Members of the Democratic Party still outraged by the violent attack on the Capitol by the president’s followers this week Donald Trumpyesterday, they continued to push for his resignation despite the fact that he has only less than two weeks in the White House.
Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, indicated during the day that her community He plans to file charges for his role in the brawl if the President does not resign voluntarily or is dismissed by his cabinet as provided for in the 25th Amendment to the National Constitution.
(You may be interested in: How likely is an outright impeachment of Trump?).
According to Congressional sources, the articles could be presented Monday and could be approved before the end of the week. Something that is feasible given the fact that Democrats control the House of Representatives.
When it happens, Trump would become the only president in history to face two impeachment lawsuits. The first culminated in his Senate acquittal last year thanks to the almost unanimous support of the Republican Party.
“It is up to him and his cabinet whether he wants to become a unique creature with two accusations already begun,” Pelosi said.
The first impeachment trial against Donald Trump was settled with the support of the majority Republican party in the Senate.
“Trump is a threat and even if we take just one day from his administration, we will be doing the population a great service,” he said. Daniel Kildee, another of the highest Democrats in Parliament.
It is also important to him that “history reflects the fact that Trump has paid the highest consequences for the crimes he committed against the country.”
Pelosi contacted the chief of the armed forces at the same time Call for the President to withdraw access to the US nuclear arsenal. and keep you from doing something crazy like attacking another country.
(In context: Pelosi is trying to stop President Trump from using nuclear codes).
Even though Trump changed his tune on Thursday night and then condemned the protesters promise a peaceful and orderly transfer of power, Few saw the gesture as an act of remorse, but rather to avoid the legal and political consequences of their actions over the past few days.
It is important that history reflects Trump paid the highest consequences for the crimes he committed against the country
On paper, the Democrats’ attack has several problems. Especially the lack of time, because it is a complex process. Especially when I get there Senate, that is the body that fosters trial.
But behind their intentions, there are several much more strategic plays that make it very feasible for them to try.
Unlike the trial at the beginning of last year, when Trump was in absolute control of the Republican Party and the fate of the congressmen was tied to that of the president in the light of the November elections, this time the scenario is completely different.
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Trump loses power in 11 days and after Wednesday’s incidents, his political capital was severely decimated. In addition, it is much more serious. Although his call to President of Ukraine to ask him to investigate Biden it was a clear abuse of his power, it was easier for the Republicans to argue that the impeachment was a disproportionate punishment.
But the capture of the Capitol, described by some of them as an act of domestic terrorism or an uprising, is a subject of a different caliber. Partly because It’s about the attack on a symbol of American democracy. in which 5 people died, including a police officer.
(Read here Who were the five people who died in the attack on the Capitol?).
In other words, it will be much more difficult for them to defend the president’s actions and they will not have much motivation to do so.
Protests in the Washington Capitol last Wednesday.
In fact, several Republican senators have already said that would vote for his removal. And while they need at least 10 to join, the pressure on others to join can increase.
However, most of the party preferred not to. But instead of defending Trump’s actions, they say trying to remove him through legislative channels would only further divide the country.
Therefore, the Democrats’ strategy for the coming weeks is to take advantage of this situation, so that they are the same Republicans asking Trump to step down.
(Further: Joe Biden wants to release covid-19 vaccines in the United States).
A scenario very similar to that of the president Richard Nixon in 1974, when he resigned when it became clear that there were enough votes to fire him and it was better to leave voluntarily than to the first president in history to be so humiliated.
If that doesn’t happen, Democrats can continue pushing for impeachment even after January 20 with the idea of block a possible return of Trump for the 2024 election, as the punishment also provides for political death.
But it would be delicate, given that Biden would already be in office and his main message is the country’s reconciliation.
Rather than defending Trump’s actions, (the Republicans) say that trying to impeach him through legislative channels would only further divide the country.
Sources close to the president said so Trump has no intention of resigning. But it is clear that this issue will haunt you for several more days. On the other hand, Trump announced that does not intend to attend Biden’s possession this January 20.
(In context: Trump announces that he will not attend Biden’s inauguration ceremony).
It is another breach of the protocol of the peaceful transfer of power in the United States and something that had only happened three times, the last of which was nearly 150 years ago: John Adams in 1801, John Quincy Adams in 1829, and Andrew Johnson in 1869.
However, Biden was happy with the president’s decision. “I think it’s one of the few things we can agree on. He better not show up, ”Biden said after calling him the most incompetent president in US history.
SERGIO GÓMEZ MASERI
EL TIEMPO correspondent
Washington
A twitter @ sergom68
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