U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark of Melrose announced a potential impeachment vote for next week.
Here’s the CNN story and video.
Who says activism doesn’t change the world? Just ask BMG’s own Fred Rich LaRiccia, one of Clark’s earliest supporters in her early runs for state offices.
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To me this only seems worth it if they can get a pre-commitment from the Senate to not only remove him, but also bar him from holding future office. Otherwise it’s T minus 12 days.
I certainly hope that this dark experience convinces Americans that we need to amend the Constitution to handle a corrupt and seditious president and party.
My understanding, from statements of people like Neal Katyal is that the primary purpose of impeaching Donald Trump will be to disqualify him from holding future office. Mr. Katyal says that there is no requirement to finish the process by January 20th — it can happen anytime during this term of Congress.
I agree with you that this strikes me as more political theater than actual policy. I expect Mr. Trump to resign and then be immediately pardoned (along with his family and associates) by Mr. Pence. I think that’s one good reason to wait until after the inauguration to bring any federal charges against anyone in connection with the failed coup attempt — it minimizes the chance of presidential pardons by the outgoing administration.
I agree with you that this is more political theater than actual policy. I think part of telling the truth — as Mr. Romney has advised us — is to admit that we have NO effective means of removing power from this tyrant before his term expires and therefore NO effective way to protect America from the vagaries of his moods.
I hope that scares every American. If we don’t fix this gaping whole in our political system, then Donald Trump will be only the first of many to exploit it.
It’s only a Watergate-era DOJ memo, and not anything that is codified, that stands in the way of indicting a sitting President. I would propose a constitutional amendment which provides for the automatic invocation of the 25th amendment upon indictment for a felony. The VP then acts as President until a verdict is rendered. If the verdict is guilty the President is permanently removed and the VP completes the term; if found not guilty and it is still the President’s term he can then resume his office. The Framers assumed that interbranch jealousies would be enough motivation for Congress to stand up to a President who abuses his power. I’m not sure what it would take to get them to put country over party. We must also figure out why, and how to diffuse, so many voters are willing to tolerate Trump’s behavior. I don’t buy the policy argument. Any GOP President, including all those who ran in 2016 as well as Mike Pence if he had to step in following a removal, would give them their tax cuts and Federalist judges. I think it will take a generation of serious instruction in Civics.
That’s the best proposal about this that I’ve heard in a very long time. I would imagine that some language might be needed about an independent special prosecutor for federal crimes — we need a mechanism for the House to appoint one.
I enthusiastically support this proposal, as well as your reminder that we need a generation of serious instruction in Civics.
Since the House is responsible for initiating impeachment and an independent counsel is often called to investigate if such is warranted, it has long made sense to me that the House appoint the IC. Plus that would take the appointment out of the DOJ which works for the President.