Trump, between impeachment and self-forgiveness | …

In the midst of a governance crisis after encouraging a takeover of Congress, United States President Donald Trump faces a wave of resignations in his government, a request for an investigation by the New York attorney and the assault by the Democratic opposition, prepare for a political trial. Although the president lowered his tone on Thursday by promising “an orderly transition”, this Friday he again raised the bet by announcing that he would not be part of the transfer of power ceremony.

“For all those who asked me, I will not go to the inauguration on January 20,” assured Trump via Twitter.

Meanwhile, Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s former chief of staff who currently served as a special envoy to Northern Ireland, has notified his resignation. In an interview with US news broadcaster CNBC, Mulvaney said, “I can’t do it, I can’t continue” and added that it would be very understandable if more people quit in the days that followed. Although also He said he spoke to other cabinet members who assured him they would not resign for fear that Trump would replace them with someone who could make matters worse. The Transport Secretary, Elaine chao was the first in the cabinet to resign, a few hours later the head of the Ministry of Education, Betsy DeVos He announced that he would also be leaving his post.

They also resigned after the Capitol was seized John costello, Assistant Under Secretary of Commerce for Intelligence and Security, Taylor goodspeed, head of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. Stephanie Grisham, who has worked closely with the administration since the Trump campaign in 2016 was currently the first lady’s chief of staff, also tendered her resignation.

In addition, Anna Cristina “Rickie” Niceta, responsible for social events, said she would resign. The White House press secretary tendered her resignation on Wednesday, Sarah Matthews said in a statement that “as a person working in the halls of Congress, I am deeply disturbed by what I saw today.” Likewise, two advisers on security matters joined the list of officials who left office: Matthew Pottinger, Deputy National Security Advisor and Ryan tully, Director of European and Russian Affairs for the National Security Council.

Regarding incidents at Congress, New York lawyer Letitia James sent a letter to Attorney General Jeremy Rosen, asking you to initiate a criminal investigation. “Yesterday was a dark, terrifying and shameful chapter in the annals of our nation’s history. For the first time since the War of 1812, the US Capitol has been violated and invaded by armed people determined to overthrow a legally elected government, ”the letter begins. While some decisions will have to be taken by the new attorney general, the country cannot wait for the Justice Department to take no action in the coming weeks, ”added James. “This was not a spontaneous protest but a planned criminal insurgency that needs to be investigated,” the New York prosecutor said.

He called for those involved in the coup attempt to be identified, investigated and held accountable. He also spoke of the responsibility of the president, his family and his official allies, recalling that before the violent events, Trump had told his supporters that “they will never recover our country with weakness. We have to show strength (…) We are going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue to Capitol Hill and we will try to give our Republicans the kind of pride and courage they need to take back our country. ”

With reference to information published in various media, including The New York TimesOn the possibility of Trump considering forgiving himself, James said “he should be advised on the legal consequences of abusing the power of forgiveness.” According to the prosecutor, Trump’s practice has been to benefit the president’s personal and ideological allies. “The legal advice office should warn you that using this power in corrupt circumstances leaves you vulnerable to prosecution when you step down in a few weeks.”

The idea of ​​granting himself a pardon is an idea Trump had been pursuing since 2018, when his possible connection to Russian meddling in the 2016 US election was under investigation. The New York Times, after losing to Biden last November, Trump has suggested shutting down his aides to apologize in the final days of his presidency. Trump also asked about the political and legal effects of such a move. The White House declined to comment on the matter.

Problems pile up for outgoing president after the Justice Department has indicated it does not rule out filing a complaint against Trump for his role as an instigator in the acts of violence that occurred last Wednesday. This prompted the president to issue a statement condemning the acts of violence. Trump had refused to criticize the attack on Capitol Hill and in the first statement he released he was affectionate with the protesters who entered Congress with guns: “We love them, they are very special.”

As Trump asks for mercy and make history as the first American president to attempt to do soDemocratic lawmakers advocate opening a political trial against the incumbent president.

At breakneck speed Democrats in Congress rally support to launch impeachment, to President Donald Trump for his role in Wednesday’s violent takeover, ABC reported. The effort to challenge Trump is already progressing in the House of Representatives, where Democrats already have a majority. Supporters of the idea hope to have a first vote in the middle of next week.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and his team discussed their options Thursday night. His priority would be for the Vice President to declare Trump unfit and himself take the presidency until January 20, the day Joe Biden is sworn in. But in the face of Republican silence, the Democrats opted for another solution: to return to subject Trump to an “impeachment”, from which he had already been exonerated last year, for another reason.

This process will not be like last year. It would be quick, no investigation and no oral hearing for a week. The most likely scenario is that an MP brings a resolution to the plenary session of the House and it is voted on at the same time. Several MPs have already started drafting their resolutions. A simple majority suffices to contest the Speaker of the House. If they are successful, Trump would be the first president to be challenged twice.

That would not mean that he would be removed from his post, since it depends on the Senate. When the House votes in the affirmative, the case will go back to the Senate, which will impeach Trump chaired by the chief justice. The dismissal of the president requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

Senate Conservative Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has not commented on the impeachment. But since the House would likely pass this with a few more days of Trump’s presidency, McConnell is probably letting time go by. Only if the Senate removed him from office would Trump be barred from running for president again.

The first indictment was prompted by an anonymous complaint from a CIA agent over alleged irregularities in a telephone conversation between Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart. Volodimir Zelensky, during which he asked the latter to investigate Joe Biden’s family businesses in that country.

US President-elect Joe Biden explained that impeachment would be a decision of Congress. “We’re going to do our job and Congress can decide how to do it,” Biden said at a press conference.