Lifelong suspension of office threatens: the start of Trump impeachment is certain

Lifelong suspension of office threatens
The start of the Trump impeachment is certain

Things are getting serious for Donald Trump. Because of the storming of the Capitol, the ex-president is faced with impeachment proceedings. Senate Majority Leader Schumer is now setting the process to start in the second week of February.

The impeachment process against former US President Donald Trump for storming the Capitol will begin in the second week of February. This was announced by the new Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer. "There will only be healing and unity if there is truth and accountability. And that will make this process possible," said Schumer in Washington. The indictment will be filed in the Senate next Monday. Usually the process starts a day or two later.

The now decided postponement of two weeks enables the Congress Chamber to go about its normal parliamentary work first. This includes in particular the confirmation of the ministers nominated by the new US President Joe Biden and possibly the decision on new corona aid amounting to 1.9 trillion dollars, almost 1.6 trillion euros.

A week and a half ago, the House of Representatives initiated impeachment proceedings against the Republican because of the storming of the Capitol by radical Trump supporters. The allegation is "incitement to riot". Trump became the first president in US history to have two impeachment proceedings initiated.

The two-week postponement is also the result of a deal between Democrat Schumer and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell. He had advertised that the actual process should only start in mid-February so that Trump would have more time to prepare. McConnell criticized the House of Representatives for having initiated the impeachment process "with unprecedented speed". "The consequence cannot be an inadequate Senate trial that denies former President Trump his due process or damages the Senate or the presidency itself," he said.

McConnell was a close ally of the president during Trump's tenure. However, he had sharply criticized Trump for his "provocation" of the mob in the storming of the Capitol and had not ruled out voting for a condemnation of the ex-president.

For President Biden, the impeachment process against his predecessor harbors risks: Biden actually wants to close the Trump chapter and reduce tensions in the country. However, he must fear new conflicts between Democrats and Republicans and extensive paralysis of the Senate as a result of the process.

If the Senate finds Trump guilty of incitement to riot by a two-thirds majority, the Congress Chamber could expel him from future political offices. This means that the 74-year-old could not run for president again in 2024.

To date, however, there has never been a two-thirds majority in favor of a president in US history. All 50 Democratic Senators and at least 17 Republicans would have to vote against Trump. At the moment there is no telling whether this will happen.

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