The star mangled banner
While Trump plays to fans, investigations heat up... but can Congress stop him before he tarnishes all that America stands for?
AS Donald Trump groped the American flag, it looked as creepy as Jack Nicholson’s famous “Heeeeere’s Johnny” scene in The Shining.
The stars and stripes were unwittingly drafted into the Time’s Up abuse movement after being bear-hugged in a cringe-inducing slow dance in the President’s arms.
Manhandling the US flag was the perfect metaphor for his time in the White House – an assault on the country’s most beloved values. He took hold of something that belonged to the people, robbed it of its virtue before moving on to his next conquest.
Then, Trump launched into a two-hour rant against anyone who disagrees with his Presidency, at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington DC.
His attacks came just days after his former lawyer, and once fiercest defender, Michael Cohen, had described his ex-boss as a “racist,” a “con man,” and a “cheat”, while under oath.
Despite the former attorney being convicted of previously lying to Congress, for which he is set to go to prison, it was hard to ignore his claims.
The ramifications will soon be felt. If you thought the past two years of inquiries into Donny’s possible misbehaviour were brutal, buckle up – it’s about to get a lot bumpier.
On Monday, the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee announced a wide-ranging inquiry into “the alleged obstruction of justice, public corruption and other abuses of power by President Trump, his associates and members of his administration”.
Referring to years of “near-daily attacks on our basic legal, ethical and constitutional rules and norms” by Trump, Jerrold Nadler, the committee’s chairman, said that, while it was essential to recognise the ongoing criminal investigations, Congress “cannot rely on others to do the investigative work for us”.
Trump’s own Republicans abandoned their oversight duties when they controlled the House before last year’s midterm elections, Nadler said Democrats must now “begin building the public record”.
In its opening salvo, the committee sent requests for documents to 81 individuals and entities associated with Trump, including his two eldest sons, his daughter and her husband and former flunkies Jeff Sessions, Hope Hicks, Paul Manafort, Steve Bannon and Roger Stone.
The now-defunct Trump Foundation is on the list, as is the Trump campaign, the White House, the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee and the Trump Organisation.
National Enquirer magazine boss, David Pecker and his goons – who reportedly orchestrated schemes to silence women accusing Trump of adultery and sexual misconduct – have also received letters. The investigation could lay the groundwork for Democrats if they pursue impeachment.
The sprawling net cast by the committee also signals the Democratic-led probe is likely to stretch on for months.
It’s too early to know whether these investigations will lead to Trump’s impeachment.
Unlike Richard Nixon, Trump lost the popular vote. He, therefore, cannot afford even a small decline in his support.
Perhaps it’s not just the stars and stripes that Time’s Up for now.