Impeach Trump? It’ll be a gift, say his allies
DONALD Trump and his allies believe that any attempts to impeach him will be a ‘political gift’, it was claimed last night.
After a weekend in which Vice President Mike Pence and the Trump cabinet ignored a Democrat call to remove the President constitutionally, Congress is expected today to begin proceedings to impeach him.
The House of Representatives could vote as soon as tomorrow on charging Mr Trump with inciting the rabble that stormed the US Capitol last week.
But Democrat leaders accept it would be impossible to impeach in the House and hold a trial in the Senate before Mr Trump leaves office on January 20.
It is also unclear – even with rising numbers of Republicans condemning their own president – whether enough would do so to ensure the required twothirds majority in the Senate.
Five people died in the riots including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, 42, who was a Trump supporter himself. His father Charles Sicknick, 82, said he hopes his death will help stop ‘the lunacy’ crippling the country.
Due to Senate rules, impeachment can only realistically happen after Mr Trump leaves office, but if successful, it would stop him from ever running again.
White House insiders say that the President, who has been deserted by many staff and allies, is plotting with his few remaining advisers to have a ‘defiant’ last full week in office.
Both they and Mr Pence reportedly believe that any impeachment attempt could backfire and instead galvanise support among hardcore supporters who are convinced – particularly after Mr Trump was banned from social media – that he is the victim of a ‘deep state’ conspiracy.
One White House adviser told financial news site Bloomberg that impeachment would be ‘a political gift to Trump’. Mr Pence has also told colleagues he fears an impeachment attempt could provoke the President into more ‘crazy’ behaviour.
The Vice President has been staunchly loyal to Mr Trump throughout his administration but refused to overturn the November election result.
He and his family had to shelter in a bunker when Trump supporters burst into the Capitol, some chanting, ‘Hang Mike Pence’. Mr Pence and the President have not spoken since the storming of the Capitol, with the Vice President now effectively acting as a guardian against further anarchy in the final days of the administration.
He also confirmed yesterday that he will attend Joe Biden’s inauguration next Wednesday in his boss’s absence. Colleagues say Mr Pence is holding over the President the threat of forcefully removing him under the 25th Amendment of the US Constitution if his behaviour becomes more unstable and dangerous. To do so he would need the support of half of the Cabinet. A poll found 57 per cent of Americans want the President removed immediately while nearly 70 per cent disapprove of his behaviour before the Capitol riots. However, another poll found only 13 per cent of Republicans want him gone.
Senior Republicans continued to desert the Trump camp yesterday. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, once a key ally, said yesterday he would vote to impeach the President for inciting an insurrection. ‘If inciting to insurrection isn’t [an impeachable offence], I don’t know what is,’ he said.
Republican senator Pat Toomey said the ‘best way for our country is for the President to resign and go away as soon as possible’. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Ben Sasse and Mitt Romney have also sided with the impeachers.
Mick Mulvaney, the President’s former chief of staff, predicted many Republicans in Congress would vote for impeachment.
If the vote went to the Senate, at least 17 Republicans would have to join the Democrats for a conviction. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell has said any trial most probably couldn’t start until Mr Biden’s inauguration.
Prosecutors have so far filed 57 charges, with some of the accused charged on more than one count.
Adam Johnson, 36, from Florida, who was pictured smiling and waving with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s lectern during the riots last week, was charged with theft and violent entry.
‘Best way is to resign’