CNN Some Republicans will consider voting for second Trump impeachment

[Wicked Blue]

Some Republicans will consider voting for second Trump impeachment

From CNN's Jamie Gangel, Lauren Fox and Manu Raju

Republican sources have told CNN they do want President Trump removed before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20. Two members have told CNN they would consider voting for impeachment if the articles of impeachment seem reasonable.

“We experienced the attack; we don’t need long hearings on what happened," one of those sources said.

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/washington-dc-riots-trump-news-friday/index.html

[apnu]

1. "some" I hope that means 25 Senators

That's what we need for conviction.

[DonaldsRump]

6. Nope. 67 Senators needed to convict

All Ds will vote to convict. The rest need to come from the Rs.

[jcgoldie]

9. Is it 66 without perdue?

2/3 * 99 ?

[DonaldsRump]

14. That's a very good point

Right now, we have 99 Senators (Perdue is no longer a Senator, but Loeffler still is). I think you're right: at 99 Senators, it's 66 Senators that would be required to convict.

Also, we are awaiting the Georgia Secretary of State's certification of the two Senate run-offs before Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff can be sworn in. If, for some blessed reason, that happens soon, we are at 100 Senators and 50 Dems/Independents.

Assuming this gets puts to a vote in the Senate, I don't think it's impossible to get the 2/3rds majority, either way. If we control the Senate, I think Majority Leader Schumer CAN put this to a Senate vote. I doubt McConnell will, but let's see.

[apnu]

15. All good points, 16 is easier to find than 25.

[Marcuse]

19. The trial probably won't start before the inauguration. There will be 100 Senators sitting.

[DonaldsRump]

24. I don't think they can or will hold a conviction trial after Trump is no longer President

Specifically, Article II, Section 4 of the US Constitution says this:

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

It explicitly applies to "the President", not to a former President. I know there are some recent commentary stating differently (e.g., https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/can-trump-be-tried-senate-impeachment-charges-even-after-he-n1253544), but it seems clear to me that there can't be impeachment and/or conviction when someone is no longer President based on the plain wording of the Constitution: you can't remove someone from an office that they no longer hold.

[Marcuse]

25. It is counterintuitive.

[cstanleytech]

26. Yup sounds like what Trump will be facing at most

are regular criminal charges and or civil lawsuits from those killed by the riot he instigated.

[NYC Liberal]

27. The Senate held a trial for a Secretary of War who resigned:

On March 2, 1876, just minutes before the House of Representatives was scheduled to vote on articles of impeachment, Belknap raced to the White House, handed Grant his resignation, and burst into tears.

This failed to stop the House. Later that day, members voted unanimously to send the Senate five articles of impeachment, charging Belknap with “criminally disregarding his duty as Secretary of War and basely prostituting his high office to his lust for private gain.”

The Senate convened its trial in early April, with Belknap present, after agreeing that it retained impeachment jurisdiction over former government officials. During May, the Senate heard more than 40 witnesses, as House managers argued that Belknap should not be allowed to escape from justice simply by resigning his office.

https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/minute/War_Secretarys_Impeachment_Trial.htm

If it wasn’t possible, anyone could evade a lifetime ban from office by simply resigning right between the conviction vote and the disqualification vote.

[DonaldsRump]

28. Excellent! Thank you for posting this

This then gives real teeth.

We may not get this monster out by January 20, but if we can do this after the Senate resumes (with Senators Ossoff and Warnock (how lovely that sounds!), and with Chuck Schumer as Senate Majority Leader, it makes all the sense in the world. For example, upon conviction, Trump would lose:

1) The right to hold federal office again (I am sure even Cruz and Hawley would vote for this);
2) He loses his Secret Service protection;
3) He loses his pension, office expenses, and other financial benefits;
4) He would not get any former Presidential briefings (which is good, since he would just send these to Vladimir Putin).

It would also get on the record which Congressional members support Trump.

If there is no time pressure, it also allows for a full blown hearing. I want to know who gave the order to law enforcement/National Guard to stand down on January 6. That would help clear out a lot of bad actors in the fed government.

Full steam ahead!

[Kaleva]

8. We need 2/3 of the Senate to convict. Our 48 plus 18 repubs?

[AllyCat]

17. I would hope King and Sanders would vote for this.

[C_U_L8R]

2. Impeach or give every future president power to attack Congress

It should be an easy choice.

[still_one]

3. The seriousness of this should be a wake up call just what a dangerous situation we are in because

of trump

[marmar]

4. It would actually be a good move for them. It prevents him from ever running for office.

[LisaL]

5. They better consider fast.

Trump has less than 2 weeks left.

[cbdo2007]

7. I hear Collins is getting concerned. She will definitely consider this before rejecting it.

[SheltieLover]

10. Mighty big of them considering dump endangered ALL their lives!

[TigressDem]

11. PUBLIC ENEMY #1

WE CONCUR

[blueinredohio]

12. Articles seem reasonable? WTF?

Calling on people to riot isn't reasonable enough?

[lindysalsagal]

13. They can all instruct Pence to 25 him, and get him gone.

But they're complicit in the riot. So they won't.

Much if the gop needs to resign.

[dansolo]

16. Pence won't fall on his sword to protect the GOP

It will have to be impeachment and the Republican Senators will need to be on record with their votes. There is no way in hell that Pence will want to be the sole person viewed as taking down Trump.

[Marcuse]

20. The MAGATS already want Pence dead.

[Liberty Belle]

18. Romney voted to impeach before and will surely do so again.

McKowski of Alaska just called on Trump to resign. She would probably vote to impeach.

So 14 more are needed. Who might they be?

[PCIntern]

21. I can think of seven offhand:

Dopey, Sneezy, Grumpy, ....

These Rethugs don’t want their residences staked out and burned to the ground. Not a prayer...

He essentially shot five people on Fifth Ave and got away with it. Remember there is no floor for this guy. What’s next?

[writes3000]

22. RACHEL MADE A KEY POINT ON THIS

They need 2/3rds of the Senate who are PRESENT.

If enough Republicans don’t show up...game, set, match.

[moonscape]

23. Daniel Goldman was on Hayes explaining

why he won’t/can’t be removed by the Senate before 1/20, McConnell has some issues with his conference, people are all over the place, and even if that weren’t an issue, after impeahment passing in the House and getting to the Senate, there’s a process that has to occur, a trial, right to defend himself, etc. 25th amendment is the only way to have him removed right away.