Author Topic: John Roberts ducks the spotlight by skipping the second Trump impeachment trial (Read 1434 times)

libertybele · « **on:** January 26, 2021, 01:22:02 am »

John Roberts ducks the spotlight by skipping the second Trump impeachment trial

Chief Justice John Roberts has long been a student of history, but this is one part of history -- presiding at the second trial of Donald Trump -- he can do without.
Roberts won a reprieve from another ordeal with Trump, a man who challenged judicial integrity, declared he could get his way at the Supreme Court and then called the justices "totally incompetent and weak" when he failed to prevail.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat and the president pro tempore of the chamber, will preside for Trump's second impeachment trial.

The terms of the Constitution dictate that "When the President of the United States is impeached, the Chief Justice shall preside." And last year at this time, the robed Roberts sat high on the Senate dais for the trial of then-President Trump.

It was his constitutional duty, although at some turns Roberts made plain that it was not a pleasant one. This time, the jurist who oversees a court that forbids cameras, who bristles at breaches of decorum and who strives to project a neutral image, will avoid the public scrutiny and role of referee at what is an inherently political affair.
Since the US House of Representatives impeached Trump on January 13, Roberts has declined multiple requests for comment on his responsibility, if any, for a trial after Trump left office on January 20.
Leahy had earlier said that "the first choice" for presiding officer would be the chief justice, and he would not reveal on Monday when it became clear that the duty would fall to him, telling reporters only that he was "up to the responsibility."

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/25/politics/john-roberts-trump-impeachment/index.html

Ghost Bear · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:07:29 am »

Quote from: https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/full-text

The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Roberts has to preside, or it isn't a true impeachment. If he uses the excuse that Mr. Trump is no longer President, then he admits it isn't a true impeachment, since an impeachment can only be used against a sitting President. In other words, this whole farce is unconstitutional.

IsailedawayfromFR · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:10:46 am »

Quote from: Ghost Bear on January 26, 2021, 02:07:29 am

Roberts has to preside, or it isn't a true impeachment. If he uses the excuse that Mr. Trump is no longer President, then he admits it isn't a true impeachment, since an impeachment can only be used against a sitting President. In other words, this whole farce is unconstitutional.

Yep. But Dems we all know don't follow that document anyway do they?

Hoodat · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:22:02 am »

Article I, Sec 3 covers this. If Roberts is unwilling to preside, then he is tacitly admitting that the impeachment is not legit.

It goes on further to say "removal from office, and disqualification". This means you can't have one without the other. You can't disqualify without removing.

Hoodat · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:48:43 am »

Federalist 39 - James Madison

"The President of the United States is impeachable at any time during his continuance in office."

libertybele · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:54:05 am »

Quote from: IsailedawayfromFR on January 26, 2021, 02:10:46 am

Yep. But Dems we all know don't follow that document anyway do they?

Yes and that's the reality of what is happening.

Ghost Bear · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:55:08 am »

Quote from: IsailedawayfromFR on January 26, 2021, 02:10:46 am

Yep. But Dems we all know don't follow that document anyway do they?

Too many Republicans and Conservatives are accepting the Democrat's faulty premise. We need to hammer home that this is unconstitutional and therefore illegal, and stop pretending it is in any way valid.

verga · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2021, 12:33:46 pm »

Jazzhead · « **Reply #8 on:** January 26, 2021, 01:38:01 pm »

Quote from: Ghost Bear on January 26, 2021, 02:07:29 am

Roberts has to preside, or it isn't a true impeachment. If he uses the excuse that Mr. Trump is no longer President, then he admits it isn't a true impeachment, since an impeachment can only be used against a sitting President. In other words, this whole farce is unconstitutional.

That's right. Roberts is signaling that this isn't a Constitutional impeachment. What it is is a partisan show trial of a private citizen.

Hoodat · « **Reply #9 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:22:43 pm »

Article II, Section 4

The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.

Donald Trump is neither President, Vice President, nor a civil officer of the United States.

Slide Rule · « **Reply #10 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:53:34 pm »

Roberts could sent out a message indirectly.

If there were additional evidence of voting wrong doing
now available, that he would likely hear it seeing that there
is strong interest in strengthening voter confidence.

Of course, our Supreme Roberts lacks balls.

Slide Rule

Wingnut · « **Reply #11 on:** January 26, 2021, 02:57:33 pm »

I have seen Monkey shit fights at the zoo more organized than this impeachment mess.

Jazzhead · « **Reply #12 on:** January 26, 2021, 07:02:35 pm »

Quote from: Wingnut on January 26, 2021, 02:57:33 pm

I have seen Monkey shit fights at the zoo more organized than this impeachment mess.

Oh, c'mon man. Let those monkeys have their fun.

Cyber Liberty · « **Reply #13 on:** January 26, 2021, 07:41:04 pm »

Not my circus, not my monkeys.

Wingnut · « **Reply #14 on:** January 26, 2021, 07:50:37 pm »

Quote from: Cyber Liberty on January 26, 2021, 07:41:04 pm

Not my circus, not my monkeys.

Not my poop.

dancer · « **Reply #15 on:** January 27, 2021, 07:50:27 am »

Quote from: Wingnut on January 26, 2021, 02:57:33 pm

I have seen Monkey shit fights at the zoo more organized than this impeachment mess.

jafo2010 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 27, 2021, 04:57:58 pm »

The Fascist Democommies just can't help themselves. The Constitution hasn't meant anything to them for many years.

With Xiden doing what he does, and the Dem Congress doing what they do, the election to unseat all of them in 2022 will not come fast enough.

Joe, the Wrecking Ball will destroy how many millions of jobs in the next two years? If the American people vote enough Republicans into office in 2022, maybe we will see our next impeachment. Impeach both of them, and have Charlie McCarthy as POTUS. LOL

catfish1957 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 27, 2021, 05:11:19 pm »

If the dims thought this was important enough, or thought they would have had a chance, they would have pulled the "extortion card" as usual.

jafo2010 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2021, 06:26:53 pm »

Roberts, coward POS Bush appointee, can't wait for this POS to retire from the court.

libertybele · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2021, 06:50:40 pm »

Quote from: jafo2010 on January 27, 2021, 06:26:53 pm

Roberts, coward POS Bush appointee, can't wait for this POS to retire from the court.

He'll be on the bench for a long time and so will the other Tweedle Dee Dums.

verga · « **Reply #20 on:** January 27, 2021, 07:40:49 pm »

Quote from: jafo2010 on January 27, 2021, 06:26:53 pm

Roberts, coward POS Bush appointee, can't wait for this POS to retire from the court.

@jafo2010 Slow down tiger. Sometimes, albeit rarely, he votes with our side. If he goes in the next 4 years we are certain of a raging liberal.

txradioguy · « **Reply #21 on:** January 27, 2021, 07:41:49 pm »

Quote from: Ghost Bear on January 26, 2021, 02:07:29 am

Roberts has to preside, or it isn't a true impeachment. If he uses the excuse that Mr. Trump is no longer President, then he admits it isn't a true impeachment, since an impeachment can only be used against a sitting President. In other words, this whole farce is unconstitutional.

Exactly.

txradioguy · « **Reply #22 on:** January 27, 2021, 07:43:33 pm »

Quote from: Hoodat on January 26, 2021, 02:22:02 am

Article I, Sec 3 covers this. If Roberts is unwilling to preside, then he is tacitly admitting that the impeachment is not legit.

It goes on further to say "removal from office, and disqualification". This means you can't have one without the other. You can't disqualify without removing.

But you can remove them without disqualifying them from holding an office in the future.

jafo2010 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 27, 2021, 07:50:21 pm »

Quote

Quote from: jafo2010 on Today at 01:26:53 PM
Roberts, coward POS Bush appointee, can't wait for this POS to retire from the court.

libertybelle...
He'll be on the bench for a long time and so will the other Tweedle Dee Dums.

Nervous nellies like Roberts, age 66, usually die young of heart attacks. He will not last like Ginsburg.

And we may not need to wait for four years. If things get as bad as I anticipate with Xiden, America will want to jettison the Dems in 2022, and it is remotely possible that the Republicans get voting majorities in both houses. I say impeach Xiden and his sidekick, which would make Charlie McCarthy POTUS.

Give the stinking Democommies a taste of their own.

PeteS in CA · « **Reply #24 on:** January 27, 2021, 09:12:49 pm »

Quote from: Ghost Bear on January 26, 2021, 02:07:29 am

Roberts has to preside, or it isn't a true impeachment. If he uses the excuse that Mr. Trump is no longer President, then he admits it isn't a true impeachment, since an impeachment can only be used against a sitting President. In other words, this whole farce is unconstitutional.

I see Roberts move as pointing out this shampeachment's intrinsic illegitimacy, refusing even to give the appearance of legitimacy by his physical presence. By not being present even the Dems' intent of precluding Trump from running for POTUS in 2024 would not hold up in court. That said, denouncing the sham would have been nice, but might have had future ramifications ("We demand you recuse yourself from the ______ case!").