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Donald Trump’s grip on the US presidency appeared increasingly tenuous on Saturday as Democrats put forward plans to impeach him for the second time, political allies continued to abandon him and Twitter banned his account, suppressing its most powerful means of spreading lies and inciting violence.
Adding to the pressure in the wake of Wednesday’s deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol building by Trump supporters, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has openly called for the president’s impeachment.
“I want him to resign. I want him out. He’s done enough damage, ”she said, punctuating the wave of disgust that followed Trump’s incitement to a crowd seeking to reverse his electoral defeat to Joe Biden.
Five people died, including a policeman who confronted rioters and a rioter shot dead by the police. Several arrests were made, including a Florida resident pictured walking with the lectern of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said a 70-year-old man from Alabama was charged with possession of molotov cocktails and assault weapons after his van was discovered full of bombs and homemade weapons.
Articles of impeachment accusing Trump of inciting an insurgency and of “seriously endangering the security of the United States” and its institutions are expected to be presented to the United States House of Representatives on Monday, Pelosi said .
The move is part of a multi-pronged approach by Democrats pushing for Trump’s withdrawal ahead of Biden’s inauguration on January 20.
Pelosi, who has spoken with the chief of the United States military seeking to ensure that Trump cannot launch a nuclear attack in his last days in office, also called for his impeachment via the 25th Amendment, which provides for the expulsion of a president deemed incapable of fulfilling his duties.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was reportedly among officials to discuss such a course. But that seems unlikely, especially since cabinet members allegedly involved in the process have resigned.
White House sources have claimed that Trump will not resign or hand over power to Vice President Mike Pence to apologize, so a second high-speed indictment is looming. On his first arraignment, over approaches in Ukraine for filth on political rivals, Trump was acquitted by a Republican Senate.
This time, more Republican senators are showing their support. Murkowski became the first, telling the Anchorage Daily News: “I think he should go.
“He will not appear at the inauguration. He didn’t focus on what’s going on with Covid. Either he played golf or he was inside the Oval Office ranting and throwing everyone who was loyal and loyal to him under the bus, starting with the Vice President.
“He just wants to stay there for the title. He only wants to stay there for his ego. He needs to get out. He has to do the right thing, but I don’t think he’s capable of doing the right thing.
Murkowski’s intervention was dramatic, echoing the delegation of Republicans who went to see Richard Nixon and told him to step down before being impeached for Watergate in 1974.
Ben Sasse, Republican senator from Nebraska, was also critical, accusing Trump of “dereliction of duty” and indicating he was open to impeachment.
Many more Republicans would have to look to have the president convicted and removed, even if a trial could take place before inauguration day. An impeachment vote from the House later this week would send the case to trial, but Mitch McConnell, the Republican Leader of the Senate, has indicated the chamber will not consider proceedings before the nomination.
Several Republicans have said they will not support impeachment. Jeff Flake, Trump critic and former Arizona senator, told CNN on Saturday that it would be better for Trump to “go away.”
Trump will be vulnerable to prosecution, whether state or federal, after leaving the White House. If successfully impeached, he would also lose all of the benefits of life after the Oval Office, including pension and Secret Service protection, and the opportunity to run again.
Twitter’s decision to permanently suspend Trump’s account, meanwhile, separates the president from a megaphone he used to spread lies and disinformation. Since Wednesday he has called for calm and pledged to respect the transfer of power, but he also continued to falsely claim that the election was stolen through massive electoral fraud.
The company, which previously deleted Trump’s tweets, cited repeated violations of the rules and risks, including “a new incitement to violence.”
Twitter said two tweets sent Friday were “highly likely to encourage and inspire people to replicate the criminal acts that have taken place on the US Capitol.” Plans for “future armed protests” were spreading, the company warned, “including a proposed secondary attack on the United States Capitol and the State Capitol buildings on Jan. 17.”
A 7-foot “non-scalable” fence was being built around the Capitol, where it was to remain for at least 30 days. A state of emergency was declared in Washington until the day after the inauguration. More than 6,200 members of the National Guard are said to be in the city this weekend, Mayor Muriel Bowser said.
The backlash against Trump has also extended to two right-wing Republican senators, Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri, who waged unsuccessful efforts to oppose Biden’s election on the same day as the riot.
Cruz’s hometown newspaper the Houston Chronicle said his lies cost lives and called for his resignation. Publisher Simon and Schuster canceled Hawley’s book contract, accusing him of “a dangerous threat to our democracy and our freedom.”
Following Democratic victories for senators in Georgia, Republicans lost control of both the White House and Congress, prompting introspection within the party ranks.
Murkowski said she was considering leaving. “If the Republican Party is more than Trump’s party, I sincerely wonder if this party is for me,” she said.
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