El 13 de enero, la Cámara de Representantes de Estados Unidos votó para acusar a Donald Trump por segunda vez, luego de acusaciones de ambos lados del espectro político de que sus afirmaciones de ‘manipulación electoral’ habían incitado a sus partidarios a asaltar el Capitolio. En particular, diez republicanos se pusieron del lado de los demócratas acusadores.
Según los informes, el presidente Donald Trump está investigando a los diez miembros del Partido Republicano (GOP) que rompieron filas para ponerse del lado de los demócratas y apoyaron su segundo juicio político el 13 de enero, escribe el Wall Street Journal.
Se dice que Trump convocó a sus asesores políticos poco después de la votación y exigió saber más sobre los renegados: desde quiénes eran, hasta si alguna vez había hecho algo por ellos, según fuentes citadas por el medio. Según los informes, también dio instrucciones a sus ayudantes para que averiguaran quién podría competir contra los renegados cuando se enfrenten a la reelección en dos años.
Después de perder el control de la Cámara, el Senado y la Casa Blanca, los republicanos enfrentan múltiples desafíos de cara a las elecciones de mitad de período de 2022 y a las próximas elecciones presidenciales de 2024.
La republicana de la Cámara No. 3, la representante Liz Cheney de Wyoming (cuyo padre, el ex vicepresidente Dick Cheney, fue uno de los arquitectos clave de la guerra de Irak), fue uno de los diez miembros republicanos que votaron por acusar al POTUS en ejercicio, y desde entonces se ha resistido a las llamadas de algunos miembros del House Freedom Caucus para que renuncien.
La representante Liz Cheney, republicana de Wyoming, habla mientras la Cámara de Representantes debate los artículos de juicio político contra el presidente Donald Trump en el Capitolio en Washington, el miércoles 18 de diciembre de 2019.
Los otros republicanos que votaron de manera similar fueron los representantes Tom Rice de Carolina del Sur, John Katko de Nueva York, Anthony González de Ohio, Peter Meijer de Michigan, Adam Kinzinger de Illinois, Dan Newhouse de Washington, Fred Upton de Michigan, Jaime Herrera Beutler de Washington y David Valadao de California.
Otros republicanos, incluido el líder de la minoría de la Cámara de Representantes, Kevin McCarthy, mientras denunciaban públicamente las acciones de Trump, percibidas como incitar a sus partidarios a atacar el Capitolio de los Estados Unidos, habían instado a una censura menos severa.
Se sugirió que el presidente en funciones había anticipado una deserción republicana aún mayor, escribe la publicación que hace referencia a los miembros de la administración Trump.
© Sputnik / Artur Gabdrakhmanov [
Demonstrators protest outside US Capitol Building in Washington to contest the certification of the 2020 presidential election results by the US Congress, 6 January 2021
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who later this month will transfer the title to Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, revealed on 13 January that he is yet to decide on how he will vote on impeachment.
At least 17 Republican votes are required at the Senate trial to convict Trump, to reach the 2/3 majority needed, with 20 allegedly open to the idea, yet if the reports of his retribution plans are true, this may sway the stance of some lawmakers.
The Senate could also bar Trump from ever holding public office again, accordingly undermining his influence within the GOP.
Plotting Defence
Donald Trump is reported as having expressed growing concern with defections against him within his own party ranks, according to aides, as he looks ahead at a potential second Senate trial.
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REUTERS / House TV
U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) presides as the House of Representatives votes to impeach U.S. President Donald Trump for inciting insurrection, a week after a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, in this framegrab from video shot inside the House Chamber of the Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 13, 2021.
The House of Representatives first impeached Trump in late 2019 for abusing power and obstructing Congress amid claims he pressured Ukraine into investigating the Biden family’s dealings in that country.
However, Trump was not removed from office by the Senate, which acquitted him 52-48.
Now, Trump has to plot a defence amid diminished legal and political clout, with the outcome hinging on how reliable the level of GOP support for him will be.
The outgoing president is said to have sought the advice of several Republicans on Capitol Hill of late regarding the matter of recruiting a legal representation team. Private attorneys who defended him earlier, as well as White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, allegedly informed Trump he need not stake on their support.
Trump was also purportedly advised against seeking the legal aid of his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who had led the largely failed campaign to overturn the results of the election.
Some, according to the outlet, discussed tapping John Eastman, a conservative constitutional law professor, as a possible defence attorney.
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AP Photo / Alex Brandon
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., displays the signed article of impeachment against President Donald Trump in an engrossment ceremony before transmission to the Senate for trial on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021.
Besides the Senate impeachment trial, it is thought that Georgia may pursue a case against Trump on solicitation to commit election fraud, conspiracy charges and a misdemeanour for obstruction of the “performance of election duties”.
Trump is already being pursued by New York prosecutors in a criminal fraud inquiry into his finances.
Suspense over Senate Trial
The recent House impeachment vote has resulted in a cliffhanger as much about Trump’s subsequent Senate impeachment trial is uncertain.
Thus, there is a legal theory that Trump cannot face the subsequent Senate trial because he will no longer hold office and the purpose of impeachment is removal.
Trump will be the first ex-president to face an impeachment trial, and it is unclear if it will start this month.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has not offered clarification at a press conference on 15 January regarding the timeline for transmitting the impeachment resolution to the Senate.
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Noticia original: https://sputniknews.com/us/202101161081788149-in-the-crosshairs-trump-reportedly-focusing-on-republicans-who-crossed-party-lines-on-impeachment/