The Morning After Impeachment
Donald Trump will be gone in 6 days. But as someone said this morning ‘his ghost will haunt Washington for a long time’ and potentially cast shadows over the incoming Presidency of Joe Biden. If I have to tell you he was impeached for a second time yesterday you are on another planet. What a story.
But, each day as we learn more about this attack, we understand it is worse than we thought. There is a lot more to learn about what happened and the more we know the worse we understand it was. The more organized it was. We will come to understand the command and control of the worst of that crowd. We will know how they got to Washington and who paid. We will understand were they in fact given recon tours by of The Capitol building a day before the riot by certain Republican Senators. Did members of congress (Republican) help and was this an inside job.
The case against Trump will only get stronger.
When I was a young crime reporter I covered dozens of trials and always remember Judges charges to juries and instructions lawyers over issues and questions, that justice has to be seen to be done. Trump supporters will not see justice as being done in that quick impeachment. That’s a concern. But, Democrats make a compelling argument they had to act to prevent Trump from stirring more violence, and that the threat to the nation is so dire. Is there any question in your mind reading this, that Trump with a wink and a nod fuelled white domestic terror groups like the proud boys and fuelled the lunacy of cults like QAnon? This political ad reminds you of some of what Trump was all about and how his BIG lie on the stolen election was corrosive and explosive from the beginning as Trump failed in court after court and then tried to strong arm Georgia into just finding him 11 thousand votes.
At least five people died during the attack. Lawmakers said the threat from Mr. Trump had not subsided.
“He is capable of starting a civil war,” said Representative Maxine Waters of California, a veteran liberal.
So what now? Biden inauguration on the 20th, under the unprecedented cover of thousands of National Guards. Washington looks like an armed camp. But so it should right now because the chance of more violence across The U.S. is terribly real.
The Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell will not call The Senate back early. House speaker Nancy Pelosi can decide when she sends the impeachment to the Senate, but to convict Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors she needs to do that.
Under the current schedule, the Senate is not set to resume full sessions until January 19, which is the day before Biden's inauguration.
Some Democrats suggested Pelosi might wait to send the articles and allow Biden to begin his term without impeachment hanging over him. But others have urged Pelosi to move immediately. The Senate also comes under The Democrats control on the 20th. Do they call witnesses? Do they have a lengthy trial? What will the format be and it matters if justice is seen to be done. But once convicted Trump will not be allowed to run for office again.
So much more to come folks, and Trump has not spoken about the impeachment. No tweets because he’s banned from that platform and many others. (He could step into The White House briefing room, if he really wants to talk) The act by private big tech to silence a President will be debated for years to come. But, if you want to understand what the Republican party does next, follow the money. J.P. Morgan, Citi Group, Goldman Sachs, Marriot, and others have announced they are suspending donations. Trump by the way faces all sorts of civil law suits over the riot and The Trump Brand is forever tarnished. He may face financial ruin because of huge debts. But the Republican party will want to distance itself from Trumps finger prints, slowly or more quickly than we may understand. That’s why McConnell won’t say if he will support a conviction of Trump in The Senate.
As I said at the beginning, 6 more days and Trump is gone. It seems like a long time.
Have a good day everyone.