Podcast Summary
Two Democrats draft impeachment article during Capitol siege: Amidst chaos of Capitol siege, two Democrats swiftly drafted an impeachment article against President Trump, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Following the storming of the Capitol building by a mob of Trump supporters, two Democratic congressmen, David Cicilline of Rhode Island and Ted Lieu of California, found themselves drafting an article of impeachment against President Trump while they and other lawmakers were in hiding. The idea for impeachment came to them as they witnessed the violence unfolding around them. They quickly drafted the impeachment charge with the help of Jamie Raskin, another Democrat and former constitutional law professor. Cicilline planned to present the impeachment charge to the House floor once the certification of Joe Biden's electoral college win was complete. Despite his eagerness, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer advised him to wait. The event underscores the severity of the situation and the urgency with which some lawmakers felt the need to take action against the President.
Urgent Impeachment Proceedings Against Trump or Invoking the 25th Amendment: House Democrats are moving to impeach Trump again or urge Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment following Capitol riots, with votes planned for this week.
Following the events of the Capitol riots, Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic-led House are moving quickly towards initiating impeachment proceedings against President Trump for a second time, or urging Vice President Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. The urgency for action is high, as the country reels from the shocking events of the previous week. The House is planning to hold two votes this week: one on Tuesday for a resolution asking Pence and the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, and another potentially for impeachment if that fails. While it's uncertain if Pence will take this step, tensions between the two men are high following Trump's demands and Pence's decision to confirm the electoral college votes. The possibility of Pence invoking the 25th Amendment cannot be entirely ruled out.
Democrats and Republicans doubt Pence will remove Trump, Impeachment proceedings may follow: Despite attempts by Democrats to contact Pence for intervention, there's uncertainty if he'll invoke 25th Amendment. Impeachment proceedings may begin focusing on Trump's role in Capitol insurrection.
There is growing doubt among Democrats and Republicans in Washington that Vice President Pence will intervene to remove President Trump from office, despite calls for him to do so. Speaker Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Schumer have attempted to contact Pence to discuss the matter, but have been left on hold for extended periods of time. The lack of response has diminished hopes that Pence will step in. If Pence does not invoke the 25th Amendment, the House may move to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump. The article of impeachment introduced on Monday focuses on Trump's role in inciting the violent insurrection at the Capitol, quoting his remarks encouraging his supporters to "fight like hell" if they believed the election was stolen. The impeachment process could buy some time, but the uncertainty and instability caused by the situation is becoming increasingly concerning for many.
Expedited Impeachment Process for Trump: Trump's actions led to a rapid impeachment process due to his role as instigator and limited time in office, bypassing lengthy hearings and debates.
President Trump's actions leading up to the Capitol riots have made a rapid impeachment process possible, unlike the convoluted and lengthy impeachment process seen just a year ago. The president's instigation of the violent events and his role as the cause warrant his impeachment, conviction, removal from office, and disqualification from holding future office. The process in the House of Representatives will involve a debate and a direct vote on the article of impeachment, with no hearings or testimony as in the last impeachment. The accumulated expertise from the previous impeachment and the awareness that Trump's time in office is limited are factors contributing to this expedited process.
Democrats debate timing of Trump impeachment trial: Democrats grapple with whether to delay or rush Trump's impeachment trial, considering Biden's priorities and the difficulty of securing a 2/3 Senate majority.
The timing of former President Trump's impeachment trial is a contentious issue among Democrats. With President-elect Biden's agenda and the need to pass legislation, particularly regarding the coronavirus crisis, an all-consuming impeachment trial would be disruptive. Initially, there were discussions about delaying the trial until Biden had 100 days in office to focus on his priorities. However, the thinking now seems to be shifting towards a speedy trial, with Biden himself reportedly reconciling to this happening. The trial could potentially be split between half days for the impeachment proceedings and half days for Biden's agenda and cabinet confirmations. Despite the Democrats' control of the House, securing a conviction in the Senate requires a 2/3 majority, which they do not have. The high bar for conviction set by the Constitution makes securing the necessary Republican votes a significant challenge.
Political Consequences of Trump's Impeachment Trial: The Senate's decision to bar or not bar Trump from holding federal office again could lead to alienation of his voters or continued dominance, with uncertain outcomes and potential consequences for both parties.
The ongoing impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump presents complex political consequences for both parties. If the Senate votes to bar Trump from holding federal office again, Republicans risk alienating his 74 million voters and potentially facing backlash or violence. On the other hand, if they don't take action, Trump could continue to dominate the Republican party and American politics. Democrats are unsure if Republicans will join them in the vote and are focusing on controlling their part of the process, leaving the rest uncertain. The last impeachment and its aftermath, including the Capitol insurrection, may weigh on the minds of some Republicans, but the circumstances of this impeachment are significantly different. The outcome remains uncertain, and the potential consequences, intended or otherwise, are vast.
Political Landscape After Capitol Riots: Unity vs Accountability: The aftermath of the Capitol riots has created a complex political landscape, with some advocating for unity and moving forward, while others call for accountability through impeachment proceedings. This divide has led to a prolonged period of political tension and division within the Republican party, with over 100 arrests made in connection to the riots.
The aftermath of the Capitol riots has led to a complex political landscape, with some Republicans advocating for moving forward and focusing on unity, while others call for accountability through impeachment proceedings. The debate centers around President Trump's character and conduct, with some arguing that voters should decide, while others believe in holding those responsible accountable. The recent events have led to a divide within the Republican party, with some senators expressing their desire to work with President-elect Biden and move the country forward, while others seem reluctant to acknowledge their earlier positions. The situation may lead to a prolonged period of political tension and division. Additionally, authorities have made nearly 100 arrests in connection to the Capitol riots.
Challenges for Defense Attorneys of Capitol Rioters: Two individuals identified during Capitol riots face significant challenges in their defense due to photographic evidence and political fallout. Major corporations suspend PAC contributions to certain politicians.
During the Capitol riots, several individuals were arrested and identified, including a 60-year-old man from Arkansas who was photographed sitting in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office with his feet on a desk, and a 36-year-old man from Florida who was seen carrying Pelosi's lectern through the capitol rotunda. The presence of these individuals in the building, along with the evidence against them, poses significant challenges for their defense attorneys. Furthermore, the political fallout from the Capitol riots continued to escalate, with major corporations such as AT&T, Morgan Stanley, Marriott, and Dow suspending their political action committee contributions to certain congressmen and senators. This episode was produced by Nina Potok and Jessica Cheung, edited by Lisa Toven, and engineered by David Crackles. The daily is brought to you by Michael Bavaro. Stay tuned for more updates tomorrow.
