Pelosi tells Democrats to be ready for action on Trump this week
The President remains silent about Capitol police officer killed in Wednesday attack
Pelosi wants action, but it might not be impeachment. Democrats target GOP lawmakers. And silence from President Trump about the Capitol Police office killed in Wednesday’s attack. This is a special “Regular Order” for January 10, 2021.
CONFRONTING TRUMP. “I urge you to be prepared to return to Washington this week,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Democrats Saturday night, as many are ready to respond to the violent attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters. "There must be consequences for Wednesday’s treason,” said Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY). But in her letter to Democrats, Pelosi did not use the word ‘impeachment’ - leaving open the possibility of censure, or some other ‘constitutional options’ to rebuke the President.
GOP: JUST SAY NO. Most Republicans in Congress are warning against impeachment, arguing it would be too divisive. - though Democrats say that’s sort of odd, given that Trump supporters just ransacked the Capitol. Seven GOP lawmakers - all of whom broke with President Trump and voted to approve Biden’s electoral college victory - sent a letter to the President-Elect on Saturday night, asking him to intervene with the Speaker of the House, and prevent impeachment.
IMPEACHMENT BIG THREE. Democrats don't like President Trump. That's obvious. But what pushes them to a second impeachment bid just days before he leaves office? Here's three items which could be part of any impeachment effort:
1) Democrats argue the President made repeated false claims of election fraud, and incited supporters to attack the Capitol in a bid to stop the counting of electoral votes.
2) Democrats say the President personally tried to get Vice President Pence to illegally change the electoral vote results on January 6.
3) In phone calls, President Trump pressured Georgia officials to illegally change the election results, and may have pressured a federal prosecutor to quit over the elections.
DEMS TARGET CRUZ, HAWLEY. The Constitution clearly says anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion can not be in Congress. And some Democrats say that applies to Republicans who egged on Trump supporters with false claims of election fraud. In the Senate, it’s brought multiple calls for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) to resign, or be expelled.
MAYBE NOT PROBLEM SOLVERS. One group which tries to forge bipartisan deals is the "Problem Solvers" caucus. But four GOP members of the group - which is devoted to compromise - voted to overturn the November election results, after the Capitol was attacked. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) and Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) voted against results from Arizona and Pennsylvania. Reps. Dan Meuser and Lloyd Smucker of Pennsylvania voted against Biden’s win in their home state.
SILENCE FROM THE PRESIDENT. Saturday was National Law Enforcement Day. But President Trump said nothing about the U.S. Capitol Police officer who was killed in Wednesday's attack by Trump supporters. In fact, there’s been no official statement from the President who champions ‘law and order.’ The flags were finally lowered to half-staff at the White House on Sunday afternoon. Vice President Pence did call the officer’s family.
MORE CAPITOL ARRESTS. Thanks to evidence from social media, federal agents made more arrests on Saturday in the Capitol attack. The Florida man who ripped off Speaker Pelosi’s lectern. An Iowa man who led rioters into the Capitol. The guy with the horns. There’s video of the Trump supporters calling for the hanging of the Vice President. And someone who wanted to kill the Speaker of the House.
THE MUSE OF HISTORY. After a bomb went off in a hallway next to the Senate floor in 1983, House Sergeant At Arms Jack Russ proposed a permanent security fence around the Capitol. But the idea went nowhere. Now, in the aftermath of the attack by supporters of President Trump, there is temporary fencing walling off the Capitol grounds, and the Supreme Court. It won't surprise me if this becomes permanent.
UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM:
House meets Monday at 11 am.
Senate meets Tuesday at 12:30 pm.
President Trump is in Washington.
Follow me on Twitter @jamiedupree
Email me at jamiedupree@substack.com
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Loving Regular Order Jamie...great work during harrowing days pal. Stay safe.