The Senate’s decision to have a trial without witnesses or evidence is disappointing. We’ve never removed an impeached president before, and this new hurdle created by the Senate— whether to actually hear the entire case— will only make future removal from office less likely.
Much more concerning is that the Senate has effectively endorsed the Dershowitz standard— that nothing an American president does to get re-elected is impeachable, as long as he thinks his re-election is in the national interest.
This new precedent for impeachment is scary.
This new precedent for impeachment is scary.
Under the Dershowitz standard, a president could trade America’s nuclear launch codes or betray American troops on the battlefield in exchange for foreign help with re-election.
A president could refuse to release federal disaster aid to a state unless its governor endorses him.
A president could refuse to release federal disaster aid to a state unless its governor endorses him.
Now that the Dershowitz standard is precedent, Richard Nixon’s declaration that ‘if a president does something, it can’t be illegal’ is true— as long as the president is trying to get re-elected.
Under this standard, the Watergate cover-up wouldn’t have been impeachable.
Under this standard, the Watergate cover-up wouldn’t have been impeachable.
Poor Richard Nixon. His vindication came years too late.
Donald Trump, Alan Dershowitz, and the Republican Senate have shown us that using the power of the presidency to cover up burglary is legal, as long as the cover-up was done to help a president get re-elected.
Donald Trump, Alan Dershowitz, and the Republican Senate have shown us that using the power of the presidency to cover up burglary is legal, as long as the cover-up was done to help a president get re-elected.
Obviously, this is a terrible new standard to set for a nation which prides itself for following the rule of law.
“Anything to get re-elected” is an awfully low bar to set for standards of future presidential conduct.
“Anything to get re-elected” is an awfully low bar to set for standards of future presidential conduct.
The one upside in this is that we know Donald Trump won’t stop crimeing.
He’s probably already implicated in America’s next major presidential scandal, whatever that might be.
And thanks to yesterday’s vote, by extension, the Senate will be implicated in whatever that is, too.
He’s probably already implicated in America’s next major presidential scandal, whatever that might be.
And thanks to yesterday’s vote, by extension, the Senate will be implicated in whatever that is, too.
If I were a gambling man, I’d lay even money on Donald Trump becoming the first American president to be impeached twice.
And that’s taking into consideration that the man only has a year left in this term.
If, god forbid, he gets re-elected, I’d double down on that bet.
And that’s taking into consideration that the man only has a year left in this term.
If, god forbid, he gets re-elected, I’d double down on that bet.
Let’s just remember, when inevitable details of the next Trump crime wave inevitably surface, that Senate Republicans were the ones who gave Donald Trump his ‘get out of jail’ card.
His crimes are their crimes, now, too. They’re joined at the hip.
His crimes are their crimes, now, too. They’re joined at the hip.
We can’t count on Republican Party hacks in the Senate to put duty above political interest. We won’t get ‘country over party’ from the likes of Rubio, Blackburn, or Cruz.
But future Trump scandals will also be Rubio scandals, Blackburn scandals, and Cruz scandals.
But future Trump scandals will also be Rubio scandals, Blackburn scandals, and Cruz scandals.
When the sleazy details of the next Trump corruption scandal bubble up to the surface, 50 Senators need to account for their votes yesterday.
They set a terrible precedent to enable Donald Trump’s shady behavior. They left that barn door open.
“You break it, you bought it.”
They set a terrible precedent to enable Donald Trump’s shady behavior. They left that barn door open.
“You break it, you bought it.”
Apparently the GOP didn’t get the message in 2018.
The blue tsunami didn’t impress them. 🌊
People, you know what to do.
The blue tsunami didn’t impress them. 🌊
People, you know what to do.
@threadreaderapp unroll please and thank you.
