GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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After Voting To Acquit, McConnell Torches Trump As Responsible For Riot
https://www.npr.org/sections/trump-impeachment-trial-live-updates/2021/02/13/967701180/after-vote-mcconnell-torched-trump-as-practically-and-morally-responsible-for-ri
Following Saturday's vote acquitting former President Trump, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell excoriated Trump for his actions on the day of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, calling them a "disgraceful dereliction of duty." But, he said, ultimately, he did not vote to convict the former president because of constitutional concerns.
"There's no question, none, that President Trump is practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day," McConnell said shortly after the 57-43 Senate vote that ended in the former president's acquittal.
"The people who stormed this building believed they were acting on the wishes and instructions of their president, and having that belief was a foreseeable consequence of the growing crescendo of false statements, conspiracy theories, and reckless hyperbole which the defeated president kept shouting into the largest megaphone on planet Earth."
McConnell rebuked Trump for his actions after the insurrection as well.
"He did not do his job. He didn't take steps so federal law could be faithfully executed and order restored," he continued.
"No. Instead, according to public reports, he watched television happily — happily — as the chaos unfolded," he said. "Even after it was clear to any reasonable observer that Vice President Pence was in serious danger."
But McConnell said that the process of impeachment and conviction is a "limited tool" and that he believes Trump is not "constitutionally eligible for conviction."
"The Constitution gives us a particular role. This body is not invited to act as the nation's overarching moral tribunal," he said.
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Too little, too late. Does this mean he'll vote to convict on the 14th Amendment?
https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/section-3/
Fourteenth Amendment
Section 3
No Person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
He can be barred from holding any future position if this is invoked and voted by a simple majority in both houses of Congress.
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DancinBarefoot
06ers Rock!!
Member since 1/07 9534 total posts
Name:
The One My Mother Gave Me ;-)
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After Voting To Acquit, McConnell Torches Trump As Responsible For Riot
Nothing more than empty words. He had the opportunity to do the right thing, and deliberately chose not to. He could have called the Senate back from recess to start the trial but wanted this excuse to explain away his no vote. As the senior most GOP senator he had the power to bring along 16 colleagues to vote to convict. He was one of the senators who voted to convict Bill Clinton of lying, but he couldn’t find the moral compass to vote on behalf of democracy? He can go to h*ll with the rest of his GOP colleagues that voted no.
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