Category: Politics

Democrats Demand Trump Testify At Senate Impeachment Trial

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

House impeachment managers sent a letter to Donald Trump strongly suggesting the former president testify at the Senate impeachment trial.

The trial, slated to begin on Tuesday of next week, involves a charge from the House that Trump incited a mob of supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6th.

A formal response from Trump’s lawyers “denied” that he “ever engaged in a violation of his oath of office,” and instead he, “at all times acted to the best of his ability to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin (D-MD) essentially defied Trump to prove his innocence in his own words.

“In light of your disputing these factual allegations, I write to invite you to provide testimony under oath, either before or during the Senate impeachment trial, concerning your conduct on January 6, 2021,” Raskin wrote.

The Democrat then argued that not testifying would be used against him.

“If you decline this invitation, we reserve any and all rights, including the right to establish at trial that your refusal to testify supports a strong adverse inference regarding your actions (and inaction) on January 6, 2021,” added Raskin.

RELATED: Trump’s Lawyers Argue Impeachment Article Is Violation Of The Constitution

Lindsey Graham – Not Likely Trump Will Testify at Impeachment Trial

Forbes reporter Andrew Solender tweeted a response from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) in which he dismissed Raskin’s demand as little more than a “political ploy.”

“I don’t think that would be in anybody’s interest,” Graham said according to Solender, adding that it would be a “nightmare for the country.”

“This is just a political showboat move. They didn’t call him in the House,” Graham pointed out.

Raskin’s letter attempts to argue that there is precedent for Presidents testifying at their impeachment trial.

“Presidents Gerald Ford and Bill Clinton both provided testimony while in office—and the Supreme Court held just last year that you were not immune from legal process while serving as President—so there is no doubt that you can testify in these proceedings,” he said.

Raskin is seemingly unaware that Trump is no longer the President.

Solender reports that Graham spoke to the former President a couple of days ago and he’s in “pretty good spirits, trying to get adjusted to his new life.”

RELATED: Maxine Waters Wants Trump Charged With ‘Premeditated Murder’

A Political Ploy

Raskin’s letter is rich, not only with political ploys but with irony. Tremendously thick irony, at that.

The Maryland Democrat is “guilty” of the very same thing he is tasked with proving is a high crime and misdemeanor in Trump’s impeachment trial.

Raskin objected to the certification of Florida’s electoral votes in 2017. In fact, House Democrats tried objecting to the certification of electoral votes for Donald Trump that year on 11 separate occasions.

One could argue, using the Democrat party’s own standard today, that the constant insistence that Trump didn’t really win the election in 2016 led to an incitement of violence on inauguration day.

House managers do not have independent authority to subpoena Trump so they must invite him to make his case.

The Senate, according to the New York Post, could subpoena him with a simple majority.

The post Democrats Demand Trump Testify At Senate Impeachment Trial appeared first on The Political Insider.

House Republicans Vote To Keep Liz Cheney In Leadership After Her Impeachment Vote

Posted on by John Hanson

An effort to oust House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney from her leadership position failed Wednesday after a majority of Republicans voted to keep her as the third-ranking House Republican.

The vote to potentially remove Cheney was done by secret ballot.

In the end, 61 Republicans in the House voted to remove Cheney and 145 GOP members voted to keep her.

One Republican voted present.

RELATED: Marjorie Taylor Greene Blasts ‘Hate America Democrats’ As Vote To Remove Her From Committees Is Confirmed

Backlash Against Liz Cheney Came After Impeaching Trump

The vote followed a defense of Cheney from House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy.

The vote was held over Cheney’s vote to join Democrats in impeaching President Donald Trump for a second time. Nine other Republicans also voted to impeach. 

Cheney told the House Republican Conference, “I won’t apologize for the vote.”

Republican Congressmen Matt Rosendale and Andy Biggs passed around a petition to remove Cheney from her post as House GOP chair.

After the vote, Rosendale said, “The Conference has spoken, and it’s time for Republicans to unify to take back the majority. I will do my part to achieve that goal.”

Cheney Endorsed Primary Opponent Of Staunch Conservative Rep. Thomas Massie

Pro-Trump Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, who went to Wyoming to rally against her, claimed Cheney had worked against former President Trump’s ‘America First’ because Cheney was part of the “forever war machine.”

Gaetz, along with Biggs and Congressman Thomas Massie, opposed Cheney’s efforts to shove into the National Defense Authorization Act an amendment that would precent Trump from bringing the troops home from Afghanistan.

Cheney had also supported Massie’s GOP primary opponent, which angered many House conservatives.

Since Cheney announced that she would vote to impeach Trump, a recent poll found that her political support has collapsed by more than double digits back home. 

RELATED: Former AOC Staffers Launch Plan To Take Down Moderate Dems – Make Room For Far-Left Agenda

Cheney In Trouble In Wyoming

73 percent of Wyoming Republicans viewed her unfavorably according to the poll, while 62 percent of all voters overall now view her negatively. 

In the same poll, only 10 percent of GOP voters and 13 percent of all voters said they would vote to reelect her.

Trump pollster John McLaughlin wrote, “Liz Cheney’s decision to vote to impeach President Trump makes her extremely vulnerable.”

“It is evident her ratings are in bad shape among general election voters and have collapsed among Republicans and Trump voters,” he added.

Since her vote to impeach, 10 County Republican Parties in Wyoming have voted to censure her.

The post House Republicans Vote To Keep Liz Cheney In Leadership After Her Impeachment Vote appeared first on The Political Insider.

House GOP Meets For Decisions On Liz Cheney, Marjorie Taylor Greene

Posted on by Becky Noble

Republicans in the House of Representatives gather for a crucial meeting on Wednesday to discuss the future of two House members. Liz Cheney and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who represent a growing division between factions of the Republican Party with two very different visions.

Republicans will debate whether or not to remove Liz Cheney (R-WY) from her position as GOP Conference Chair.

Cheney has come under fire from fellow Trump-supporting Republican members of the House for her vote to impeach the former president on charges that he incited the riot that took place at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Also at issue is freshman member of Congress Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and whether or not she should be removed from her congressional committee assignments.

Controversial comments made by Greene prior to her being elected to Congress have surfaced on social media.

RELATED: GOP Pushes Omar Ouster From Committee Assignments In Response To Marjorie Taylor Greene Measure

Major Issues On The Table For The GOP

According to a CNN report, in 2019, Greene “liked” a comment that stated “a bullet to the head would be quicker,” in a thread that discussed the removal of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). 

There are other other claims that she has espoused QAnon conspiracy theories and confronted political opponents such as Parkland High School shooting survivor and gun activist David Hogg on video. 


RELATED: Liz Cheney Censured By 10 Wyoming Republican Parties Over Impeachment Vote

On The Hot Seat, Kevin McCarthy

The eyes of all GOP House members will be on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA).

On Tuesday, McCarthy had a long anticipated, well-publicized 90 minute meeting with Greene, however, aides disclosed little about what was discussed. 

The possible removal of Greene from her committee assignments will be the subject of another separate meeting, also on Wednesday.

Several Republicans are calling foul on Democrat double standards that ignore past anti-Semetic remarks that have been made by Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and the incendiary comments of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).

Politico reports that McCarthy may try to broker a deal with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), but it is not know whether or not Hoyer will agree to any such deal.

RELATED: Mitch McConnell Voices Support For Liz Cheney As Calls Grow For Her To Be Expelled From GOP Leadership

The Future Of The Republican Party?

The push to remove Cheney began with her ‘yes’ vote on impeachment. On the heels of that vote, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was one of the first to call for her ouster as Conference Chair. Nine other Republicans had also voted to impeach Trump. 

Cheney is also in trouble at home. Recently, ten Wyoming Republican County Parties have voted to censure Cheney for her vote.

She already has a primary opponent for 2022. Wyoming State Senator Anthony Bouchard will challenge Cheney.

Gaetz recently also traveled to Cheyenne Wyoming to call on Trump supporters to back Cheney’s removal from Congress. 

Cheney enjoys much support by those who are seen as the “establishment,” the old guard of the Republican Party.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said of Cheney, “Liz Cheney is a leader with deep convictions and the courage to act on them.”

Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) called her, “a strong and reliable voice of the conservative party.”

Greene, as a newly elected member of Congress, has not even been on Capitol Hill long enough to put forth much legislation. But already the establishment wing of the Republican Party seems very threatened by her. 

Mitch McConnell called her “a cancer” for the GOP in a reference to her “loony lies and conspiracy theories.”

“Somebody who has suggested that perhaps no airplane hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that horrifying school shootings were pre-staged, and that the Clintons crashed JFK Jr’s airplane is not living in reality. This has nothing to do with the challenges facing American families or the robust debates on substance that strengthen our party.”

Sen. Mitt Romney called for distance. “I think we should have nothing to do with Marjorie Taylor Greene, and I think we should repudiate the things she said and move away from her.”

Greene responded to McConnell that, “the real cancer for the Republican party is weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully.”

https://twitter.com/mtgreenee/status/1356442381491593218    

There are clearly two wings of the Republican party forming. The McConnell, Romney, Cheney wing of graceful losers, and the new faces of Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who are tired of establishment business as usual. 

Make no mistake, the American people will decide the winner.  

The post House GOP Meets For Decisions On Liz Cheney, Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared first on The Political Insider.

Liz Cheney Censured By 10 Wyoming County Republican Parties Over Impeachment Vote

Posted on by John Hanson

The Republican Parties of ten different Wyoming counties have voted to censure House Republican Conference Chair Liz Cheney. According to the Casper Star-Tribune, that number could still rise.

Since Cheney and nine other Republicans voted in favor of impeaching President Donald Trump, who they blame for inciting the Capitol Hill riots on January 6, Cheney has faced significant criticism in Wyoming and Washington, D.C.

RELATED: Mitch McConnell Voices Support For Liz Cheney As Calls Grow For Her To Be Expelled From GOP Leadership

County GOP: Cheney ‘Betrayed The Trust’ Of Her Voters

Wyoming Republicans haven’t minced words in their descriptions of Cheney’s behavior.

The Sweetwater County Republican Party censure states that Cheney had “betrayed the trust and failed to honor the will of the very large majority of motivated Wyoming voters who elected her.”

Part of their statement read:

“Because she voted in an anarchic proceeding against President Donald J. Trump which was conducted in contravention of established principles of due process — a proceeding that provided no probative evidence for consideration, called no witnesses to testify under oath, permitted no questioning of the accusers by the accused — Representative Liz Cheney stood in defiance of the quantifiable will of the substantial majority of Wyoming citizens and devalued the political influence of the State of Wyoming.”

Cheney On Impeachment Vote: ‘This Is A Vote Of Conscience’

Over half of the House Republican Conference has said they plan to vote to remove Cheney from her leadership role.

Still, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has implied that he will not support ousting Cheney from her post, and Cheney herself declared last month, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“This is a vote of conscience,” Cheney added. “It’s one where there are different views in our conference.”

She did not explain how President Trump was responsible for some people breaking in to the Capitol building.

RELATED: Pelosi, Schumer Begin Process Of Potentially Bypassing GOP To Push COVID Relief Through Congress

McConnell Supports Cheney

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell gave his support to Cheney on Monday, describing her as an “important leader.”

“Liz Cheney is a leader with deep convictions and the courage to act on them,” McConnell told CNN.

“She is an important leader in our party and in our nation,” McConnell added. “I am grateful for her service and look forward to continuing to work with her on the crucial issues facing our nation.”

Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a regular Cheney foe, traveled to Wyoming last week to denounce her to the cheers of many Trump supporters.

Donald Trump To Focus On Defeating ‘Never Trump’ Republicans

Gaetz isn’t the only Republican taking steps to defeat Cheney in her 2022 re-election bid. 

Former President Trump, considering his political future, had reportedly talked of creating a third party. 

However, he is apparently changing that focus in favor of primarying ‘Never Trump’ Republicans – like Liz Cheney. 

The post Liz Cheney Censured By 10 Wyoming County Republican Parties Over Impeachment Vote appeared first on The Political Insider.

Trump’s Lawyers Argue Impeachment Article Is Violation Of The Constitution

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Donald Trump’s lawyers argue that the House impeachment charge is unconstitutional and are calling on the Senate to acquit the former President.

In their first formal response, Trump’s lawyers “denied” that the former President “ever engaged in a violation of his oath of office,” and by contrast, he, “at all times acted to the best of his ability to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

They also assert that going through a process designed to remove somebody from office when he is no longer in the office is a violation of the Constitution.

The brief calls for dismissal of the article stating, “Incitement of Insurrection against him as moot, and thus in violation of the Constitution, because the Senate lacks jurisdiction to remove from office a man who does not hold office.”

45th President’s Answer… by Fox News

RELATED: AOC Equates Republicans to Her Sexual Assault Abuser, Says She Thought She Would Die During Capitol Riots

House Impeachment Managers Say Overwhelming Evidence to Convict Trump

House impeachment managers earlier today filed a pre-trial brief which revealed what their plan of attack will be in the upcoming Senate trial.

“In a grievous betrayal of his Oath of Office, President Trump incited a violent mob to attack the United States Capitol during the Joint Session, thus impeding Congress’s confirmation of Joseph R. Biden, Jr. as the winner of the presidential election,” they argue.

The filing claims that the “facts are compelling and the evidence is overwhelming.”

The impeachment managers also counter the argument that the trial would be unconstitutional.

“[T]he text and structure of the Constitution, as well as its original meaning and prior interpretations by Congress, overwhelmingly demonstrate that a former official remains subject to trial and conviction for abuses committed in office,” the brief reads.

“Any other rule would make little sense.”

RELATED: Biden Considering Revoking Trump’s Right To Access Classified Briefings

Democrats Still Have an Uphill Battle

An impeachment conviction requires a two-thirds vote, which in the Senate would require 17 Republicans joining all 50 Democrats in voting to convict Trump.

Senator Rand Paul already set the stage by forcing a vote on the constitutionality of the impeachment of the former President.

45 Republicans – including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell – voted that the impeachment trial is unconstitutional.

“45 Senators agreed that this sham of a ‘trial’ is unconstitutional,” he tweeted. “That is more than will be needed to acquit and to eventually end this partisan impeachment process.”

“This ‘trial’ is dead on arrival in the Senate,” he wrote.

“The Constitution says two things about impeachment — it is a tool to remove the officeholder, and it must be presided over by the chief justice of the Supreme Court,” Paul wrote in an op-ed column.

Neither of those elements exists in this case, as President Trump is no longer in office and Chief Justice John Roberts has declined to preside over the trial.

Trump’s lawyers and the House impeachment managers will submit another round of briefs next Monday, and the trial is scheduled to begin on February 9th.

The post Trump’s Lawyers Argue Impeachment Article Is Violation Of The Constitution appeared first on The Political Insider.

Marjorie Taylor Greene Fires Back After Mitch McConnell Calls Her ‘Cancer’ To The GOP

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene fired back at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after he stated her embrace of “loony lies and conspiracy theories” is a “cancer for the Republican Party.”

Greene (R-GA) has faced a growing number of critics from within the Republican Party over controversial words and actions she engaged in prior to becoming a congresswoman.

CNN reported that in 2019 Greene “liked” controversial comments on social media, including one that said “a bullet to the head would be quicker” in a discussion to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

She has also dabbled in QAnon conspiracy theories and been spotted in videos harassing political opponents.

“Loony lies and conspiracy theories are cancer for the Republican Party and our country,” McConnell (R-KY) said in a statement.

“Somebody who’s suggested that perhaps no airplane hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that horrifying school shootings were pre-staged, and that the Clintons crashed JFK Jr.’s airplane is not living in reality,” he added.

RELATED: Republicans Start Turning On Marjorie Taylor Greene

Marjorie Taylor Greene Fires Back At McConnell Over ‘Cancer’ Remarks

Marjorie Taylor Greene fired back at Mitch McConnell over the comments, suggesting he and other feckless leaders in the GOP are the real “cancer.”

“The real cancer for the Republican Party is weak Republicans who only know how to lose gracefully,” she tweeted. “This is why we are losing our country.”

House Democrats are moving swiftly to remove Greene from her committee assignments, something even CNN is willing to concede is a troublesome move.

“The move by Democrats could set a risky precedent as they go after a sitting member of Congress over views expressed before serving as an elected official,” they write, “and one that has the potential to someday be used against the party by Republicans.”

Greene later tweeted a theory as to why she is “the ‘greatest threat’ to the Democrat mob and the activist media.”

“They hate me because I represent your America First views. They think Trump is gone, so they attack you and me. He’s not gone,” she wrote. “And we won’t back down and we will never give up!”

Greene reportedly spoke with former President Trump over the weekend and received his support.

RELATED: Nunes Blasts ‘Socialist Revolutionary’ AOC After She Accuses Ted Cruz Of Attempted Murder

Weak Republicans ARE The Problem

The entire controversy is proving Greene right.

While Republicans are quick to throw her under the bus, Democrats have been more than willing to stand in solidarity with people like Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) who has made numerous controversial statements (some people did something), and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) who last week accused Senator Ted Cruz of attempted murder.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) was exposed in a report late last year indicating he had been the target of a Chinese spy and possibly had a relationship with her.

He has recently smeared Republican senators as being members of the “Coup Klux Klan” and falsely alleged they were fraternizing with “terrorists.”

Not only did Democrats defend him, not only did he keep his seat on the House Intelligence Committee, but he was given a starring role as one of Pelosi’s impeachment managers.

It should be easy to condemn both sides for extremist rhetoric. But Democrats have set the precedent by allowing it on their side, if not rewarding it.

Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson cautioned against falling into the trap that Democrats and the media have set, portraying Greene as the biggest threat to the country.

“If cable news doesn’t like your views, you have to leave Congress. That’s the rule. The test is entirely ideological,” Carlson wrote in an op-ed. “You don’t actually have to harm anyone to lose your job.”

“This new member of Congress has barely even voted, but CNN says she has bad opinions,” he added. “Therefore, she’s the greatest threat we face.”

Carlson went on to suggest the media’s fixation with Marjorie Taylor Greene is entirely a result of the fact they have “made a living yelling at Donald Trump” and must now find another target.

Greene warned Democrats that if she is stripped of her committee assignments that there will be payback if Republicans regain control of the House in 2022.

“If Democrats remove me from my committees, I can assure them that the precedent they are setting will be used extensively against members on their side once we regain the majority after the 2022 elections,” she wrote.

“And we will regain the majority, make no mistake about that.”

That isn’t a conspiracy theory by any stretch of the imagination.

The post Marjorie Taylor Greene Fires Back After Mitch McConnell Calls Her ‘Cancer’ To The GOP appeared first on The Political Insider.

Jared Kushner Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize By Alan Dershowitz For His Work On Israel Peace Efforts

Posted on by LifeZette

Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz has officially nominated former White House advisor Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of Donald Trump, for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in “negotiating four normalization deals between Israel and Arab nations known as the ‘Abraham Accords.””

Dershowitz Nominates Kushner For Nobel Peace Prize

Both Kushner and his deputy, Avi Berkowitz, who was the Middle East envoy, were nominated by Dershowitz on Sunday. Dershowitz, who represented former President Trump during his first impeachment trial last year, was able to nominate the two men for this honor thanks to his position as professor emeritus of Harvard Law School.

In his letter to the Nobel Peace Prize committee, Dershowitz admitted that while his nomination will probably not be popular, it is deserved.

“The Nobel Peace Prize is not for popularity,” he wrote, according to Reuters. “Nor is it an assessment of what the international community may think of those who helped bring about peace. It is an award for fulfilling the daunting criteria set out by Alfred Nobel in his will.”

Related: Rashida Tlaib Unravels – Says ‘It’s Really Important To Understand Israel Is A Racist State’

Kushner Praised For Abraham Accords

Dershowitz went on to describe the Abraham Accords, which were brought about between August and December of last year, as “the most significant diplomatic breakthroughs in the Middle East in 25 years.”

“We encourage efforts to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue to advance a culture of peace among the three Abrahamic religions and all humanity,” the United States said of the Abraham Accords on State Department website.

“We believe that the best way to address challenges is through cooperation and dialogue and that developing friendly relations among States advances the interests of lasting peace in the Middle East and around the world,” the statement added.

Related: Meghan McCain Demands Ivanka And Jared ‘Be Held Accountable’ After Capitol Riots

Kushner Responds

Kushner reportedly “said he was honored to be nominated for the prize,” according to Reuters.

Liberals are undoubtedly losing their minds over this, as they are out to vilify Kushner and every other person with ties to Trump. We applaud Dershowitz for giving Kushner the respect he deserves and for honoring the historic work he did regarding Israel.

This piece was written by James Samson on February 2, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

Read more at LifeZette:
Tulsi Gabbard Torches Pelosi For Describing GOP As ‘Enemy Within The House’ – ‘Like Throwing A Match Into A Tinderbox’
Melania Trump Reveals Her Post-White House Plans – She’s Going To Maintain ‘Be Best’
Ana Navarro Claims McCarthy’s Mar-a-Lago Trip Was ‘White Slavery’ – Says He’s Owned By His Master, Trump

The post Jared Kushner Nominated For Nobel Peace Prize By Alan Dershowitz For His Work On Israel Peace Efforts appeared first on The Political Insider.

Trump Announces New Impeachment Defense Team

Posted on by Becky Noble

Former President Donald Trump has announced a new legal defense team for his upcoming second impeachment trial, which is set to begin in the Senate on Feb. 9. According to a report from The Daily Caller, the original team decided to disband Sunday over strategies for arguing Trump’s defense.

RELATED: Ohio Republicans Launch Bid To Make June 14 ‘President Donald J. Trump Day’

Out With The Old, In With The New

Trump was impeached by the House for a second time on charges of inciting a riot at the Capitol building in Washington D. C. on Jan. 6.

The original defense team consisted of Butch Bowers, a North Carolina attorney and and Tulane Law School grad, who worked in the Justice Department in the George W. Bush administration. He additionally worked in South Carolina government under Govs. Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford.

Also on the team was Deborah Barbier, a University of South Carolina Law School grad who served in the United States’ Attorney’s Office in South Carolina. Rounding out the original team was Josh Howard, Johnny Glasser, and Greg Harris.

RELATED: Most Americans Say Trump Impeachment Will Only Divide Us More

Getting Ready For Round Two Of Impeachment

In a press release on Sunday night, Trump announced the new legal team for impeachment. David Schoen, a Boston College Law School grad, is described as a, “seasoned trial attorney who has served as lead counsel in several high-profile matters”, including representing long time Trump ally Roger Stone.

Schoen said, “It is an honor to represent the 45th President, Donald J. Trump, and the United States Constitution.”

Also on the new team is Bruce Castor, a Washington and Lee University law school grad who is the former District Attorney of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Of the new case, Castor stated, “I consider it a privilege to represent the 45th President.”

“The strength of our Constitution is about to be tested like never before in our history,” he continued. “It is strong and resilient. A document written for the ages, and it will triumph over partisanship yet again, and always.” 

RELATED: Washington Post Article Demands No Presidential Library For Trump, Calls It ‘Issue Of National Security’

Debating The Best Strategy

The change in legal teams stems from an apparent difference of opinion on strategy. A report by CNN stated that Trump wanted attorneys to argue the presence of massive election fraud, and that the election had been stolen from him.

Bowers and Barbier wanted instead to argue the constitutionality of convicting a former president on articles of impeachment.   Trump advisor Jason Miller said on Saturday, “Democrats’ efforts to impeach a president who has already left office is totally unconstitutional and so bad for our country.”

Schoen and Castor have made no comments on any legal strategies they may be taking. Neither of their initial statements made mention of election or voter fraud. At least 67 Senators would be needed for conviction of Trump of incitement. He would be prohibited from running for president again if convicted. 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promised a “relatively quick” trial, stating that, “I don’t think there’s a need for a whole lot of witnesses.”

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Whoopi Goldberg Claims Joe Manchin’s Attack On Kamala Harris Was ‘Bigoted’ – ‘Really Disrespectful’

Posted on by LifeZette

Over the weekend, Senator Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) spoke out to criticize Vice President Kamala Harris for going on a local television station in West Virginia to try and drum up support for the Joe Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package.

This did not sit well with “The View” cohost Whoopi Goldberg, who said on Monday that she thought Manchin’s attack on Harris was “bigoted.”

Goldberg Slams Manchin

“Vice President Kamala Harris did an interview with the local West Virginia TV station to make the pitch for the new COVID stimulus package, and moderate Democrat Senator Joe Manchin was not happy he didn’t get a heads-up about it. Take a look,” Goldberg said on Monday’s episode of “The View.”

“I saw it. I couldn’t believe it,” Manchin said of Harris’ interview. “No one called me.  We’re going to try to find a bipartisan pathway for it. I think we need to, but we need to work together. That’s not a way of working together, what was done.”

“OK, so let me just point this out, Joe, she is the vice president,” Goldberg fired back. “She does not work for you. She doesn’t need your permission to go do this. When you talk like that, it sounds a little bigoted, like you think you have the right to tell her when she can and cannot come someplace. I think it’s really disrespectful politics myself.”

Related: Whoopi Goldberg Goes Off On Republicans Who Voted Against Impeachment – ‘You’re Scared’

Joy Behar Disagrees With Goldberg

In a surprising twist, Goldberg’s cohost Joy Behar actually saw this differently.

“Well, you know, Joe Manchin is a Democrat, but he swings to the right,” she said. “At this moment in time, the Democrats need Joe Manchin more than Joe Manchin needs the Democrats because he will always win in West Virginia taking middle of the road positions.”

“He’s got an ego problem, I’ll grant you that,” Behar added. “But the guy voted for impeachment, he voted for the ACA, he’s on the Democratic team — so I don’t think it’s a great idea alienating Joe Manchin, no matter how big his ego is.”

“I’m sorry, do you think she needed to speak to him before she went and gave this interview?” an incredulous Goldberg asked.

“I don’t know. I don’t know what the protocol — probably not,” Behar explained, at which time Goldberg interrupted her to say, “No, because she’s the vice president.”

“I get that, but we’re talking about politics,” Behar continued. “And like I just said, the democrats need Joe Manchin’s vote. He has a lot of power right now in the democratic party. That’s all I’m saying, it’s politics.”

When asked for her thoughts on this, conservative cohost Meghan McCain said, “I completely agree with Joy.”

Read Next: Joy Behar Warns Gaetz To ‘Watch’ Himself In Feud With Liz Cheney – ‘She’ll Eat Him For Breakfast’

This piece was written by James Samson on February 1, 2021. It originally appeared in LifeZette and is used by permission.

Read more at LifeZette:
Tulsi Gabbard Torches Pelosi For Describing GOP As ‘Enemy Within The House’ – ‘Like Throwing A Match Into A Tinderbox’
Melania Trump Reveals Her Post-White House Plans – She’s Going To Maintain ‘Be Best’
Ana Navarro Claims McCarthy’s Mar-a-Lago Trip Was ‘White Slavery’ – Says He’s Owned By His Master, Trump

The post Whoopi Goldberg Claims Joe Manchin’s Attack On Kamala Harris Was ‘Bigoted’ – ‘Really Disrespectful’ appeared first on The Political Insider.

Of The 10 Republicans Who Voted To Impeach Trump, 7 Are Already Facing Primary Challenges

Posted on by Rusty Weiss

Seven out of the 10 Republican lawmakers who voted in favor of impeaching former President Donald Trump are already facing primary challenges for their congressional seats.

Newsweek indicates that the pro-impeachment GOPers have “been publicly scolded, pushed to resign and warned that local organizations will mount a strong push to oust them from office in the primary.”

The report profiles primary challenges already forming for Reps. David Valadao (CA), Liz Cheney (WY), Adam Kinzinger (IL), Dan Newhouse (WA), and Anthony Gonzalez (OH).

They add, “Another Republican has created an exploratory committee in a potential bid for Representative Tom Rice’s seat and local GOP organizations have vowed to recruit someone to go after Representative Jamie Herrera Buetler’s spot in Congress.”

RELATED: Lindsey Graham Teaming With Dick Durbin To Introduce Legislation That Could Grant Citizenship To DREAMers

Republicans Who Voted to Impeach Face Challenges

Two of the more high-profile of the Republicans facing challenges after voting to impeach former President Trump are Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.

Kinzinger announced the formation of a new PAC he claims is fighting to “take back” the GOP from Trump.

“The party that always spoke about a brighter tomorrow no longer does,” he said. “It talks about a dark future instead. Hope has given way to fear. Outrage has replaced opportunity. And worst of all, our deep convictions are ignored.

“This is not the Republican road and now we know exactly where (that) new and dangerous road leads. It leads to insurrection and an armed attack on the Capitol,” he claimed.

Kinzinger has a history of struggling to comprehend basic concepts, having once chastised Trump for sharing a story about a “civil-war like fracture” in the country.

Yet, here he is tearing the country apart with another impeachment witch hunt.

Kinzinger, it should be noted, along with an aide to former House Speaker Paul Ryan, was one of the first recipients of the infamous Steele dossier, according to court memos back in 2018.

Cheney, meanwhile, has had several GOP lawmakers call for her to resign from her leadership post following her vote to impeach the former President.

“She is weakening our conference at a key moment for personal political gain and is unfit to lead,” Rep. Matt Rosendale (R-MT) said at the time. “She must step down as Conference Chair.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) eviscerated Cheney saying her legacy in Congress is simply to “frustrate the agenda of President [Donald] Trump and sell out to the forever war machine.”

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Voters Aren’t Siding With Anti-Trumpers

A recent poll from Axios-Ipsos shows Republicans are siding with President Trump over Republicans who supported the impeachment drive, signaling trouble for those facing primary challenges.

The results show a vast majority of Republicans do not hold Trump responsible for the Capitol riots, believe he had a right to challenge the election, and are even sticking with him as their preferred nominee in 2024.

What Trump does over the next 18 months will be key in how the Republican party moves forward. Those who voted to impeach will be tested.

The post Of The 10 Republicans Who Voted To Impeach Trump, 7 Are Already Facing Primary Challenges appeared first on The Political Insider.