (sic).”
It falsely claims Trump “engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors by willfully inciting violence against the government of the United States (sic),” adding:
Trump “threatened the integrity of the democratic system (sic), interfered with the peaceful transition of power (sic), and imperiled a coordinate branch of government (sic).”
He betrayed “his trust as president, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States (sic).”
“(D)oing nothing is not an option (sic).”
NBC reported that the measure has over 150 co-sponsors.
It’s unclear how many Republicans will go along with what no one should support.
A two-thirds Senate super-majority is needed to convict and remove Trump from office.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy opposes impeachment.
As of Friday, only one Republican called for Trump’s removal — longtime DJT critic Mitt Romney.
GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski called on Trump to resign, saying nothing about impeachment.
GOP Senator Lindsey Graham issued a statement saying:
“Removing Trump from office would not only be unsuccessful in the Senate but would be a dangerous precedent for the future of the presidency.”
Impeachment of Trump by House Dems in December 2019 on phony charges had nothing to do with removing him from office.
It was all about wanting him ahead of November 2020 presidential and congressional elections.
Undemocratic Dems for what they wished for, gaining control of the White House by brazen fraud as well as the House and Senate in days.
In response to the first impeachment attempt, Law Professor Jonathan Turley said the following:
Pelosi “destroyed (the House) case for impeachment.”
Calling her handling of proceedings a “blunder of the first order,” Turley said her delaying strategy “jeopardize(d) not just (Trump’s) trial but the rules governing impeachment.”
On January 7, Turley argued against invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, saying:
It was “primarily designed for physical disabilities (or death) of a president.”
“As shown by the Goldwater controversy, there are always psychiatrists willing and eager to declare a president insane even from a distance.”
“Politicians often portray their opponents as mentally unbalanced since only an insane person would hold an opposing view some issues.”
“If we were to remove a president on such a basis, it could open the floodgates for such removals in the future.”
“Being obnoxious and narcissistic is not grounds for removal.”
“Indeed, such a standard would leave much of Washington vacant.”
“(W)hat would be achieved? Trump has already pledged an orderly transfer of power…”
“In order to impose this ignoble moment on Trump, the Congress would create precedent for future such removals on ill-defined mental disabilities.”
The Washington Post reported that by “memo” it obtained, Senate Majority Leader McConnell “will not reconvene (the body) for substantive business until Jan. 19” — two days before Trump’s tenure ends.
Pro forma Senate sessions will be held on January 12 and 15 during which conducting official business is prohibited without unanimous consent of its members.
WaPo: “(T)hat (virtually) makes… an impeachment trial” unlikely to begin until a new Congress convenes after inauguration day.
With official business to discuss, impeaching Trump after leaving office would not only be unprecedented, it would distract from confirming cabinet appointees and other important issues.
Citing unnamed McConnell and Schumer aides, WaPo said they haven’t spoken about impeachment proceedings.
According to McConnell’s memo, without a unanimous agreement among Senate members to act on House articles of impeachment:
“Senate trial would…begin after…Trump’s term has expired — either one hour after its expiration on January 20, or twenty-five hours after its expiration on January 21.”
When an impeachment trial of a president occurs, it’s presided over by the Supreme Court chief justice.
It’s unclear if Justice Roberts would agree to be part of trying a former US president?
As things now stand, removing Trump by invoking the 25th Amendment or by impeachment and trial appears highly unlikely.
Justifying either method would be based on falsely accusing him of inciting violence on Capitol Hill last Wednesday — what he had nothing to do with.
VISIT MY WEBSITE: stephenlendman.org (Home – Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
My two Wall Street books are timely reading:
“How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion, and Class War”
https://www.claritypress.com/product/how-wall-street-fleeces-america/
“Banker Occupation: Waging Financial War on Humanity”
https://www.claritypress.com/product/banker-occupation-waging-financial-war-on-humanity/
https://www.globalresearch.ca/dems-preparing-phony-impeachment-charges-against-trump/5734063
Never has there been an official on any level more worthy of impeachment and conviction than DJT. He is the antithesis of public service. Stupid too.
ReplyDeleteAnd that goes double for anyone who believes/defends him
ReplyDelete