Rubio’s statement on Trump’s acquittal following “the criminal attack of January 6th”: “let history, and if necessary the courts, judge the events of the past.”
. rubio.senate.gov/rubio-statemen…
GOP Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who also voted to acquit Trump:
"The ultimate accountability is through our criminal justice system... No president is above the law or immune from criminal prosecution, and that includes former President Trump. tillis.senate.gov/2021/2/tillis-…
Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman also voted to acquit, and said "the appropriate place to address former officials' conduct is the criminal justice system... That is where the issues raised by [Trump's] inexcusable actions and words must be addressed." cleveland19.com/2021/02/13/ohi…
John Cornyn of TX, another vote to acquit: "Given that the Constitution makes legal offenses committed while in office subject to investigation and prosecution as warranted, after a President is no longer in office, I believe that is the Constitutional method of accountability."
Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader, said this when he voted to acquit: "Trump is still liable for everything he did... We have a criminal justice system in this country. We have civil litigation and presidents are not immune..." axios.com/2021/02/13/mcc…
Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo, another vote to acquit: "the Constitution does not allow impeaching private citizens--even those who formerly occupied federal office. Private citizens are subject to accountability for their actions under our legal justice system." idahonews.com/news/local/ris…
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Rich Lowry: “Washington power centers” and the US military will prevent Trump from becoming a dictator
"I’m not saying [the Trump-as-Dictator] scenario is impossible, just that it requires every Republican in the legislative branch to accept a role akin to obedient eunuchs." 🤔
National Review: President Trump ought to be able to staff 100% of the executive branch with political loyalists… also, we can depend on military oaths to save the US Constitution.
A couple of thoughts on this from the WSJ editorial board.
1. Institutions are just people. When you say "institutions are strong enough" you're saying that people will stop Trump. Who, exactly? GOP senators wouldn't convict after a literal coup attempt! wsj.com/articles/gop-d…
2. When you're trying to persuade open-minded conservative voters to avoid nominating Trump, you undermine your case when you say Trump can be contained. You're telling them "don't worry, it's not that risky, and if you don't stop him, someone else will."
3. So who are the generals who would refuse mobilization orders under a dubious invocation of the Insurrection Act in 2026? What if Trump replaces the flag officer corps in 2025 and replaces them exclusively with MAGA loyalists?