It is looking increasingly likely the Dems will control the Senate beginning January 3rd. They will have plenty to do, teeing up all sorts of bills for Biden to sign on Day One. But there is another important job:
Let’s say Democrats have 55 Senate seats (the upper range of what could happen).
The House should quickly re-impeach Trump for (take your pick) and move it on to the Senate, where the Dem Senate will vote to convict and then force a vote for removal.
But wait! Trump is leaving just 2 weeks later, why go to all that trouble?
Let’s count the benefits:
- The remaining GOP Senators, some of whom will be up for re-election in 2022, will have to go on the record that they think it is OK for Trump to have done these egregious behaviors.
- A precedent will be established that there is a standard of behavior to which Presidents should be held accountable.
- It will make Transition easier. I don’t want Trump anywhere near the White House on Jan 20th and the week before. All sorts of shenanigans could ensue — ridiculous pardons, actions to put a wrench in Biden’s plans; remember there is still some concern he is taking orders from Putin. What would Putin tell him to do to fuck up Biden’s first 100 days?
- Holding Trump under threat of early removal hopefully checks his actions — the GOP can tell Trump it play nice, or 12 of them will vote to remove. Do I think there are actually 12 Republicans who would vote to oust Trump for bad behavior in his final days? No. But it makes them sweat it.
Note the Senate in Dem hands can do all sorts of things to make life miserable for Trump in his last 17 days. This is the peak, but they can launch other investigations, bring witnesses/hold public hearings, make it political not feasible for Trump to do real damage prior to Biden taking office.
Sure the media will play it as retribution, etc. But fuck the media and their narratives.